Emma Davis, 4OVER4 print production voice (illustration)
Emma Davis Print Production Specialist at 4OVER4.COM

Emma is our prepress and print production voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.

Question

How many ink colors can I use on a letterpress order?

Answer

Most letterpress projects use one or two ink colors. Each color needs its own plate and press run, which adds to both production time and cost, so designs are usually kept simple.

Ink colorsPlates and passesNotes
11The classic look, a single rich ink pressed into cotton stock
22Still efficient and popular, common for a logo plus an accent
3 or more3 or morePossible but uncommon, since each color means another plate and pass

The beauty of letterpress lies in its simplicity. A single deep ink color on white cotton paper already looks stunning.

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