Engraving, one of the most expensive options, involves the making of a metal plate that creates formal stationery with crisp, raised type on the front and indentations on the back. “We file every plate we make,” says Nicholas Nicholson, a spokesperson for Mrs. John L. Strong, a retailer in New York City. “Some have been used for generations.”

Letterpress has a more tactile charm. Some stationers still set type, resulting in “subtle impression changes,” says master printer Robert Warner, who works with 19th-century presses at Bowne & Co., Stationers, in New York City.

Thermography, which imitates engraving, employs heat to produce raised type.

Offset, the most casual and inexpensive technique, yields flat (rather than raised) text, like that seen on most store-bought greeting cards.

Shown clockwise from upper left:

Antique Map Save-the-Dates by Paper Jules, $832 for 100

Antique maps are researched and selected based on your event’s location. Cotton paper. Letterpress or thermography.
To Buy: www.paperjules.com.

Fill-in-the-Blank Thank-Yous by Simply Silhouettes, $40 for 20

Send in a profile shot of a family member or a pet. Then choose from more than 24 colors and a variety of fonts. Offset.
To Buy: www.simplysilhouettes.com.

Personalized Silhouette Note Cards by Superdeluxe, $600 for 100

Pick your paper and ink colors. Letterpress.
To Buy: www.superdeluxenyc.com.

Folded Note Cards by Crane & Co., $878 for 50

Red Cherry Blossom shown; 16 other liners available. Choose from 28 monograms. The engraving plate is yours to keep.
To Buy: www.finestationery.com.

Business Cards by William Arthur, $406 for 100

Personalize to your taste. Engraved.
To Buy: www.finestationery.com

Tip: Consider the weight of the paper. Most experts recommend a cover stock (paper weight) of at least 80.