+ What do you offer?

I provide bespoke design services for:

• Corporate - logos, business cards, stationery, coasters

• Personal - one-of-a-kind gifts and art

• Events - weddings, birth announcements, party and gala invitations

I also offer short-run letterpress printing services to others in the design trade with press-ready artwork.

I’m trained in traditional fine art printmaking, but I’m always seeking out unique processes and methods! Whether the tool for the job is digital manipulation, laser cutting, pouring resin, or calligraphy, I specialize in creating unique pieces that will make you stand out from the crowd.

+ Are your science themed products available for wholesale?

Yes! I do offer wholesale pricing with a minimum order. Please get in contact for more information.

+ What steps are involved in the bespoke design process?

• Complementary Design Consultation -- We’ll meet to discuss your project, either in person or via phone or e-mail. I’ll show you samples of my work, ask you a lot of questions, and answer any questions that you might have. This process allows me to get a feel for your goals, style, and needs so that I can translate them into an effective design. Within a couple of days, I’ll come up with a proposal for you. This will include a description, some rough sketches, a quote, and a timeline.

• Deposit & Contract — Like what you see? Time for a deposit and a signed contract!

• Production —When your art is complete, I’ll send you the proofs for approval, and we can make changes if necessary. When everything looks perfect, I'll start production.

• Delivery — The big day! The remaining balance on your project is due at this point.

+ I’m not sure exactly what I want...

Fantastic! Seriously, don’t worry if you don’t know precisely what you want — I'm the designer; the design is my job! You’re hiring me to take a bunch of rough ideas and adjectives — color, mood, theme, style, impression — and turn them into reality.

If you do have design inspirations, I'd love to see them. But please don’t feel like you need to have a fully formulated idea before we talk.

+ Why should I choose Proton Paperie & Press?

Of course, I do some of the most beautiful and memorable designs out there! But even more importantly, Proton Paperie is a small boutique studio -- this means that your project will be given personalized attention and care every step of the way. You have a direct line to the person responsible for every aspect of your project, from conceptualization to production - me!

I love taking on interesting or challenging projects! I have dual degrees in printmaking & engineering, so I can make cool things happen.

Still not convinced? Check out my customer testimonials.

+ I’m located out-of-town. Can we still work together?

Yes! I'm located in Huntsville, Alabama, but I have clients located all over the world. We can easily communicate via e-mail or over the phone.

+ Can I come visit the studio?

Totally!! Just let me know when you want to come by, and we'll set up an appointment (I don’t keep regular hours).

+ How much does X cost?

Every project is different, and there are so many factors that can change the price of bespoke work — complexity of design, paper & embellishment choices, quantities, etc! So unfortunately, I can’t give you a very accurate price without at least a short discussion. The best thing to do is contact me. Tell me a bit about what you need, and I'll get back to you as fast as possible with a quote!

+ What’s the typical turnaround time?

Again, this is super project-dependent... but for most projects you should allow a minimum of one month to go through the process of discussion, design, and production. More time is always better!

If you need something faster than that, let me know -- sometimes things really are pretty straightforward, and I can rush production.

+ Can I get a sample?

Yes! The best way to appreciate the quality of my work is to hold it in your hands — just contact me and I’ll send out some samples of previous work right away.

Or even better, set up a complementary design consultation with me at my studio — you can see my work in person.

+ What's your return policy?

I absolutely want you to be happy, and I will do everything I can to make it so. However, refunds on custom work are generally not possible. Even though I use high-quality, expensive materials, the majority of what you’re paying for is actually my labor and expertise. The process of designing and producing something beautiful takes a lot of time (yes, even a "simple" design); this is why your initial deposit is non-refundable. Depending on how far we are into the process, partial refunds may be issued.

If you're concerned about anything before we start the process, please just ask!

+ What's the difference between letterpress printmaking and digital printing?

Letterpress is a traditional relief printmaking method where ink is applied to a raised image, which is then physically imprinted into paper. This process gives a tactile, high-end result. It's a labor intensive and specialized process, and each color used requires a separate trip through the press. Here at Proton Paperie & Press, I print on a hand-crank etching press and mix and apply the inks by hand. I use polymer plates instead of the traditional metal type, so there aren’t many limitations on design.

Digital printing is more familiar to most people — printing an image directly from the computer onto paper. You don’t get the wonderful texture and impression of letterpress, but digital printing is a great option if you want a design with lots of colors. I partner with several high-quality printers to produce my digital pieces.

Rest assured that during our consultation, we’ll discuss which method (or combination of methods) will be best suited for your project.

+ I have my own completed artwork. Can you print it?

Maybe.

If you’d like to do something special with existing branding, art, or design (for example, having a linocut business card made, producing amazing letterpress resin/cork coasters, making an editioned art print), let’s talk! I’m absolutely able to incorporate existing design elements into new creative pieces.

And if you're another designer looking for a short-run letterpress printer with great customer service, I'm here for you!

However, if you just need a bunch of copies of something to be digitally printed out, I’d recommend finding your friendly local production print shop.