Hot foil stamping
Precious metal and eye-catcher for your print product
In hot foil stamping, also known as “embossed foil printing” in Germany, real metal is melted onto paper or card under heat and pressure using an embossing stamp. In addition to paper, cardboard and paperboard, many plastics or self-adhesive films can also be imaged in this way. The surface is additionally smoothed by the heat of the embossing cliché, so the results usually show very good light reflection, right up to a reflective effect on homogeneous materials. This is a major process advantage over similar techniques, such as cold foil stamping.
Flat, 3D or micro embossing
Depending on the embossing tool, hot foil stamping can be carried out in 3 different ways:
- Flat, at paper level
- Three-dimensionally formed out of the paper, so-called relief foil embossing
- Textured foil embossing with extremely fine micro-embossing within the metallization. Customized texts or logos can also be incorporated into the metal.
Gold, silver, bronze and more on printed matter
In addition to metallization, for example in gold, often referred to as gold embossing, silver, metallic inks or hologram effects, there is also a wide range of non-metallic shades. These are used where images cannot be created using conventional printing processes, for example on book covers with linen covers.
The term embossing foil is somewhat misleading, as no foil is melted on. The PET film, which is only 12µm thick, is merely the carrier medium for the real metal or the color pigments. It is peeled off again and does not remain on the paper after printing.
Embossing foils in many colors and effects
Draw on the full range of embossing foils for your graphic design:
- Gold metallic in various color nuances, matt as well as glossy
- Silver metallic, matt and glossy, also in silver gray or platinum
- Metallic bronze and copper shades
- Metallic shades such as red, green, blue, turquoise, pink and many more
- Brushed aluminum
- Colorful non-metallic
- Mother-of-pearl
- Iridescent hologram effects in rainbow colors, silver, gold and bright colors
- Metallic effects, such as rainbow color gradients, shimmering puddles of oil or patterns with an antique patina
- Metallic features as counterfeit protection, for example with two-dimensional motion sequences with changing viewing angles or microtexts
- Single image holograms for particularly high demands on counterfeit protection or decorative value
Foil embossing on challenging materials
Where conventional printing processes fail, foil embossing can often be used for effective lettering and design. Whether 3mm thick gray cardboard, book covers with linen coating, heavily textured surfaces, dark-colored cardboard or even wooden strips, to name a few examples.
Foil stamping on finished objects
Subsequent printing and lettering on finished objects is usually requested in real metallic gold or silver. However, various bright colors are also possible. Objects up to 50 mm thick can be processed without any problems. Typical examples are
- Wooden parts, such as table stands, board games or picture frames
- Leather goods such as ID card holders, credit card cases, manicure sets, sewing sets, bracelets and wallets
- Messenger bags, handbags
- Document folders, document sleeves, document pockets, conference folders
- Promotional gifts
- Luggage tag
- Have finished books printed, such as pocket calendars, coloring books, notebooks, ring binders, etc.
- Have ready-made paper carrier bags or bags made of paper or plastic printed
- Parking disks
- Key rings and key bags
- Writing sets and desk pads
- Pencils, colored pencils and pens made of wood, provided they are 4 or 6-sided in cross-section
- Ruler, set square and carpenter’s folding rule (wooden folding ruler)
- Wooden coasters and chopping boards for decorative purposes
- Panels, strips and battens made of wood or cork
Caution: This requires objects that can be laid flat with an equally flat surface, parallel to the base. Curved shapes or surfaces with height differences are not suitable.
