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- Foil is very economical when planned correctly. A slight change can save an additional run through the press or eliminate the amount of foil used to produce a job. Foil can be very competitive in cost when compared to colored ink and provide much more richness and saturation.
- Foil stamping can be either flat stamped (foil on a flat sheet) or foil embossed (raising or embossing an image with the addition of a foil).
- Smooth papers are the best for reflecting the qualities of foil, cast coated paper is optimum. Recycled stocks should be avoided.
- Avoid heavily inked or heavily coated sheets which are not porous enough for the foil to adhere properly. Plastic coatings and varnishes can prevent good foil transfer to the paper causing blisters. Wax-free formulations of ink and varnishes are recommended. Do not use rubber based inks. When foil stamping in conjunction with UV coating, it is best to foil first and UV coat over the foil.
- Foil over ink, and ink over foil requires close communication with your finisher.
- Allow the printed sheet to dry two to three days before stamping. Darker inks require four to five days of curing time.
- When intricate foiled detail is designed into a project, make sure the spacing between the lines is no less than half the thickness of the stock. Larger text sizes work better than the smaller, since foil likes to fill or “Bridge” across narrow spaces, especially with softer finish papers. When combining large solid areas with fine intricate areas, it may be necessary to foil in two passes.
- When foil stamping products for future use in laser printers, do a test of your product in the actual laser printer that is to be used. Not all foil can be successfully run through a laser printer.
- Since many pigment, pastel tint and pearl foils are translucent, their color can be changed by the color of the underlying stock, especially darker stock.
- Art Preparation: High contrast black and white type and/or art. Provide a film negative to size to create a foil-stamping die.
- Jobs must be clearly marked for gripper and side guide.
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