Hot Stamping Foil for Paper Plastic and Leather

Foil Is Substrate Specific

Hot stamping foil is built in layers, and the release and adhesive layers are tuned to a surface type. Foils intended for paper work on coated and uncoated board and on card based tags. Foils for plastic and leather use different adhesive systems.

Test Before the Run

A short press test on the actual material answers questions that a specification sheet cannot: how the foil releases, whether fine type fills in, and how the tone reads under shop lighting. Ask for sample material for that test.

Fine Type and Solid Areas

Fine type and large solid areas want different pressure and dwell settings. If the artwork has both, expect to compromise, or split the decoration into two passes.

Matching Metallics Across Trims

Gold on foil, gold on ribbon and gold on a printed label are three different systems. If they sit together in the finished product, match them as a set rather than one at a time.

Storage

Foil rolls keep best cool, dry and in their original packing. Heat and humidity affect release behaviour long before they affect appearance.