FOIL STAMPING

FOILING, OR FOIL STAMPING

Typically a commercial print process, it is the application of metallic foil, often gold or silver , but can also be various patterns or what is known as pastel foil which is a flat opaque colour or white special film-backed material. It is applied to the substrate, where a heated die is stamped onto the foil, making it adhere to the surface leaving the design of the die on the paper. 

Instead of using magnetism, plates, or inks to print words and shapes, foil stamping uses dies, or sculpted metal stamps. The heated dies seal a thin later of metallic leaf onto a surface. The foil comes in a wide roll, large enough for several passes, backed by Mylar. The hot die works similarly to a letterpress. Once heated, it presses the foil against the substrate material with enough pressure that the foil sticks only in the intended places, leaving a slight imprint.

Using several layers of foil in different colors or combining ink and foil can embellish this simple "flat" stamp. Imprinting and embossing adds even more dimensionality. The edges of the foil stamp may be straight, curved, or sculpted to make the image pop or float above the page, which makes more of an impact.

Foil leaf is available in every imaginable colour and pattern, like standard gold or marbleized green. Rarer types of leaf come in matte, pearlescent, holographic, opalescent, or glossy finish. Semi-transparent layers allow an under color to show through. Not only does it provide a uniquely vibrant image with depth, foil stamping can be applied to a much more diverse selection of substrates in comparison to ink.

Foil stamping machines, also known as hot foil stampers, use heat to transfer metallic foil to a solid surface. Examples of items that are foil stamped include pencils, napkins, matchbooks, photographs and books. The foil stamp is a permanent process. These machines are popular with wedding businesses, photography studios and other businesses that need to brand or mark products.


There is a similar process similar to foil stamping and creates a very similar look, the process is called foil fusing in which foil is fused to printer toner by means of heat.


There are two primary types of foil stamping machines. The first type is manual and the second is pneumatic (air powered). Manual foil stampers are ideal for low to medium volume jobs and the pneumatic is ideal for medium to high-volume jobs.