Hot Foil Printing

Hot foil printing adds shine. A heated metal die presses a roll of foil onto the material, and the foil sticks only where the die touches, leaving a crisp metallic or coloured logo. At the same time the die presses the logo slightly into the surface, so it combines the look of print with the feel of debossing. Hot foil stamping is a favourite for premium stationery, packaging and gift boxes.

Materials suited to hot foil printing

Foil needs a smooth, heat-tolerant surface. It works well on:

• paper and card, including gift boxes, paper bags and ribbons;
• leatherette and PU covers on notebooks and diaries;
• calendars, folders and greeting cards;
• some leather and textiles, after a test.

Hot foil printing on plastic is possible on certain smooth plastics, but results depend on the material, so we check each case individually.

Pros and limitations

Foil gives an effect that ink cannot: real metallic gold, silver, copper or holographic shine, as well as matt and gloss colours. It looks premium on dark covers, adds perceived value to corporate gift boxes and suits festive packaging, such as Christmas gifts.

Like all die-based methods, it has limits. Each design needs its own die, which adds a one-off setup cost. Very fine lines, tiny text and large solid areas are tricky, because the foil may break up or fill in. Each foil colour needs its own pass, so multi-colour foiling is rarely practical. On textured surfaces the edges can look softer. For a pressed logo without colour, see embossing and debossing.

How the hot foil printing process works

• We prepare the die from your approved artwork.
• The die is heated in a foil press, and the foil is positioned between die and material.
• Pressure and heat transfer the foil to the surface in the shape of your logo.
• Items are checked for clean edges and complete coverage before packing.

Artwork for foiling

Supply a one-colour vector logo (AI, PDF, SVG or EPS), fonts outlined, without gradients or shadows. Tell us the foil effect you want, and avoid lines thinner than the material can reproduce. You receive a free digital proof first; the die is made only after you approve it. See the artwork requirements, or request a quote and we will price it for your quantity.