Letterpress Impression
Ink pressed into soft cotton stock — the only depth here is the dent.
Construction · Letterpress
Every element is pressed into the page rather than placed on it: an inner shade at the top of the dent, a light line at the bottom, and no outer shadow at all.

Concept shot — generated from this style's terms, the way a designer would present it. The specimen below is the contract: rendered from the exact tokens on this page.
Every style renders this same screen, so the only thing changing between two of them is the style. The component above is the file below, running.
Prompt
Design this interface in the Letterpress Impression style. Surfaces look pressed rather than raised: inset highlights along the top edge, deep ink, thick cotton stock. Nothing floats above the page. Build every surface the Letterpress way: Every element is pressed into the page rather than placed on it: an inner shade at the top of the dent, a light line at the bottom, and no outer shadow at all. Use exactly these values: background #efe9dd, surfaces #f7f2e8, text #282019, secondary text #665c4c, accent #7a1f2b with #f7f2e8 on it; corner radius 2/5/8px; 1px solid borders; inset highlights and shading, as if the surface were pressed; Palatino Linotype for body at 15px, line height 1.55; 4px spacing grid, regular spacing. Never: raised drop shadows; neon or fluorescent color; glassy highlights; pure white surfaces. Dark mode uses background #151210, surfaces #1d1917, text #efe7da, accent #dd8590 — the same style, not an inverted one.
The numbers in this prompt are printed from the tokens below, so it cannot drift from what the specimen renders.
What carries the look
- pressed impression
- cotton stock
- inset highlight
- deep ink
What this style refuses
- raised drop shadows
- neon or fluorescent color
- glassy highlights
- pure white surfaces
The refusals are the half that keeps generated interfaces from converging — a prompt that only says what to add gets the default look.
Tokens
Palette
#efe9dd#151210#f7f2e8#1d1917#cdc2ac#37302a#282019#efe7da#665c4c#a3988a#7a1f2b#dd8590#f7f2e8#1c0a0eShape and type
Measured contrast — body 13.25:1 light, 15.2:1 dark; secondary text 5.43:1 and 6.59:1. Every pair clears WCAG AA in both themes, checked on each build.
Specimen · Specimen.tsx
import type { CSSProperties } from "react";
/**
* Vibary · Letterpress Impression
*
* Ink pressed into soft cotton stock — the only depth here is the dent.
*
* One complete product screen, rendered from the token object below —
* the same screen every other Vibary specimen renders, so the style
* is the only variable. Self-contained: React only, no CSS file, no
* assets, no chart library.
*
* `theme` defaults to following the system setting; pass "light" or
* "dark" to pin one.
*/
export const TOKENS = {
"material": "letterpress",
"color": {
"light": {
"bg": "#efe9dd",
"surface": "#f7f2e8",
"border": "#cdc2ac",
"text": "#282019",
"muted": "#665c4c",
"accent": "#7a1f2b",
"accentText": "#f7f2e8"
},
"dark": {
"bg": "#151210",
"surface": "#1d1917",
"border": "#37302a",
"text": "#efe7da",
"muted": "#a3988a",
"accent": "#dd8590",
"accentText": "#1c0a0e"
}
},
"radius": {
"sm": 2,
"md": 5,
"lg": 8,
"pill": 999
},
"border": {
"width": 1,
"style": "solid"
},
"shadow": {
"level": "inset",
"value": "inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5), inset 0 -1px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12)"
},
"type": {
"family": {
"display": "\"Palatino Linotype\", Palatino, \"Book Antiqua\", Georgia, serif",
"body": "\"Palatino Linotype\", Palatino, \"Book Antiqua\", Georgia, serif",
"mono": "\"Courier New\", Courier, \"Nimbus Mono PS\", monospace"
},
"scale": [
11,
13,
15,
17,
22,
30
],
"weight": {
"body": 400,
"strong": 700,
"display": 700
},
"lineHeight": 1.55,
"tracking": 0.01
},
"space": {
"unit": 4,
"density": "regular"
},
"effects": {
"surface": "flat",
"accentStyle": "filled",
"separator": "hairline",
"labelCase": "none",
"blur": 0
}
};
type Palette = typeof TOKENS.color.light;
export type LetterpressImpressionSpecimenProps = {
theme?: "system" | "light" | "dark";
/** Scopes the custom properties; only matters if you render two. */
scope?: string;
};
function vars(palette: Palette): string {
return [
`--sp-bg: ${palette.bg}`,
`--sp-surface: ${palette.surface}`,
`--sp-border: ${palette.border}`,
`--sp-text: ${palette.text}`,
`--sp-muted: ${palette.muted}`,
`--sp-accent: ${palette.accent}`,
`--sp-accent-text: ${palette.accentText}`,
].join("; ");
}
/** Fixed content: identical in every specimen, on purpose. */
const NAV: readonly { label: string; path: string }[] = [
{ label: "Overview", path: "M3 9.5 9 4.5l6 5V15a1 1 0 0 1-1 1h-2.5v-4h-5v4H4a1 1 0 0 1-1-1z" },
{ label: "Orders", path: "M4 5h10l-1 9H5zM7 5V3.5h4V5" },
{ label: "Customers", path: "M9 9a2.6 2.6 0 1 0 0-5.2A2.6 2.6 0 0 0 9 9M3.6 15.4c0-2.4 2.4-3.8 5.4-3.8s5.4 1.4 5.4 3.8" },
{ label: "Reports", path: "M4.5 15V8M9 15V4.5M13.5 15v-4.5" },
{ label: "Settings", path: "M9 11.4A2.4 2.4 0 1 0 9 6.6a2.4 2.4 0 0 0 0 4.8M9 2.6v1.4M9 14v1.4M15.4 9H14M4 9H2.6M13.5 4.5l-1 1M5.5 12.5l-1 1M13.5 13.5l-1-1M5.5 5.5l-1-1" },
];
const STATS: readonly { label: string; value: string; delta: string; up: boolean }[] = [
{ label: "Revenue", value: "$48,290", delta: "+12.4%", up: true },
{ label: "Orders", value: "1,284", delta: "+3.1%", up: true },
{ label: "Refunds", value: "42", delta: "-1.8%", up: false },
];
const BARS: readonly { day: string; value: number }[] = [
{ day: "M", value: 0.42 },
{ day: "T", value: 0.61 },
{ day: "W", value: 0.38 },
{ day: "T", value: 0.74 },
{ day: "F", value: 0.93 },
{ day: "S", value: 0.55 },
{ day: "S", value: 0.29 },
];
const ROWS: readonly { name: string; meta: string; state: string; amount: string }[] = [
{ name: "Kyoto Print Co.", meta: "Invoice 2841", state: "Paid", amount: "420.00" },
{ name: "Aurora Supply", meta: "Invoice 2839", state: "Pending", amount: "186.50" },
{ name: "Northwind Studio", meta: "Invoice 2836", state: "Overdue", amount: "678.00" },
];
const SWITCHES: readonly { label: string; on: boolean }[] = [
{ label: "Auto-pay invoices", on: true },
{ label: "Email receipts", on: false },
];
/**
* The material: how this style paints an element, as opposed to what
* color it paints it. This is the part that makes Letterpress
* a different design language rather than a different theme —
* Every element is pressed into the page rather than placed on it: an inner shade at the top of the dent, a light line at the bottom, and no outer shadow at all.
*/
const MATERIAL = {
"surface": {
"background": "var(--sp-surface)",
"boxShadow": "inset 0 2px 3px color-mix(in srgb, #000000 16%, transparent), inset 0 -1px 0 color-mix(in srgb, #ffffff 70%, transparent)",
"border": "1px solid color-mix(in srgb, #000000 12%, transparent)"
},
"button": {
"background": "var(--sp-accent)",
"color": "var(--sp-accent-text)",
"boxShadow": "inset 0 2px 3px color-mix(in srgb, #000000 30%, transparent), inset 0 -1px 0 color-mix(in srgb, #ffffff 40%, transparent)",
"border": "1px solid color-mix(in srgb, #000000 25%, transparent)"
},
"switchOn": {
"background": "var(--sp-accent)",
"boxShadow": "inset 0 2px 3px color-mix(in srgb, #000000 35%, transparent)",
"border": "1px solid color-mix(in srgb, #000000 22%, transparent)"
},
"switchOff": {
"background": "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 10%, var(--sp-surface))",
"boxShadow": "inset 0 2px 3px color-mix(in srgb, #000000 22%, transparent)",
"border": "1px solid color-mix(in srgb, #000000 15%, transparent)"
},
"knob": {
"background": "var(--sp-surface)",
"boxShadow": "0 1px 0 color-mix(in srgb, #ffffff 70%, transparent), inset 0 1px 0 color-mix(in srgb, #ffffff 80%, transparent)"
},
"navActive": {
"background": "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-accent) 16%, var(--sp-surface))",
"boxShadow": "inset 0 2px 3px color-mix(in srgb, #000000 14%, transparent), inset 0 -1px 0 color-mix(in srgb, #ffffff 60%, transparent)"
},
"bar": {
"background": "var(--sp-accent)",
"boxShadow": "inset 0 2px 3px color-mix(in srgb, #000000 25%, transparent)",
"border": "1px solid color-mix(in srgb, #000000 18%, transparent)"
}
};
const SURFACE_BORDER = `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`;
const ROW_SEPARATOR = "1px solid var(--sp-border)";
const RING = 0.68;
export function LetterpressImpressionSpecimen({ theme = "system", scope = "sp-letterpress-impression" }: LetterpressImpressionSpecimenProps) {
const css =
theme === "light"
? `.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.light)}}`
: theme === "dark"
? `.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.dark)}}`
: `.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.light)}}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.dark)}}}`;
const label: CSSProperties = {
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
letterSpacing: `${TOKENS.type.tracking}em`,
textTransform: "none",
color: "var(--sp-muted)",
};
const meta: CSSProperties = {
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
color: "var(--sp-muted)",
};
const card: CSSProperties = {
...MATERIAL.surface,
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.md,
padding: 15,
};
const heading: CSSProperties = {
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[2]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
textTransform: "none",
letterSpacing: "0",
};
const primary: CSSProperties = { ...MATERIAL.button, borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm };
const pill = (active: boolean): CSSProperties => ({
padding: "2px 8px",
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
background: active
? "var(--sp-accent)"
: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 10%, transparent)",
color: active ? "var(--sp-accent-text)" : "var(--sp-muted)",
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
textTransform: "none",
letterSpacing: "0",
});
return (
<div
className={scope}
style={{
width: 760,
display: "flex",
background: "var(--sp-bg)",
color: "var(--sp-text)",
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px/${TOKENS.type.lineHeight} ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
letterSpacing: `${TOKENS.type.tracking}em`,
overflow: "hidden",
position: "relative",
}}
>
<style>{css}</style>
{/* Sidebar */}
<div
style={{
width: 176,
flex: "none",
display: "flex",
flexDirection: "column",
gap: 4,
padding: 18,
borderRight: `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`,
background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-surface) 70%, transparent)",
}}
>
<div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 8, marginBottom: 14 }}>
<span
style={{
width: 22,
height: 22,
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
background: "var(--sp-accent)",
display: "grid",
placeItems: "center",
color: "var(--sp-accent-text)",
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
}}
>
N
</span>
<span
style={{
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[2]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
textTransform: "none",
letterSpacing: "0",
}}
>
Northwind
</span>
</div>
{NAV.map((item, index) => (
<span
key={item.label}
style={{
display: "flex",
alignItems: "center",
gap: 9,
height: 34,
padding: "0 9px",
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
...(index === 0 ? MATERIAL.navActive : null),
color: index === 0 ? "var(--sp-accent)" : "var(--sp-muted)",
font: `${index === 0 ? TOKENS.type.weight.strong : TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
textTransform: "none",
letterSpacing: "0",
}}
>
<svg width="17" height="17" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
<path
d={item.path}
stroke="currentColor"
strokeWidth={index === 0 ? 1.7 : 1.3}
strokeLinecap="round"
strokeLinejoin="round"
/>
</svg>
{item.label}
</span>
))}
<span style={{ flex: 1 }} />
<span
style={{
display: "flex",
alignItems: "center",
gap: 8,
paddingTop: 14,
borderTop: `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`,
}}
>
<span
style={{
width: 26,
height: 26,
flex: "none",
display: "grid",
placeItems: "center",
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 12%, transparent)",
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
}}
>
MK
</span>
<span style={{ minWidth: 0 }}>
<span style={{ display: "block", font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
Mika Ito
</span>
<span style={{ ...meta, display: "block" }}>Finance</span>
</span>
</span>
</div>
{/* Main */}
<div
style={{
flex: 1,
minWidth: 0,
display: "flex",
flexDirection: "column",
gap: 14,
padding: 18,
}}
>
{/* Header */}
<div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 10 }}>
<span style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
<span style={{ ...label, display: "block" }}>March 2026</span>
<span
style={{
display: "block",
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[4]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
textTransform: "none",
letterSpacing: `${TOKENS.type.tracking}em`,
}}
>
Overview
</span>
</span>
<span
style={{
display: "flex",
alignItems: "center",
gap: 7,
padding: "7px 11px",
background: "var(--sp-surface)",
border: `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`,
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
color: "var(--sp-muted)",
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
}}
>
<svg width="13" height="13" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
<circle cx="8" cy="8" r="5.4" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" />
<path d="M12.4 12.4 16 16" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" strokeLinecap="round" />
</svg>
Search
</span>
<span
style={{
...primary,
padding: "8px 13px",
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
textTransform: "none",
letterSpacing: "0",
}}
>
New report
</span>
</div>
{/* Stats */}
<div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 14 }}>
{STATS.map((stat) => (
<div key={stat.label} style={{ ...card, flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
<span style={{ ...label, display: "block" }}>{stat.label}</span>
<span
style={{
display: "block",
marginTop: 3,
fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums",
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[4]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
}}
>
{stat.value}
</span>
<span style={{ display: "inline-flex", marginTop: 6, ...pill(stat.up) }}>
{stat.delta}
</span>
</div>
))}
</div>
{/* Chart + ring */}
<div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 14 }}>
<div style={{ ...card, flex: 1.6, minWidth: 0 }}>
<div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "baseline", justifyContent: "space-between" }}>
<span style={heading}>Revenue by day</span>
<span style={meta}>7 days</span>
</div>
<div
style={{
display: "flex",
alignItems: "flex-end",
gap: 7,
height: 92,
marginTop: 10,
}}
>
{BARS.map((bar, index) => (
<span key={index} style={{ flex: 1, display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", alignItems: "center", gap: 5 }}>
<span
style={{
width: "100%",
height: bar.value * 74,
borderRadius: `${TOKENS.radius.sm}px ${TOKENS.radius.sm}px 0 0`,
...(index === 4
? MATERIAL.bar
: {
background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-accent) 32%, var(--sp-surface))",
border: SURFACE_BORDER,
}),
}}
/>
<span style={meta}>{bar.day}</span>
</span>
))}
</div>
</div>
<div style={{ ...card, flex: 1, minWidth: 0, display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 12 }}>
<span
style={{
width: 74,
height: 74,
flex: "none",
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
display: "grid",
placeItems: "center",
background: `conic-gradient(var(--sp-accent) 0turn ${RING}turn, color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 12%, transparent) ${RING}turn 1turn)`,
}}
>
<span
style={{
width: 52,
height: 52,
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
background: "var(--sp-surface)",
display: "grid",
placeItems: "center",
fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums",
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[2]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.mono}`,
}}
>
68%
</span>
</span>
<span style={{ minWidth: 0 }}>
<span style={{ ...heading, display: "block" }}>Budget</span>
<span style={{ ...meta, display: "block", marginTop: 4 }}>Spent $34,120</span>
<span style={{ ...meta, display: "block" }}>Left $16,170</span>
</span>
</div>
</div>
{/* Table + controls */}
<div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 14 }}>
<div style={{ ...card, flex: 1.6, minWidth: 0, padding: 0, overflow: "hidden" }}>
<div
style={{
display: "flex",
alignItems: "center",
justifyContent: "space-between",
padding: `${15}px ${15}px 8px`,
}}
>
<span style={heading}>Recent orders</span>
<span style={{ color: "var(--sp-accent)", font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
View all
</span>
</div>
{ROWS.map((row, index) => (
<div
key={row.name}
style={{
display: "flex",
alignItems: "center",
gap: 10,
height: 44,
padding: `0 ${15}px`,
borderTop: ROW_SEPARATOR,
}}
>
<span
style={{
width: 24,
height: 24,
flex: "none",
display: "grid",
placeItems: "center",
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 9%, transparent)",
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.mono}`,
}}
>
{row.name.slice(0, 1)}
</span>
<span style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
<span style={{ display: "block", font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
{row.name}
</span>
<span style={{ ...meta, display: "block" }}>{row.meta}</span>
</span>
<span style={pill(index === 0)}>{row.state}</span>
<span
style={{
width: 66,
textAlign: "right",
fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums",
font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.mono}`,
}}
>
{row.amount}
</span>
</div>
))}
</div>
<div style={{ ...card, flex: 1, minWidth: 0, display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", gap: 10 }}>
<span style={heading}>Preferences</span>
{SWITCHES.map((item) => (
<span key={item.label} style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 10 }}>
<span style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0, font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
{item.label}
</span>
<span
style={{
width: 34,
height: 20,
flex: "none",
position: "relative",
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
...(item.on ? MATERIAL.switchOn : MATERIAL.switchOff),
}}
>
<span
style={{
position: "absolute",
top: 3,
left: item.on ? 17 : 3,
width: 14,
height: 14,
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
...MATERIAL.knob,
}}
/>
</span>
</span>
))}
<span style={{ marginTop: 2 }}>
<span style={{ display: "flex", justifyContent: "space-between" }}>
<span style={meta}>Alert threshold</span>
<span style={{ ...meta, fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums" }}>62%</span>
</span>
<span
style={{
display: "block",
position: "relative",
height: 5,
marginTop: 7,
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 14%, transparent)",
}}
>
<span
style={{
position: "absolute",
inset: "0 38% 0 0",
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
background: "var(--sp-accent)",
}}
/>
<span
style={{
position: "absolute",
top: -5,
left: "62%",
width: 15,
height: 15,
marginLeft: -7,
borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
background: "var(--sp-surface)",
border: `2px solid var(--sp-accent)`,
}}
/>
</span>
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
);
}
export default LetterpressImpressionSpecimen;