So whether its a Gold logo, a Silver line or just part of the design, or text it can have a striking effect. Hot foil printing also referred to as gold blocking, foil blocking or hot foil stamping, is a dry printing process which uses rolls of coloured foil in place of ink.

The process involves having a metal plate (block or die), in negative made of the artwork, heating it up and running the foil between this and the substrate surface to be printed. 

The rolls of foil have 3 layers; the clear carrier film, the colour and finally, the all important glue layer. This varies according to the substrate the foil is being applied to.

By a mixture of dwell (time spent when foil, die and substrate are in contact), pressure and temperature (around 80-120 deg.C.) the foil will adhere to the surface of the product. It is possible to achieve striking finishes on paper, card, board, plastics, PVC, vinyl, silk and even some woods.

Hot foil printing as certain advantages over many other types of printing. It can be used to produce true 'reflective metal' printing and other effects impossible with digital or lithographic print systems, with conventional print the intensity of the print can vary, especially with litho.

Foil 'runs' are stronger and will remain consistent in colour. As a result, foil printing can be used to enhance and add special effects to conventional stationery, greetings cards, certificates etc. It is used extensively in the retail sector in the production of packaging for food and pharmaceutical products. Keep an 'eye open' when shopping next in the supermarket, you might be surprised at the amount of foiling being used. Being a dry process, printed goods can be handled immediately. The foil printed image is 100% opaque with most foils.