Foil stamping tips
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- jimzyk
I havn't dealt with it before, but just wondering does an uncoated stock take stamping better than a coated stock? And are there any limitations regarding to size of pieces being stamped?
Anybody with any knowledge on this, anything I should I be aware of when doing a printrun with a foil stamp?
- partdeux0
try not to stamp anything with fine detail and yes its possible to stamp uncoated stock
- baseline_shift0
talk to your printer.
- did that. they told me stuff.
but i want to hear from the
QBN GURUS™jimzyk - well nobody on here will be printing the piece. Id take your printers word.baseline_shift
- did that. they told me stuff.
- capn_ron0
be aware of you artwork size. Foil is expensive and if you have a huge area being stamped the price will go up quick.
- Foiling isn't that expensive, depening on size and run.shitehawke
- < read the part where i say be aware of artwork size....capn_ron
- shitehawke0
Heavier card is better than light if its going to be a deep impression (as foil is pressed into the stock like letterpress and bonded with heat).
Both uncoated and coated are fine, I've even foiled celloglazed stock successfully. The size of the piece being stamped will affect the cost (as larger areas require bigger blocks) but won't affect the stock itself. Smaller items can fill in if too fine, but a good foiler will make you aware of this before artworking and making the block.
My best suggestion is to find a good foiler and talk through what you want. They'll be able to provide good advice and samples of foil in different colours to give you a good idea of whats achieveable.
- thanks shitehawke, nice advicejimzyk
- you in IE shitehawke? any recommendations on ones you've used before?jimzyk
- Aye, I do indeed Dublin based if thats any use to you?shitehawke
- yeah if you've had good results would appreciate that muchly!jimzyk
- Ranger0
If it's the first time you are using the printer for stamping then get some samples of what they have previously done. You can get some terrible quality foil stamping.
- capn_ron0
If you use a standard foil color it won't have to be special ordered as well. I actually really like a gloss foil on a uncoated rag style paper, it is a nice look. you can even go tone-on-tone with that combo and get great results.
- I agree with all of this. Foiling can look tasty. Tasty like a fish supper!shitehawke
- shitehawke0
jimzyk, check your mail.
- gramme0
Don't do anything too delicate. Even with the best foils and papers, you can't get a clean release on a line thinner that 2 pt.
I recently did a book cover with dark blue foil on a navy uncoated vellum. The foil was glossy and only slightly darker than the paper. Looked awesome.
Agree with others about paper weight. A strong impression has a nicer feel, but needs to be stamped on 80# cover or heavier to avoid show-through.
- post that shit uprayborn3000
- sound lovely! pics or it didnt happen... 80# cover? is that a paper weight reference?jimzyk
- Yes. 80lb cover. Dunno what that = in gsm.gramme
- sisu0
Watch out when stamping on both sides of a piece of paper. If art on one side in the same position as on the other side, you're asking for problems... unless your stock is ULTRA THICK.
- _salisae_0
wear your best shoes while stamping okay?
- formed0
I love foil stamping :-)
Did our bcards and folders in 100# uncoated, looks delicious.
My printer was very helpful, showing me how different foils looked (I would have chosen the less attractive options had I not seen the samples they made).
- gramme0
The paper doesn't have to be smooth, a good vellum will work just as well. Linen, laid, hopsack, and other textures tend to look like shite with foil.
- neue75_bold0
I think foil stamping on uncoated looks much better, I think it's nice when you can see a bit of texture in the foil rather than it be all smooth like, but suppose it depends on your design...
also, if you're concerned about impression on the reverse side, you can ask your printer about foil printing vs stamping...
Here's two letterhead examples I've done that were foil printed, so that there was virtually no show-through...
- first example is a silver foil, hard to tell in the photo..neue75_bold
- nice neueutopian