The Ultimate Guide About Foil Stamping
History
Some historians believe that foil stamping is an ancient technique that the ancient Egyptians mastered. They beat metals like gold and silver paper-thin to embed them with the papyrus fibers. This special gilded paper was used during religious ceremonies and other significant events to mark its reverence and importance. Since then, the techniques got adopted by various civilizations, and some have used them to compose book covers of essential publications to make them stand out.
In the initial era of printing, the process was elaborate and time-consuming. It required the use of custom-shaped dies and hand-set lettering. The pressure was applied via a press to stamp metallic foil-based thin coating in letter and die forms. Like the Egyptian technique, this metal-based foil was beaten manually as well. The metals are also comprised of similar elements like gold and silver etc. This process was costly and could only be afforded by a few as the costs were steep due to labor-intensive workload and precious metal involvement. By the last era of the nineteenth-century modern hot foil stamping application procedure was discovered, which used;
- Heat
- Pressure
Some years later, the printers benefited from the economies of scale as the industry modernized the foil material, and its use became common. No more were precious metals beaten manually; instead, scientists learned how to atomize metal and transfer them to polyester. In the case of hot foil stamping, they were transferred to film rolls via specific printing machines.
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Although technology has evolved much in the current era, basic application procedures remain more or less the same. Today, printers use specialized machines to tackle foil stamping in various formats and processes. Some devices can exclusively manage the process digitally, which controls costs and faster job completion time. When using a die, seasoned printers know the importance of using brass, magnesium, copper, etc., which can be used multiple times. The application of foil stamping is evident on products like;
- Customized labels and stickers (Often use flat foil stamping, which is a cost-effective procedure that uses a copper or magnesium stamp to copy the foil onto the substrate in a 3-D like look with a raised surface)
- Holiday cards (Uses matte foil to add a sophisticated depth to the color, making them richer)
- Important Certificates
- Official Seals (Use holographic foil for identification, ultra-modern space-age attraction)
- Product packaging (It often uses gloss foil – It gives a glaze in versatile colors)
- Rigid Boxes
- Wedding cards, etc. (often use special effects foil to duplicate the texture of leather and marble.)
Explore the Good and the Bad of Hot Foil Stamping
Today printers can use this option to create engaging visual content and alleviate the perception of products amongst their target demographic. It becomes possible when a foil-covered in color is applied to a packaging box. The pigment goes on a transparent film or foil, which transfers it to the final product. For further processing, it is essential to understand the benefits and disadvantages. Different styles in foiling like;
- Sculpted foil stamping uses brass custom-shaped dies for 3-D like raised foil images.
- Vertical foil stamping helps print hot foil stamping on flat and cylindrical areas with different pros and cons.
Hot Foiling Advantages
- Due to the opacity of the foil medium, its color does not change according to color paper or other printing factors.
- The lighter colors in foil look beautiful on dark-themed paper or colored paper options.
- The printing companies will have to select semi-transparent tint foils to show paper.
- Multiple finishes in foil are available like; metallic, pearlescent, patterns, etc.
- It is an eco-friendly feature for enhancing the appearance of the substrate.
- It helps the brands identify themselves in the high-quality and prestigious brand category.
- It is easy to use infusion with other add-ons and features like embossing, debossing, etc.
Hot Foiling Disadvantages
- This process is based on manual labor and multiple flows through the press and, as a result, is a relatively costlier option than other add-ons
- Some processes like peripheral foil stamping may require precaution near thermographic resins as foiling may cause them to melt as it uses heat on the product circumference
- Some printers may find the cost of dies used expensive
Applications of Hot Foiling
a) Augments the Retail Packaging Appeals
No one can deny the charm and grace that foiling adds to retail packaging. This feature has the power to hold the audience’s attention from the moment they set their eyes on the retail packaging on display. Therefore, companies use it in one way or another to make it a part of their packaging as a decorative feature or authentication seal. The great thing about foiling is that printers and clients can use it in fusion with other add-ons. Foiling looks extremely attractive when embossing, which adds a 3D-like appeal to packaging. Different foil types instantly uplift the product’s looks when used with embossing features to highlight the logo and symbols.
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b) Vector-Based Design
Foil designs are composed of vector as it requires a resolution of 2000dpi. Lesser resolution can cause the foil to become uneven during the application and mar the look ultimately.
c) Spacing and Lining
When working with foil, printers must determine the minimum font size according to the design sizes and other design details. The text may appear larger in foil as compared to inked print text. Many recommend font size eight as a minimum and nothing smaller. Accordingly, the minimum line weight recommendation is 0.25 pt. It is important to remember that there is no room for hairline when working with foil. Therefore, text placement must ensure even spacing (with more room than standard printed text) and maximum readability. This space is inclusive of kerning and leading.
We hope that reading through the article will help the audience understand the evolution of technology, its limitations, and the benefits of hot foil stamping.
