Hot foil stamping is commonly used in the packaging industry for a range of products, including cosmetics, food and beverage packaging, luxury goods, and more.
It can be used to add logos, branding elements, product names, and other design elements to packaging, making it an ideal choice for custom packaging applications.
In this article, we will explore the various aspects of foil stamping, including the types of hot stamping, the cost of hot foil stamping, foil stamping vs. metallic printing, foil stamping vs. embossing, and hot stamping vs. cold stamping.
Table of Contents
What is Hot Stamping?
Hot foil stamping is a printing technique that uses heat, pressure, die plate and a metallic foil to create a shiny and metallic design on a surface.
The hot foil stamping process involves first creating a die plate with the desired design. The foil is then placed over the area of the packaging where the design will be stamped, and the die is heated and pressed onto the foil with significant pressure.
Hot foil stamping is used on a wide variety of packaging materials, including paper, cardboard, and plastic. Additionally, the foil stamping color is available in a variety of colors, such as gold, silver, copper, bronze, and more.
Types of Hot Stamping Printing
Hot stamping is a process where a heated die is used to transfer a thin layer of metallic foil onto a substrate, such as paper or cardboard. There are two types of hot stamping: flat hot foil stamping and embossed hot foil stamping
Flat hot stamping is a type of hot stamping with a relief effect. Embossed hot stamping is to use an embossed die to achieve foil stamping and relief effects at one time.
Cost of Hot Foil Stamping
The cost of hot foil stamping is determined by several factors, such as the size the design, the type of foil used, and the quantity of packaging.
- Size of the design
The hot stamping area determines the amount of hot stamping used the larger the size, the more expensive the hot stamping cost, similarly, the smaller the size, the cheaper the hot stamping cost.
- Type of the foil used
There are several types of stamping foils available in the market, including metallic foils, pigment foils, holographic foils, and more.
Metallic foils are typically less expensive than holographic foils, which require a more complex manufacturing process. Additionally, some foil colors may be more expensive to produce than others,such as pearlescent pink gold.
- Quantity
The quantity of hot foil stamping can impact the unit cost of the hot foil stamping .
This is because hot foil stamping involves the creation of a custom metal die or plate that is used to apply the foil to the substrate. The cost of creating the die or plate is a one-time expense that is amortized over the entire run of the hot foil stamping job.
Therefore, the larger the quantity of items being stamped, the lower the per-unit cost of the die or plate.
Foil Stamping vs. Metallic Printing
Foil stamping and metallic printing both create a metallic finish on the packaging. However, foil stamping creates a more reflective and vibrant finish than metallic printing. Foil stamping can also be used on a wider range of substrates than metallic printing.
| Hot Foil Stamping | Metallic Printing | |
| Substrate | Appropriate for a large variety of substrates,such as fabric,paper, glass, plastic | Appropriate for paper and plastic |
| Metallic color No. | A wide range of hot stamping colors and effects, such as gold silver, white, black bronze, etc, glossy and matte effects. | 655 metallic color swatches for printing |
| Metallic lustrous | High gloss effects | Relatively weak |
| Type | Flat & reliefs | Flat |
Foil Stamping vs. Embossing
Embossing is a packaging technique where a design is raised or pressed into the substrate. Foil stamping can be combined with embossing to create a design with both a metallic finish and a raised effects. The embossed foil stamping can create a metallic and embossed.
Hot Stamping vs. Cold Stamping
Hot stamping and cold stamping are two techniques used to apply foil to a substrate. Hot stamping uses a heated die to transfer the foil onto the substrate, while cold stamping uses pressure to transfer the foil.
Hot stamping produces a more vibrant and durable finish than cold stamping. However, cold stamping can be more suitable for delicate design.
Many businesses prefer hot foil stamping with patterns and logos because it can help differentiate their products from competitors, create a premium look and feel, and increase brand recognition.
Custom packaging with hot foil stamping can also create a memorable unboxing experience for customers, leading to increased customer satisfaction and repeat business.
