Foiling for Print
Table Talkers can add a touch of luxury to your marketing materials with foil stamping, a technique that adds metallic and shiny logos or text to business cards, flyers, and product packaging boxes. At Table Talker Printing, you can choose between two foiling methods – digital foiling and hot foil stamping. While both methods enhance the design, they differ in the process and outcome. To help you make the best choice for your print requirements, we have created a quick guide to outline the differences between digital foiling and hot foil stamping.
Digital Foiling
If you’re seeking a more cost-effective option or a faster turnaround time, digital foiling is the way to go. This method utilizes a digital artwork file that instructs the digital foil machine on where to apply the foil onto the paper, making the process quicker and more efficient.
The pros of digital foiling:
Digital foiling is particularly cost-effective for shorter print runs, making it the more economical option if you only need to add foil to a small quantity of items. In such cases, it may not be worth investing in a hot foil die that would be required for hot foil stamping. Additionally, digital foiling offers quicker production times, as it eliminates the need to assemble a die block, making it the perfect choice for last-minute print runs.
The cons of digital foiling:
It’s worth noting that digital foiling typically requires a laminated surface to produce optimal results. While this may not be a problem if you had planned on adding lamination anyway, it does limit your options for achieving a more natural finish, as you’re restricted to using either matt or soft touch lamination. Additionally, while digital foiling can still produce impressive results, it may not achieve the same level of presentation quality as hot foil stamping. Unlike hot foil stamping, which creates a debossed effect on the paper, digital foil sits on the surface of the print and doesn’t catch the light as effectively, although the difference is minimal.
Digital foiling at Better Printing
Hot foil stamping
Hot foil stamping is the ideal choice if you’re seeking premium foiling quality. This method employs a press that uses a unique custom-made die, the paper product to be foil-stamped, and a sheet of foil positioned in between them. The die plate is heated up, then pressed onto the foil and printed item. Only the areas of the foil which come into contact with the die are transferred onto the paper, resulting in a debossed effect on the paper. However, it’s worth noting that there will be additional costs associated with hot foil stamping. You’ll need to pay an additional fee for the assembly of your foiling die, which will vary depending on the size of the area you’re looking to foil on your printed items. This extra cost may not be as much of an issue if you’re seeking a large quantity of foil-stamped items.
Custom brass die block for foiling
Coloured hot stamping foils
The pros of hot foil stamping:
For more professional and intricate designs, hot foiling is the preferred option as it provides finer detailing for rendering small and/or thin text. Additionally, the stamping process creates a subtle debossed effect on the foiled elements, which enhances their shimmer under the light. Hot foil stamping is also more cost-effective for longer print runs, as while it may be pricier for small-quantity orders, the cost quickly balances out if you’re looking to print a large batch of items.
The cons of hot foil stamping:
However, it’s worth noting that hot foiling does come with increased production times. The process of creating a custom die block takes longer, so if you’re working on a tight deadline or need an urgent order at the last minute, digital foiling is a better option. Regardless of your choice, Table Talker Printing can accommodate both digital foiling and hot foil stamping in-house at our Southampton print factory, so you won’t have to worry about any extra outsourcing costs.
Hot foil stamping machine
If you have any additional questions about any type of foiling then call us on 023 8087 8037 or email us.