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Techniques Foil Stamping on Difficult
Surfaces
Some surfaces do not accept foil well, if at all. Inks and varnishes
that contain high percentages of wax and substrates made of Teflon or silicone will prove
resistant to the foil's adhesive. Additionally, stamping over UV or
catalytic coatings, lacquers, and certain film laminations can be difficult. When these applications are required, consult with your
stamping supplier. Often it is better to apply the foil first, then
the coating or lamination. If possible, supply the stamper with a
sample sheet or specify the name and weight of the stock you'll be using
to ensure the proper foil is ordered.
Your best paper choices for foil stamping are
smooth, coated stock. If you're looking for optimum quality, use
cast coated paper for your stamping project. The results will be
very satisfying. The sheet will reflect light like a mirror and your
foil will have a beautiful brilliance.
Foil Over Ink
It's also important to note that wax-free inks are necessary if you are
foil stamping over a printed surface. High levels of wax in
conventional inks will melt from the heat of the die. Rubber-based
inks also can make your sheet practically impossible to stamp. If foils are to be stamped over ink, be sure to alert your printer so the
proper inks are used. In fact, because of the requirements for this
type of work, or work that butts or registers foil to printed areas, it
usually is best to establish communication between the printer and stamper at
the design phase.
Ink Over Foil
If you wish to overprint the foil with ink, there are special foil
formulations for this application as well.
Foil stamping is truly a value-added process. The cost of adding a color with foil is, in many cases, less expensive
than adding an additional color of ink. If your design is properly
structured, you can stamp multiple colors of foil in a single pass for
great cost-effectiveness. More important, the perceived image of your
piece will be
greatly enhanced – even metallic inks
can't equal the richness and saturation of color found in foils.
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