Foil Stamping

Hot foil stamping/printing directs pre-dried ink and foil onto surfaces using high heat and pressure. The process sinks customized dies containing designs and text into each item. Pressure melds the foil or ink into the designs and patterns. Leather, vinyl, plastics, and ceramics can all receive metal foil or metallic inks. Creating the dies makes this method more expensive than cold press and metallic ink methods, but hot foil printing is more durable than cold.

Applying genuine gold and silver foil onto paper is an ancient practice. Closer to the modern era, printers developed a technique during the 1830s that used heat and pressure to sink gold foil into bookbinding materials. The 1880s introduced a new hot-stamping technique that substituted less-expensive silver for gold leaf. During the late nineteenth century, Ernst Oeser not only filed the first patent for his improvements to hot stamping presses, but he also developed the precursor of the modern metallic foil we use today. His inexpensive foil was the first not to contain precious metals. These innovations meant that the technique was more accessible than ever before to the general consumer. The foil also took on every rainbow shade besides gold, silver, copper, and bronze tones.

Foil found its way everywhere after the U.S. Civil War. Manufacturers, retailers, bookbinders, and printers capitalized on applying hot foil stamping type to signage and products. Shiny letters and numbers on book covers and labels helped their items stand out on shelves and displays. Stationers’ and printers’ access to foil printing meant that their customers could use metal touches on their business stationery and business cards.

Bestype offers cold and hot foil printing — NYC graphic designers use it for many of their event projects. We find three advantages of choosing hot stamp foil printing over cold stamping for your projects:

Advantage #1

It’s clean. Hot foil stamping uses foil and not ink, a less messy prospect for our technicians. There are no liquid metallic inks to blend and no unfortunate ink spills to clean. Your design generally doesn’t require touching up when it exits the press.

Advantage #2

It’s consistent. Manufacturers grade sheets of hot stamping foil by lot color. Printers rely on grading to ensure that every item is identical. Customers who choose cold stamping methods like metallic ink printing may discover variations in color in their items.

Advantage #3

It’s durable. After a very long time, the hot-stamped foil may rub away from an item. Because hot stamping leaves an impression on an item, a restoration expert could apply more foil to the faded area.

Bestype makes it simple to add shine and sparkle to any printing project. Would you like to receive a free foil stamping project consultation and quote? Stop by and view real-life examples of hot foil stamping for a little creative jumpstart. We’re here to help you design cards, stationery, and more for your next event. Contact us today about how we can help you print your next design quickly and accurately.