Introducing Foil Press Wedding Stationery

Hot Foil Stamping & Digital Foil Printing – What’s the difference?

There are a couple of main types of foiling on the market today, Hot Foil Stamping & Digital Foil printing.  It can be easy to confuse them when purchasing so it’s good to understand the different processes so that you can determine whether the items have been priced fairly and the outcome is as you expected.

What is Hot Foil Stamping?

Hot stamping or foil stamping is an artisan printing method in which foils are transferred to a surface with pressure and at high temperatures. First a metal stamping plate (also known as a die) needs to be manufactured for each design from a solid block of metal. This is then mounted onto a heated press machine along with the card you would like printed.  

Essentially, the die is heated to very high temperatures and then pressed into card with the foil carrier film between the two, leaving a beautiful foiled impression.  Because of how the foil is pushed into the paper it leaves a debossed effect.  It can be a lengthy and costly process and usually done with a traditional hand press machine.  Check out the star of the show, the magic machine below!

It is undeniably one of the most luxurious and beautiful forms of printing that is worth the higher price tag. It is more suited to large print runs as the original cost of the blocks can be distributed over the number of items ordered. The variety of types, colours, and thickness of card that can be used is vast. It looks beautiful on light and dark backgrounds alike.

We are very excited to be introducing our brand-new range of Luxury Pocketfold envelopes. They’re still DIY pocketfolds but with an added touch of glamour to really make an impression.  This is undeniably one of the most luxurious effects that can be applied to paper and card, it provides eye-catching elegance and glamour and adds a luxurious, formal feel to any wedding stationery. It’s an incredibly satisfying art form that provides precision and sharpness in the detail. The slightly debossed finish ensures the foil reflects and catches the light as it’s moved.
Hot foiling by hand using traditional machines and techniques is a process that hasn’t changed much over time as there really is nothing like this artisan process. It’s timeless and elegant and will ensure your Wedding Invitations and Save the Dates really stand out.

Not sure where to start or what’s possible? Just email us and we’ll be happy to advise you. Our listings only show a small selection of what is possible so get in touch and let us know what you’re looking for.

What are the Disadvantages of Hot Foil Stamping?

It’s a very labour-intensive form of foiling. That and the cost of creating a custom metal printing die for each print job means that it is one of the most expensive forms of printing.  We’ve done our very best to keep our pricing as low as possible without compromising on quality! Pairing generic designs with digital printing can make it more affordable but limits the type of card that can be used. Once the block has been created, it can’t be edited. So, it is essential to get it right from the start.
Due to the ‘hand pressed’ process, the outcome can vary slightly between each print making them not quite as consistent as digital foiling but with a far more luxurious feel regardless.  

What is Digital Foiling?

With digital foiling, an image or text is printed using pure black toner. It is then run through a foiling machine where the toner heats up and the foil adheres to the black toner. The finish is flat and sits on the surface of the card or paper.

Digital foiling is a relatively inexpensive and therefore the most economical form of foiling. It’s faster to produce than traditional foiling. It allows for more versatile designs and also for variable printing such as having personalised guest names on invitations. It doesn’t require a customised block or stamping die. At Vintage Prints it is available on smooth white or cream card. Foil colours available are gold, silver, and rose gold. You get a flat metallic printing effect but without the additional cost.

What are the Disadvantages of Digital Foiling?

The finish is not as sharp on any cardstock that is even slightly textured and can be bitty. This is why we only offer this option on smooth card where a great quality finish is achieved. It’s a flat finish without any indentation on the card as no die is used. Cardstock variety is limited due to the limitations of digital foiling. Only an exceptionally smooth card works and it’s best to avoid very small or fine-detailed fonts.