Spellbinders BetterPress System

The Spellbinders BetterPress letterpress system is an innovative and effortless system that allows you to create projects with the enduring elegance of letterpress design, without the complicated setup or mess. You'll be creating rich, stunning stationery and cards that are sure to impress. The press plate designs are both timeless and on trend, including graphic sentiments with a nod to vintage printing as well as floral bouquets that are perfect for shading with pencil or watercolor.

The combination of high-quality cotton card panels, specifically formulated ink and detailed imprinting of BetterPress plates ensures that your projects will be irresistibly touchable, with luxury you can both feel and see. Experience the refinement of letterpress in your home with Spellbinders BetterPress.

What's included with the BetterPress Sytem?

The starter kit includes the tool itself, which is comprised of a chase with magnetic platform, platen, and shims. It also includes a set of press plates, a selection of cotton card panels, a BetterPress Black ink pad and a roll of Best Ever Craft tape.

What are the differences between a regular die cutting machine and the BetterPress system?

Dies cut paper into shapes. The BetterPress creates an image like Letterpress. It presses the ink into the paper for an extremely detailed image.
 

The BetterPress System Compatibility

The BetterPress Letterpress system is great because it works with so many other machines! A rule of thumb is that any machines that can Glimmer, or can cut Steel Rule Dies can also use BetterPress. The BetterPress system is NOT compatible with any machines that can't cut Steel Rule Dies or that don't have at least a 6" wide platform. If you still aren't sure don't worry, we've listed the compatible machines out for you.

Machines BetterPress is compatible with:

• Spellbinders Platinum, Platinum 6
• Deep Sea Die Cutting and Embossing Machine
• Sizzix BigShot
• Sizzix BigShot Express
• Sizzix Big Shot Plus
• Sizzix BigKick
• Sizzix Switch
• Tim Holtz Vagabond
• We R Memory Keepers Evolution
• RG Amaze
• Stampin' Up!

Machines BetterPress is NOT compatible with:

• Cuttlebug
• Gemini
• Gemini II
• Anna Griffin Empress
• Couture Creations GoCut and Emboss Machine
• Machines that can't cut Steel Rule Dies
• Machines that have a platform smaller than 6" wide

Can you use BetterPress Plates in the Glimmer Hot Foil System?

Early testing suggests that yes, the press plates work beautifully when used with the Glimmer system to add hot foil to cardstock. The team is in the midst of conducting longevity testing to ensure that long-term hot foil use does not degrade the coating on the press plates, but early results look promising.

Can you use regular Glimmer plates in your Betterpress System?

Spellbinders do not advise using the Glimmer plates in the Betterpress System as Glimmer plates are thicker than Press Plates; using them in the BetterPress system will cause damage to the magnetic platform and plate. However, some people have successfully used Glimmer plates in their BetterPress system. If you are looking to use other hot foil plates (or hot foil stamps) with the BetterPress, please ensure that the thickness of the plates are similar and that by doing this could void the warranty of your BetterPress.

How do the BetterPress Inks differ from other inks in the market?

BetterPress Ink was specially formulated by Ranger to be used in the BetterPress system. The ink is based on Ranger’s Archival Ink formula but has two additional features: a higher viscosity, allowing optimal transfer from the press plates to the cotton card panels, and more dye for intense color saturation.

Traditional dye inks also provide a beautiful, clean transfer, as do Archival inks; however, neither give the rich impression that you get from BetterPress Ink because of the dye level. Pigment Inks tend to create a blurry transfer and are messy to work with on the press plates and magnetic platform.