Blind-embossing: A printing process that uses a metal die to create colorless print and graphics with a raised surface.

Calligraphy: Writing done in decorative hand-print.

Corrugated: A thicker paper with wrinkled texture.

Cotton fiber: 100% cotton paper, considered the most formal and elegant paper stock for wedding invitations.

Deckle edge: The effect of torn edges to invitation papers

Die: An etched metal plate used to print engraved or embossed letters and graphics.

Embossing: A printing process that creates a raised surface in letters and graphics.

Engraving: The most formal printing method, this system created raised letters on the front of the invitation and an indentation on the back.  This is one of the most formal, and most expensive, print processes.

Flourishes: Decorative accents on the invitation.

Font: The design of lettering, which comes in many different style or typefaces.

Glassine: A thin sheet of paper placed on top of invitation faces and inner envelope print. It has a tissue-paper quality to it.

Handmade papers: Natural paper made from organic cotton, hemp, and plant fibers, which is thicker and more irregular than traditional paper.

Hands: Another term for the different types of font that can be used to create the invitation.

Initial cap: The style of enlarging the first letter of a word or name as a decorative touch.

Jacquard: Paper that is printed to look like it has a layer of lace or fabric over it.

Laid: A type of paper that is thicker and has more texture to it, but is slick like vellum.

Letterpress: A very formal and very expensive process of printing invitations. A very involved process, this is created by stamping an impression into the invitation papers. This process works best with thicker papers.

Linen finish: A type of paper with more texture than cotton papers.

Marbled paper: Paper that looks like marble finish.

Matte: Paper with a flat, non-glossy finish.

Offset-printed: The usual printing (think about what comes out of your printer at home), where none of the letters are raised, and you can use multiple colors. This is one of the less expensive choices.

Parchment: A wispy paper, usually cream or ivory, that is often used when thinner paper is needed.

Point size: The degree of letter height or font size.

Rice paper: A very thin paper, more translucent than parchment. This one only works with letterpress printing.

Stock: The thickness of the paper, such as ‘thicker stock’ for a thick paper. The term is also used to refer to the paper itself, such as ‘what kind of stock would you like?’

Thermography: Uses heat to seal ink and resin to create each letter. This is the most popular print method right now, for its raised lettering without the expense of engraving.

Typeface: see ‘Font’

Variegated: Containing different colored hues.

Vellum: A translucent paper layer that often looks iced or frosted, used as color accent in an invitation or can be printed as the invitation paper itself.

Watermark: A mark subtly embedded into the paper that bears the company name, or can be created to show your initials or monogram.