Bienvenue Publishing Card Set Helvetic Treasures (5 pcs.)

The Small Print Collection N°16 – Mountain Crystals by Bienvenue Studios showcases five different mountain crystals from the Swiss Alps, presented photographically and graphically in the style of the Zurich design duo. Each card is an individual print image on Z-Offset natural paper with 400 g/m² – uncoated, FSC-certified, with a matte, lightly textured surface that gives the motifs a calm, earthy warmth. Printing is done using the offset process in Zurich, which enables consistent colour depth and precise contours even with mineral colour gradations.

Features

• 5 different designs: Each set contains five different mountain crystal images – no design repeated, each card a unique image.
• Z-Offset natural paper, 400 g/m², FSC-certified: Uncoated paper without coating or finish – the surface remains lightly open and textured. This gives the card substance in the hand and makes print colours appear soft and warm rather than glossy and cool.
• Offset printing in Zurich: The offset process uses physical printing plates and enables precise colour reproduction across large print runs – colour areas remain uniform, lines sharp. For the crystal motifs with their fine structures, this makes a significant difference compared to digital printing.
• Format 104 × 140 mm: Feels good in the hand, fits standard frames for small prints and C6 standard envelopes.
• Concept & Design: Bienvenue Studios, Zurich: The Zurich design duo Xiaoqun Wu and Oliver Hischier explores natural phenomena and translates them into graphic editions – the mountain crystal series is part of this ongoing engagement with alpine mineralogy.

Use & Tips

• Framing and wall display: The 104 × 140 mm format corresponds approximately to a small standard frame (e.g. 10 × 15 cm with mount). Five designs arranged side by side create a harmonious mineralogical arrangement.
• Sending as a postcard: The 400 g/m² natural paper is stable enough for unprotected postal delivery. The reverse is suitable for handwritten messages – the uncoated surface accepts ink, pencil and ballpoint well.
• Writing with pen: On uncoated natural paper, fountain pens and ballpoint pens adhere particularly well, as the lightly open-pore surface absorbs ink rather than repelling it. Fine liners and water-based inks dry quickly.
• Gift for geology and mineral enthusiasts: The historical background to crystal studies – from Greek mythology to medieval herbalism – makes the set interesting in content as well as visually.
• Complement to other sets in the series: The Small Print Collections by Bienvenue Studios follow a uniform format and paper – multiple sets can easily be combined and framed or posted together.

For Design and Print Enthusiasts

Z-Offset Natural is a natural white premium paper line by Ziegler Papier (Switzerland) – without optical brighteners, with elegant natural tinting and a closed, yet uncoated surface. At 400 g/m², the paper achieves a card-like stability that remains absolutely flat despite its volume and feel. Offset printing on uncoated paper requires precise lithography, as the ink absorbs more into the paper than on coated substrates – Bienvenue Studios accounts for this through the printing partnership in Zurich. The result: colours appear warm and deep, without the high-gloss character of coated prints.

Technical Specifications