A gold logo that sparkles in the light, or silver lettering on matt black board: hot foil stamping is one of the most effective finishes for packaging. It instantly gives products a premium, often festive character. Here is how the process works and when it pays off.
In hot foil stamping, a heated stamping die is pressed with high pressure onto a foil and the board beneath it. Heat and pressure release the colour or metal layer from the carrier film. Where the design is, it bonds permanently to the material. The result is a shiny, very precise surface with a true metallic effect. Normal printing cannot achieve this effect.
The combination of hot foil and embossing looks especially elegant. The design shines and is raised at the same time, so you can feel it. Read more about embossing in our article Raised varnish and embossing.
Besides hot foil, there is cold foil. Here the foil is applied with adhesive directly in the printing press and can then be overprinted. This creates metallic shades in many variations. Cold foil is economical mainly for large runs. Hot foil, on the other hand, usually offers a more intense shine. It also suits textured materials and combines well with embossing.
Use foil selectively. Small accent areas affect the recyclability of cardboard packaging far less than large foiled surfaces. And they often look even more elegant.
Would you like to give your packaging a special shine with hot foil? We will advise you on foil, material and combinations and send you a binding quote within 24 hours. For an overview of other finishes, see our article Special surface finishes.
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