Water Resistance

For cotton papers that are going to exhibit the ‘look and feel of letterpress…’

….. Nope.

(that is assuming the owner is thinking of letterpress in the way the typical uneducated consumer is, which is sculpted/deep impression/pillowy. You may as well print the menus on coaster stock or something.)

Coasters with the menu on it isn’t a *terrible* idea :p but it would be expensive to keep updating the tap-list that way. “Oh we added this new tap, better print more coasters” ;)

But yeah, the soft cotton papers are the exact opposite of moisture resistant.

These were also my thoughts. But I just wanted to double check the letterpress universe to make sure :)

This is the reason that menu covers were invented.

You could use blotter coaster paper. Its fairly inexpensive. I think we paid $1 per 19x24 sheet. Much cheaper then using lettra. http://letterpresspaper.com/offer-13

If the Brewery owner wishes to give each menu away use Lettra or blotter paper. If he wishes his menus to last for awhile you pretty much will have to use a cover. There are quite a few suppliers on-line, and some are quite economical. A paper menu will not last long in a food environment.

You could try to varnish them

My only off-the-cuff thought would be spray matte varnish. I have no idea how well it would work though.
—
Michael Hurley
Titivilus Press
Memphis, TN

You could Laminate the printed sheets. A thin Laminate Sheets would seal the paper.

But, you will lose the feel of letterpress, it would just look printed with a plastic coat.

How about ROYAL Sundance Fiber KRAFT 80lb Cardstock?

I think if you laminate, it wouldn’t have the feel of letterpress, but I think you’d notice the difference. Back when people still made CDs with jewel cases, I printed letterpress and put it behind the plastic, and it looks very different than if it had just been printed offset on glossy stock. Maybe the laminating would kill more of the effect, but I think letterpress printed toothy paper with a fair amount of impression could probably look really cool laminated.

But what happens when he has to change the price due to rising costs of limes?

I think if you laminate, it wouldn’t have the feel of letterpress, but I think you’d notice the difference. Back when people still made CDs with jewel cases, I printed letterpress and put it behind the plastic, and it looks very different than if it had just been printed offset on glossy stock. Maybe the laminating would kill more of the effect, but I think letterpress printed toothy paper with a fair amount of impression could probably look really cool laminated.

But what happens when he has to change the price due to rising costs of limes?

Why not use a coated paper and an oil based ink? Sure, not as pillow-y as cotton, but suffice to say it would be able to withstand the environment a bit better than cotton.

Or… One of our favorite brand “Curious” has a water resistant paper that may be right up the alley you’re looking down.

Keep in mind that if the edges aren’t sealed, paper can still wick up liquid; so lamination, varnish, or other attempts at waterproofing that don’t protect the edges will be less successful than ones that do.

(as an example where it isn’t a big deal, I have a number of leatherworking templates that have been laminated and then cut out, which have soaked up ink from the markers I was tracing around them with)