Foil printing as we know it, has gradually evolved over hundreds of years, but the background concept and use, goes back thousands of years. Over 4000 years ago, in ancient Egypt, craftsmen beat gold with a hammer until a thinness of an amazing 0.1 microns was achieved. This gold leaf was then used to embellish buildings, mummies, jewelry, decoration of arms, coffins and much more.
Foil printing is a printing technology where heat, pressure, a printing die and a thin metallic film (foil) are used to imprint metallic images (text and graphics) on to various materials. Foil printing produces an incredible looking impression on the printed surface. There are various types of foil printing techniques that can be used depending on your design needs. Foil printing is also referred to as dry printing, because it does not use ink when printing. Heated metal type, metal printing plate (die), silicone die or a hot foil polymer plate is heated to the required temperature. When the heated image comes in contact with the foil, a thin layer of foil, transfers to the substrate. In other words, the heated die presses against the foil, the heat and pressure releases the finishing foil and bonds it to the substrate. Foil printing produced flat print impressions only but if combined with embossing, a 3D impression is possible, which allows the foil and Holographic foil to be raised up off the paper surface. This mix is known in the industry as foil embossing or combination embossing.