What is it?
Foil stamping is a specialty finishing (post-printing) process that highlights selected artwork typically with a metallic foil material stamped into the paper by using a metal die, combined with heat and pressure.
Used for over a century, foil stamping is a traditional letterpress process that combines old-world craftsmanship with modern graphics via the use of a metal die.
By itself, it creates a slight Deboss (indent) into the paper because it is “stamped” in.
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In addition to the many metallic foil colors, there are also some gloss pigment color options that aren’t metallic, such as white and black, although there are other color options.
It can be done over printing as an additional color / enhancement, or directly onto almost any paper as the only imprint.
It can also be combined with embossing (pushed up), and debossing (pushed farther down), to make it stand out more.
What makes it different?
The look and feel is defined by it’s timeless simplicity, often a classic gold or silver color stamped into paper for a look of permanence of both the printed piece and the brand or idea it represents. You can feel the subtle debossed impression, especially on softer papers.
It’s a great way to add a unique touch to printed pieces, but also can be used as the only imprint, without any ink or color printed underneath.
The price – By itself, it’s actually less expensive than 4-color printing, if the image is relatively small. Since it requires a metal die to be made with the image to be transferred, there is an initial cost for that, products in our catalog all include 12 square inches built into the foil price. Additional areas or larger areas will add to the cost.
Products to use it for:
Group B Folders (Dark linen papers)
Economy Folders (Affordable white papers)
Group A Folders (Light colored linen and other textured papers)
Certificate Holders (Dark linen papers)
Report Covers, Tax Folders (Dark linen papers)
Legal Size Folders (all papers)
Pairs well with:
Uncoated and colored papers (especially with texture, like our linen stocks)
Coated and laminated papers