Opting for the right printing technique will influence your product presentation and branding. Letterpress printing and hot foil stamping are two popular approaches. They both supply a unique tactile and visual quality. Although, both have their own advantages and ideal use cases. We want to look at them and touch on sustainable foils too.
Hot foil stamping is where you apply pigmented or metallic foil to an exterior using pressure and heat. The process makes use of a heated metal die to press the foil onto the substrate. This can work with materials such as plastic, cardboard, and leather. What you get is a shiny, reflective finish. It stands out and has a luxurious touch.
As for letterpress, this is one of the oldest forms of printing. It originated in the 15th century. It is a relief printing process where you ink a raised surface and press it onto paper to create an impression. You end up with a debossed print where the design gets physically pressed into the material. It provides both a tactile and visual dimension.
Individual attributes
While both provide unique ways to improve printed materials, they have different attributes. These make them suitable for separate applications.
With visual effects, hot foil stamping’s main appeal is with the metallic, reflective quality of your foil. The use of coloured, holographic, or metallic foils makes the design pop so it brings a luxurious, eye-catching finish. Letterpress printing supplies a deep impression in your material, offering a debossed effect. The ink used here can be subtle or bold. Yet, it lacks foil’s shine and reflectivity.
For texture and tactile quality, hot foil stamping lies on top of the material. It adds a smooth, shiny layer to your material. There’s a slight texture but it’s not as deeply impressed into the substrate compared to letterpress. One of letterpress printing’s hallmarks is its deep impression. The raised design on the printing plate presses into the paper. As a result, you get a tactile quality you can feel with your fingertips. If you’re looking to use sustainable foils, talk to us.
Customisation options
Hot foil stamping comes with a wide array of options. This includes matte, holographic, and metallic foils. Brands can select finishes and colours to match their design aesthetic. Letterpress also offers customisation with design and ink colour. Compare to foil stamping though, you don’t have as many options.
With the use cases, hot foil stamping works better for projects needing high-end, luxurious finishes. It’s commonly employed for premium promotional materials, business cards, and luxury packaging. Metallic foil’s shiny effect makes it perfect for introducing decorative elements as well as highlighting brand logos. Letterpress printing comes in handy for projects needing a classic, handcrafted feel. It’s popular for artisan product branding, premium stationary, and wedding invitations.
Production time
Finally, there’s production time. Hot foil stamping’s cost can vary depending on how complex the design is and what foils you are using. The process needs a custom die that can add to the cost. Saying this, the striking finish is well worth the investment with luxury projects. Letterpress printing can also cost a pretty penny since you need custom plates. The process is labour intensive as well. Product times can be longer too, particularly for intricate designs needing attention to detail.
Use the best sustainable foils in the world
At Foiling Services, we can provide foils that are useful for both decorative and protective reasons. As one of the most experienced companies working in this field, we’re in the best position to help you. Moreover, our use of sustainable foils allows us to offer greener options.
So, if there’s something we can do for you, contact us today.