Digital foil printing has a lot of differences from classic block foil printing. Even so, both techniques will leave print items with metallic, shiny accents. As such, there isn’t a wrong choice if you’re thinking about foiling services. What’s different though is the manner in which they are finished and printed. There’s also the final effect you receive. Since brochures are among the most effective marketing materials, you need to know if digital foil printing is the best option. That’s what we are going to discuss here.
Comparisons
Firstly, we’ll compare digital printing to foil blocking. The traditional approach involves applying metallic foil to cards or paper via heated plates. It results in foil elements with debossing and texture as the foil presses onto the paper stock or card.
As for digital foil printing, it doesn’t utilise plates. Rather, it’s printed straight from a file on a computer. Thus, there are low set-up costs. The foil sticks to your design to create a shiny metallic effect. When you use digital printing in moderation, it can work wonders for brochures. This is if you’re attempting to come across as a premium brand.
Advantages of digital foil printing
Like any foiling method, digital printing has its pros and cons. The advantages include speed. Production times go down a lot if you compare to the classic blocking approach. This is because you don’t need to use any ink or plates. Moreover, if you’re working on a tight schedule, it’s a less risky approach.
You also have plenty of options with digital printing. The technology and software available on computers today means there are less restrictions. It’s possible to be more intricate with designs. Contact us if you need the best foiling services.
The third advantage is personalisation. When you intend to create brochures, much focus goes into standing out from all the others. Thanks to digital printing, there’s no need to settle for a single design for each brochure; personalisation is possible for different needs.
Something else you have here is flexibility. Even after you’ve applied your foil digitally, it’s possible to take things a step further and add more printing. This includes varnish as an example. You can apply this to generate a different effect for the finish. There will be a more level surface that leaves a wonderful impression.
Lastly, there is high visibility. Digital printing leads to high quality, high visibility products. Consumer psychology reveals that the more appealing an item is, the greater the chance people will pay attention. That is definitely something you want for brochures.
Digital’s downsides
We’ve looked at the positives, so now it’s time for the negatives. It is just as important to look at them as the benefits to see what type of foiling services to go for.
Firstly, digital printing can undermine the quality if you don’t choose the right stock. The foil can look premium on a brochure. Yet, it won’t enhance the product much if you use cheap, low quality materials for brochures. As we said above, traditional block foil uses printing plates. Since this is the case, it’s superior to digital in terms of working on any stock.
The second con is that too many options isn’t always preferable. Digital printing lets you create separate kinds of brochures as it’s all performed digitally. So, it’s far easier to go off-brand with the colours you use. The world’s biggest companies favour consistency to promote their brand. You should do the same. It can be tempting to use silver, gold, red, or any coloured foil on your brochure. Although, it can take away something important from your brand if it becomes less recognisable.
Finally, higher quantities lead to high costs. Digital printing is the more cost efficient approach on paper. But, it’s not guaranteed to be if you are after higher amounts of brochures that all have digital printing. If you’re creating a commercial volume, it won’t be the cheapest option.
Conclusion
As for whether digital foil printing is the best choice for brochures, in short, it could be. Depending on your project though, it’s not your sole option. Traditional foil blocking can work wonders as it excels in areas digital print does not.
We know what to do if you need foiling services
At Foiling Services, we use the best equipment to perform all our foiling work. Due to this, we have very few restrictions on what we can do for you. For example, you can choose from a huge array of different foil colours. It gives you more chances to be creative with designs. Thanks to our deep understanding of the process, we also know how to avoid common mistakes too.
So, if you’d like to use our foiling services, please get in touch. We’ll help you make the impression you want to.