What is a horizontal (西封) envelope
A horizontal (西封) envelope is a red packet laid out sideways, with the opening on the long side and the design spreading left to right, unlike the usual vertical packet. Of the 256 red packets in the joyfold catalog, 228 are vertical, 18 are horizontal (西封) and 10 are square. There are not many horizontal ones, but the wide layout suits longer brand names and illustrations with a horizontal composition.
Brand name centered
The most common use of the horizontal format is a brand name set horizontally in the middle, with the surrounding space left for a pattern. The SWISSAIRE horizontal envelope is covered with rounded squares in the same color reading “SA”, with one line of gold brand name in the center. The FOOKDAY horizontal envelope puts only the brand name on fine gold dots. The JNFR horizontal envelope places a red rounded square with four letters in the middle of flecks that look like scattered gold dust. The JSSPRAYWERKS horizontal envelope covers the ground with diagonal gold brush strokes, with the first two letters of the brand name solid and the rest only outlined.
Same-color patterns and white space
The TWOSOME plum-blossom envelope has plum branches and petals in the same color as the paper on a rose-pink ground; the only gold is the line of brand name below, and the recorded finish is foil stamping with a raised effect. With only one color, the pattern shows through relief rather than color.
Left-right split
A horizontal layout is naturally suited to two halves. The Hakka qilin horizontal envelope has a qilin head drawn in bold lines on the left half and four large characters on the right, “恭喜發財” (“wishing you prosperity”). The 柏康 horizontal envelope has a running-script greeting in the middle, a flower branch reaching from the lower left and an orchid at the upper right. The mahjong-tile text envelope scatters mahjong tiles marked “美” (“beautiful”), “帅” (“handsome”) and “發” (“prosper”) across a horizontal red ground.
Color illustration
The horizontal format can also carry a full illustration. The cartoon bus envelope has a colorful cartoon scene inside a red frame, with smiling buses parked on the left and right. The Indonesian company cartoon envelope uses a lake-blue ground showing an elder handing a red packet to a little boy. The 亚视 custom envelope and the floral letter envelope combine gold auspicious clouds, water patterns and decorative script letters.
What to confirm when choosing a horizontal envelope
- Size and contents: the opening of a horizontal envelope faces a different direction, so notes go in differently; see how to choose a red packet size.
- Flap position: the catalog shows one horizontal design together with the seal-style pattern on the flap on the back. Decide whether to print the back at the same time.
- Paper and finish: the horizontal designs above are recorded on pearlescent paper, tactile paper, red card stock and coated art paper, with finishes including full-plate custom foil stamping, embossing, raised effect and color printing; see the craft guides.
