Premier Letters User Manual

Premier Letters turns your typed messages into robotically handwritten letters, cards, or postcards—then mails them through USPS. No robots required on your end. This manual covers everything from sending your first letter to managing bulk campaigns, custom handwriting, and account settings.

1. Quick Start

Ready to send your first letter? Here's the essentials in five minutes.

Path: Sign Up → Compose → Recipients → Submit → Confirm

1. Sign up at premierletters.com (or log in if you have an account).

2. Navigate to Compose at /order (or click "Compose" from the dashboard).

3. Pick your format:

   • Letter — full-page handwritten message in an envelope.
   • Card — A2-sized card with a handwritten message.
   • Postcard — single-sided postcard (no envelope).

4. Choose paper quality:

   • Standard — quality white stationery.
   • Premium — luxury cream cardstock (costs extra).

5. Select a font — the handwriting style. We provide several presets; you can also create your own via the Inkwell Studio.

6. Type your message — up to 500 characters. Use merge fields like {{first_name}} to personalize each recipient's copy (see Composing a Letter for details).

7. Add recipients — paste their addresses or enter manually. Addresses are validated against USPS rules (required: first & last name, street address, city, US state code, 5- or 9-digit ZIP).

8. Authenticate your letter — choose a preset (None, Subtle, Natural, or Chaotic) to add handwriting realism. You'll see a live preview.

9. Review preview — scroll through recipient variants to confirm the message and layout work.

10. Accept terms and choose your mailing option (see Mailing Options section):

    • We Mail It — we apply postage and send directly. Costs most but is fastest (arrives in 3–5 business days).
    • Ship to Me (with stamps) — we mail you all letters with stamps already applied; you drop them in a mailbox.
    • Ship to Me (no postage) — you apply your own postage.

11. Enter payment and submit. Your order enters the production queue.

12. Track status at /dashboard → click your order to see real-time status (pending payment → approved → in production → mailed).

2. Composing a Letter

The Compose page (/order) is where you fine-tune every detail of your letters, cards, or postcards.

2.1 Format Selection

Letter, Card, or Postcard?

• Letter — 8.5" × 11", handwritten message in a window envelope. Best for formal business correspondence.
• Card — 5.5" × 8.5" folded (A2), message on interior. Best for greetings and personal notes.
• Postcard — 4" × 6", one-sided. Best for quick updates and lightweight bulk sends.

2.2 Paper Quality

Standard ($0 upcharge per piece) — white stationery. Professional and clean.

Premium ($0.50 upcharge per piece) — cream-colored luxury cardstock. Higher perceived value; better for special occasions.

The price shown on the page updates dynamically based on your selection.

2.3 Font Selection

Click the Font Picker to browse available handwriting fonts. Each font has:

• A preview of your message text
• The font's name and creator (if custom)
• A "Select" button

Tips:

• Fonts vary wildly in character shapes, size, and personality. Always preview before committing.
• Your profile can have a default font (set in Settings); the Compose page loads it automatically.
• Newly saved fonts appear within seconds of creation.

Custom fonts: Build your own handwriting via the Inkwell Studio (see Custom Fonts section). Capture your actual handwriting, trace it, and save as a reusable font.

2.4 Message Authoring & Merge Fields

Type your message in the text box (up to 500 characters).

Personalization with merge fields:

Insert {{field_name}} to automatically customize each recipient's letter. Available fields:

Example message:

Hi {{first_name}},

Thank you for your order #{{order_id}}!

Your item shipped from {{location}} and will arrive by {{date}}.

Best regards,
Customer Service

The preview on the right updates as you type, showing how merge fields resolve for each recipient.

2.5 Authenticity Controls (Humanization)

The Authenticity Presets slider lets you add handwriting effects:

• None — clean, mechanical rendering. No wobble or variation. Matches what you see in the preview pixel-for-pixel.
• Subtle — light baseline wander, minor pressure variation, and paper tilt. Looks mostly controlled but subtly human.
• Natural — moderate wander, fatigue effects, and character-size variation. Noticeably human but still legible.
• Chaotic — heavy wobble, wild pressure swings, and tilt. Highly authentic but harder to read.

Important: The preview now renders humanization effects accurately. What you see is what the machine writes. (Prior to v6, the preview dropped humanization while the machine added it—fixed in this release.)

You can also fine-tune individual sliders (baseline wander, pressure variation, paper tilt, etc.) for precise control.

2.6 Preview Behavior

The Preview Panel on the right shows a live rendering of your letter, card, or postcard.

Navigation:

• Use the Recipient Arrows (< / >) to cycle through each recipient's personalized copy.
• Use the Zoom slider to enlarge or shrink the preview.
• Scroll to see the full page, including envelope address (if included).

Expected differences from final output:

• Font rendering is approximate (heuristic scaling from vector glyphs).
• Glyph variants are randomized per-render (if your font has multiple styles for the same letter). Re-rendering shows different variants.
• The machine may slightly adjust ink pressure and baseline based on real paper.

Preview updates live as you edit the message, font, or authenticity settings.

2.7 Terms & Submission

Before submitting, review:

• The recipient list (double-check addresses).
• The authenticity preset (you'll see it applied in the preview).
• The mailing option (who pays for postage).

Check the "I agree to the Terms of Service" box, then click Submit Order.

Your order enters the payment flow. Once payment is confirmed, the order moves to the production queue.

3. Quick Send (Unauthenticated Fast Path)

URL: /quick-send

Quick Send is the fastest way to send a single letter without logging in. Perfect for one-off mailings or if you don't want to create an account.

3.1 When to Use Quick Send

• Single recipient — Quick Send handles one letter at a time, no bulk lists.
• No login required — perfect for sharing a "send a letter" link.
• Fast turnaround — compose and pay in under 2 minutes.

3.2 Quick Send Flow

1. Recipient address — enter first/last name, street, city, state, ZIP.
2. Message — type your letter (no merge fields—this is a one-off).
3. Font & paper — pick a font and paper quality (same as Compose).
4. Authenticity — choose a preset for handwriting effects.
5. Mailing option — pick your postage tier.
6. Pay — enter card details and submit.

Payment goes directly through Stripe. No account created unless you opt to sign up.

3.3 Expected Delivery

"We Mail It" tier: 3–5 business days.

"Ship to Me" tiers: 5–7 business days (depends on postal transit).

4. Campaigns & Drip

URL: /campaigns/new

Campaigns let you send bulk letters, cards, or postcards—instantly or on a schedule. Drip campaigns add follow-ups automatically.

4.1 Immediate vs. Scheduled vs. Drip

Immediate campaign:

• Composes once, sends to all recipients right away.
• Useful for time-sensitive bulk mailings.

Scheduled campaign:

• You specify a future date (e.g., Jan 15, 2026 at 9 AM UTC).
• On that date, the campaign fires automatically.
• Important: Scheduled campaigns fire once per day at 09:00 UTC (Vercel Hobby plan limitation). If you schedule two campaigns for the same day, both fire at 09:00 UTC.

Drip campaign:

• Sends a first letter immediately, then follow-ups after delays.
• Up to 2 follow-up letters (e.g., first letter now, second after 3 days, third after 7 days).
• Each follow-up fires on its own scheduled date.

4.2 Campaign Wizard

Step 1: Campaign Details

• Campaign name (for your records).
• Immediate or scheduled (pick your launch time).
• Drip settings (if adding follow-ups).

Step 2: Recipients

Upload a CSV or paste a recipient list. Required columns:

first_name,last_name,address_line1,city,state,zip
Alice,Smith,123 Main St,Springfield,IL,62701
Bob,Johnson,456 Oak Ave,Shelbyville,KY,40065

Optional columns:

• address_line2 — suite, apt, etc.
• company — organization name.
• Custom fields (use {{field_name}} in message).

Each row becomes one mailpiece.

CSV validation:

• State codes must be valid 2-letter US codes (IL, KY, NY, etc.). Invalid states are rejected.
• ZIP codes must be 5 digits or 5+4 format (e.g., 62701 or 62701-1234).
• If validation fails, you see an error; fix and re-upload.

Bulk paste alternative: Click Bulk Paste to copy-paste addresses directly (hand-crafted format). The parser is lenient but CSV upload is more reliable.

Step 3: Message & Styling

• Type your message (up to 500 characters).
• Use merge fields ({{first_name}}, {{company}}, custom fields).
• Pick font, paper quality, and authenticity preset.
• Toggle envelope on/off (letters/cards only).
• Live preview cycles through recipients.

Step 4: Follow-Up Letters (if drip)

Add up to 2 follow-ups. For each:

• Delay in days (e.g., 3 days after first letter sends).
• New message (or reuse the first letter's message).
• Same font/paper/authenticity or customize.

Example:

• Letter 1 (immediate): "Thank you for signing up!"
• Letter 2 (3 days later): "Here are next steps..."
• Letter 3 (7 days later): "Still have questions? Call us."

Step 5: Per-Recipient Return Address (Optional)

If your recipients list includes a return_address column, the campaign wizard detects it and lets you preview per-recipient overrides. Otherwise, the single return address you specify is used for all.

Step 6: Mailing Options & Review

• Pick your postage tier (We Mail It, Ship to Me, etc.).
• Review recipient count, total cost, and send date.
• Accept terms and submit.

4.3 Campaign Scheduling Details

Immediate campaigns fire instantly upon payment confirmation.

Scheduled campaigns are queued. At 09:00 UTC daily:

• The cron job checks for due campaigns.
• All campaigns with scheduled_at <= NOW() and status scheduled fire.
• Each becomes a real order with production jobs created.

Drip follow-ups inherit the schedule:

• If the parent fires on Day 1, follow-up #1 (delay=3) fires on Day 4 at 09:00 UTC.
• Follow-up #2 (delay=7) fires on Day 8 at 09:00 UTC.

Note on timing: If you schedule a campaign for "2026-05-10" without specifying a time, it's treated as 2026-05-10 00:00:00 UTC, which means it fires the same day at 09:00 UTC.

4.4 Campaign Status

Once submitted, your campaign shows in the dashboard with a status:

• Pending — awaiting payment or scheduled date.
• Processing — currently being launched (converting recipients into an order).
• Completed — order created and sent to production.
• Failed — an error occurred; check the error message.

Click your campaign to see details and the resulting order ID.

5. Recipients Management

URL: /recipients

The Recipients page is where you store address books for reuse across orders and campaigns.

5.1 Recipient Lists

Create named lists to organize recipients:

• Create a list — click "+ New List" and give it a name (e.g., "Q4 Leads" or "Birthday Club").
• Add recipients — individually or via CSV bulk import.
• Manage members — edit, delete, or move recipients between lists.

5.2 Adding Recipients

Individually:

1. Click "+ Add Recipient".
2. Enter first name, last name, street address, city, state, ZIP.
3. Optionally add a company and a second address line (apt/suite).
4. Assign to a list (or leave unassigned).
5. Click "Save".

Via CSV:

1. Click "Upload CSV".
2. Prepare a file with columns: first_name, last_name, address_line1, city, state, zip (and optional address_line2, company).
3. Select the file.
4. Optionally pick a destination list.
5. The recipients are added (invalid rows are skipped with error messages).

5.3 CSV Format

first_name,last_name,address_line1,address_line2,city,state,zip,company
Alice,Smith,123 Main St,Apt 4B,Springfield,IL,62701,Acme Inc
Bob,Johnson,456 Oak Ave,,Shelbyville,KY,40065,
Charlie,Brown,789 Elm St,Suite 200,Shelbyville,OH,45875,Brown Consulting

Validation:

• state must be a valid 2-letter US code.
• zip must be 5 or 9 digits (5+4 format).
• Missing or invalid rows are reported; fix and re-upload.

5.4 Search & Filter

Use the search box to find recipients by name. Filter by list to see only members of a specific group.

6. Custom Fonts (Inkwell Studio)

URL: /inkwell/studio

The Inkwell Studio is where you capture your own handwriting, trace it, and turn it into a reusable font. This is a 30+ minute process but creates truly personalized letters.

6.1 What is a Custom Font?

A custom font is a digital model of your actual handwriting. You capture it on paper, the Studio traces the outlines, and you save it as a font that can be used across any letter, card, or postcard.

6.2 Workflow (High-Level)

1. Capture — Print a worksheet with letter outlines. Use a pen to write over them.
2. Photo — Take a clear photo of your writing.
3. Upload — The Studio analyzes your photo and traces the strokes.
4. Edit — Fine-tune the traces, adjust baselines, and refine character spacing.
5. Export — Save as a font and use it for all future mailings.

See the Inkwell-Specific Documentation (a separate manual) for step-by-step capture and editing details.

6.3 Using a Custom Font

Once saved, your custom font appears in the Font Picker on the Compose page (/order) and Campaigns page. Simply select it like any preset font.

7. Mailing Options

Every order includes a choice of who handles postage and delivery. Costs vary by tier.

Pricing note: Exact costs change periodically. The Compose page always shows the current price per letter, broken down by mailing option and paper quality.

8. Order Status & History

Dashboard: /dashboard

Order details: /orders/{order_id}

8.1 Order Lifecycle

An order moves through these states:

1. Pending — payment not yet collected (rare; usually resolved at checkout).
2. Approved — payment confirmed; order queued for production.
3. Paid — alias for approved (payment successfully charged).
4. Queued — waiting for a machine to become available.
5. Writing — a machine is currently writing the letters.
6. QC — quality control inspection (checking for smudges, alignment issues).
7. Mailing — prepared and handed to USPS for delivery.
8. Mailed — confirmed delivered or picked up by post office.

8.2 Dashboard View

Your dashboard shows:

• Order ID — unique identifier.
• Status — current stage.
• Letter count — how many mailpieces in this order.
• Product type — Letter, Card, or Postcard.
• Total cost — price paid.
• Created date — when you placed the order.

Click an order to see full details: recipients, message, font, authenticity settings, and real-time status updates.

8.3 ETA Estimates

• We Mail It (production + USPS transit): 3–5 business days from order placement.
• Ship to Me (with stamps): 5–7 business days (includes shipping to your address + postal transit).
• Ship to Me (no postage): 5–7 business days (you apply postage on arrival).

Delays can occur due to machine downtime, USPS delays, or peak volume periods.

9. Wet Signature Service

The Wet Signature feature lets you apply a cryptographically-verified handwritten signature to your letters, cards, and postcards. Each signature is watermarked to prove authenticity.

9.1 What Is It?

Your signature is:

• Captured and encrypted on your device.
• Applied digitally to each mailpiece during production.
• Watermarked with a verification code (scannable by recipients).
• Not truly "wet" (pen-on-paper) but cryptographically provable as authentic.

Perfect for legal contracts, executive correspondence, or premium personal notes.

9.2 Enrollment

1. Apply at /settings/signature (or click "Apply for Wet Signature" in Settings).
2. Pay the application fee ($99, one-time; refundable if your application is rejected).
3. Submit documentation — name, company, and any required supporting materials.
4. Await admin review — we verify your identity (usually 1–2 business days).
5. MFA enrollment — once approved, enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on your account for security.
6. Start signing — use {{signature}} in your message to apply your signature to letters.

9.3 Volume Limits

To prevent abuse, signature orders are volume-gated:

• Per-order limit: 50 mailpieces per order.
• Rolling-window limit: 200 mailpieces per 7 days.

Orders exceeding these thresholds are held for manual admin review (usually approved same-day).

9.4 Using Signatures

Once enrolled, add {{signature}} to your message. Example:

Dear {{first_name}},

Your contract is attached.

{{signature}}
Chief Legal Officer

The signature is rendered at production time and appears on every mailpiece in the order.

10. Printed Mailpieces (Images & Invitations)

Feature: Alternative to handwritten output.

Instead of typing a message for the machine to write, you can upload an image (photo, invitation, graphic, etc.) and we'll print and mail it.

10.1 Output Modes

Every order has an output mode (how the mailpiece is created):

• Handwritten — the iAuto machine writes your message (default).
• Printed (B&W) — we laser-print a black-and-white image and mail it.
• Printed (Color) — we inkjet-print a color image and mail it.

10.2 Use Cases

• Photos — send custom photo cards to family and friends.
• Invitations — print a designed invitation and mail it.
• Promotional cards — print company cards, coupons, or menus.
• Receipts/contracts — print and mail official documents.

10.3 Uploading an Image

1. On the Compose page, toggle Output Mode to "Printed (B&W)" or "Printed (Color)".
2. Upload your image (JPG, PNG).
3. The image is scaled to fit the mailpiece (letter, card, or postcard).
4. Preview it, confirm, and submit.

Color printing costs more than B&W. See the price breakdown on the Compose page.

10.4 Design Tips

• Resolution: Provide at least 300 DPI for sharp printing.
• Size: Design for your chosen format (Letter: 8.5"×11", Card: 5.5"×8.5", Postcard: 4"×6").
• Margins: Leave 0.5" margins on all sides to avoid edge clipping.
• B&W: Use high contrast for laser printing (black on white works best).

11. Account & Settings

URL: /settings/profile

11.1 Profile Information

Update your name, email, phone, and company information.

11.2 Default Return Address

Set a default return address (your name and address) that appears on all mailpieces. Recipients see it as the "from" address.

You can override the default return address per-order in the Compose page or per-recipient in a Campaign.

11.3 Default Font

Choose a default handwriting font that loads automatically when you start composing. Saves time if you have a favorite.

11.4 Default Mailing Option

Choose your preferred postage tier (We Mail It, Ship to Me, etc.). The Compose page loads it as your starting selection.

11.5 Default Authenticity Preset

Choose your default humanization level (None, Subtle, Natural, Chaotic). Applies to new orders unless you override.

11.6 Security & MFA

• Change password — set a new login password.
• MFA enrollment — required if you enroll in the Wet Signature service. Adds a second authentication factor to your account.

12. Troubleshooting

12.1 "My recipient was rejected"

Cause: USPS validation failed.

Reasons:

• State code is not a valid 2-letter US code (must be IL, NY, CA, etc., not "Illinois" or abbreviations).
• ZIP code is not 5 digits or 5+4 format (must be 62701 or 62701-1234, not 6270 or 627011234).
• Address is incomplete (missing city, street, etc.).
• Address is marked undeliverable by USPS (doesn't exist or is a P.O. Box).

Fix:

1. Verify the address manually against a USPS ZIP code lookup.
2. Correct the state code and ZIP format.
3. Re-upload or re-enter the recipient.

12.2 "My order is stuck in a status"

Cause: Production delay or system error.

What to do:

• Pending payment — check your email for payment issues or retry payment on the order page.
• Approved, Queued, or Writing — machines may be busy. Wait up to 24 hours. Large orders are queued fairly; smaller orders may jump ahead.
• Stuck for 24+ hours — email support@premierletters.com with your order ID. Provide a screenshot of the status page.

12.3 "Wrong font was selected"

Cause: Font variant re-roll on backspace/retype.

Explanation: When you edit your message (e.g., backspace and retype a letter), the font system randomly selects a new variant (if your font has multiple styles for the same character). This is intentional for handwriting authenticity—real handwriting varies letter-to-letter.

Workaround:

• If you prefer the same variant, toggle "Disable Variant Re-Roll" in the Authenticity Controls (Item 20 feature). This locks each character position to a deterministic variant.
• Or re-order the letter without editing the message.

12.4 "Preview looks different than my final letter"

Cause: Glyph variance, authenticity randomization, or preview limitations.

Expected differences:

• Glyph variants: If your font has multiple shapes for the same letter (e.g., two versions of 'a'), the preview and final output may show different variants (randomized per-render, unless you disable variant re-roll).
• Humanization effects: The preview now renders authenticity settings accurately (baseline wander, pressure variation, etc.). The machine writes the same effects. But ink bleed, paper wrinkles, and real-world wear are unpredictable.
• Font scaling: Vector glyphs are scaled heuristically for preview; the machine uses precise rendering. Minor size differences are normal.

To minimize surprises:

• Disable variant re-roll (Authenticity Controls) for deterministic output.
• Use "None" authenticity preset to see clean, machine-like rendering in both preview and final output.
• Test with a single-letter order before committing to a large campaign.

13. FAQ

Q: Can I send to Canada or internationally?

A: Not at this time. We only mail within the United States (50 states + DC).

Q: How long does delivery take?

A: "We Mail It" orders arrive in 3–5 business days. "Ship to Me" orders take 5–7 business days (includes your shipping time). Times exclude weekends and federal holidays.

Q: Can I get a refund if I don't like the letter?

A: Refunds are case-by-case. If the letter is genuinely defective (severe smudges, unreadable handwriting, etc.), email us at support@premierletters.com with a photo. If it's simply a style preference, we can't refund but we'll help you adjust settings for the next order.

Q: What happens if a recipient address is invalid?

A: The order is rejected before sending. You'll see an error on the Compose page listing invalid recipients. Correct the addresses and re-submit.

Q: Can I save a draft and come back later?

A: Not yet. The Compose page doesn't persist drafts automatically. Copy your message text to a notes app if you want to pause. Alternatively, place the order and contact us to hold it before production starts.

Q: Can I cancel an order?

A: Yes, if it hasn't entered production (status is still "Pending" or "Approved"). Email support@premierletters.com with your order ID. Orders in "Queued", "Writing", or later stages can't be canceled but may be eligible for a refund (case-by-case).

Q: What fonts are included?

A: We provide several preset fonts (exact list varies; see the Font Picker). You can also create custom fonts via the Inkwell Studio—that's your own handwriting, converted to a digital font.

Q: Is there a volume discount?

A: Not currently, but pricing is tiered by mailing option and paper quality. Bulk campaigns don't get a per-letter discount but you save on time by automating the send.

Q: Can I use a company logo or branding?

A: Yes. Use the "Printed" output mode and upload a B&W or color image. Or build a custom font that mimics your brand's handwriting style.

Q: What if I have a partner account or affiliate setup?

A: Partner and affiliate features are documented separately. Contact your account manager or email partners@premierletters.com.

Q: How is my signature encrypted if I enroll in Wet Signature?

A: Your signature is captured on your device, encrypted with AES-256-GCM (industry-standard), and stored securely. We never see the unencrypted signature. Decryption happens server-side only during production, and the signature is immediately applied to the mailpiece and the encrypted copy is retained for audit.

Q: Can I see an audit trail of my Wet Signatures?

A: Yes. Once enrolled, visit /settings/signature to view a log of all orders using your signature, including timestamps and mailpiece counts.

Q: What if I change my mind about Wet Signature?

A: You can revoke your signature at any time. Revocation is irreversible. Future orders can't use the signature, but past audit records remain.

14. Getting Help

• Email: support@premierletters.com
• Contact form: /contact
• Dashboard: Click your order to see real-time status and details.

If you encounter a bug or unusual behavior, include your order ID, a screenshot, and the steps to reproduce. Our team typically responds within 24 hours.

Appendix: Glossary

Authenticity preset — A handwriting-humanization setting (None, Subtle, Natural, Chaotic) that controls wobble, pressure variation, and other effects.

Merge field — A placeholder like {{first_name}} that's replaced with recipient-specific data (from the recipients list).

Mailing option — Who handles postage: We Mail It, Ship to Me (with stamps), or Ship to Me (no postage).

Output mode — How the mailpiece is created: Handwritten (iAuto machine) or Printed (laser/inkjet).

Paper quality — Standard (white stationery) or Premium (cream cardstock).

Production jobs — Internal tasks queued by the system to guide a machine through writing, quality control, and mailing.

Wet signature — A digitally-applied, cryptographically-verified signature that appears on mailpieces (not truly "wet" but legally robust).

Last updated: 2026-05-05
Version: 1.0
Manual applies to: Premier Letters v6+