Foil blocking: hot foil and cold foil
Foil blocking, also called hot foiling or hot foil stamping, applies metallic foil to a printed surface using a die, heat and pressure. Cold foil bonds foil to the surface without a die or heat.
Foil on a sample
Litmus is a UK packaging mockup studio in Hull. We apply foil to physical samples so its colour and shine can be judged under real light.
Hot foil leaves a slightly debossed, shiny finish with a premium, tactile feel. It is usually added to luxury packaging as a quality cue. Foils come in hundreds of colours, from silver to gold and everything in between.
Cold foil
Cold foiling is a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative. The foil bonds to a special artwork colour, so no die or heat is involved.
Once applied, cold foil can be overprinted with any colour, and with different tones to give a layered look. It leaves no impression in the surface, so it is less tactile than hot foil.
Other ways to show metallic detail
For a short run of mockups, dry transfers are a cost effective way to add small foil or Pantone details. They are rubbed down onto the surface and work on most materials, including glass, card and plastic. We can replicate almost any metallic shade, at any size up to A3.
Digital printing onto a metallic substrate with a printed white layer can simulate a full foil label or foil detailing. Cast and cure adds an etched image to a UV coating and gives an effect much like holographic foil.
Foil in the demonstration packs
Revive Tea uses silver and gold foil on uncoated card. Coco hand cream has silver foil with gloss varnish. Chocks is printed digitally onto a metallic foil substrate.
- Who makes it
- Litmus, a UK packaging mockup studio in Willerby, Hull, with a London office.
- Turnaround
- Most projects are produced within a few working days. Tell us your deadline and we plan around it.
- Price
- An estimate comes with your quotation. A firm price follows once we have your artwork, always before work starts.
- Artwork
- Illustrator (AI) or EPS preferred, high resolution PDF accepted. Images at 300 dpi, fonts outlined.
- Confidentiality
- NDAs and confidentiality agreements are signed as routine.
- Quality and delivery
- In-house quality control, with files pre-flight checked. Samples are wrapped with care and sent anywhere from local delivery to worldwide.
Common questions.
What is foil blocking?
Applying foil to a printed surface with a die, heat and pressure. It is also called hot foiling or hot foil stamping.
What is the difference between hot foil and cold foil?
Hot foil uses a die and heat and leaves a slight impression you can feel. Cold foil bonds to a printed colour with no die or heat, leaves no impression and can be overprinted.
Can you add foil to a short run of mockups?
Yes. For short runs Litmus can use dry transfers or digital print on a metallic substrate as well as foil itself.
Start with your next pack.
Tell us the format, what you need to show and when you need it. The page you enquire from is included with your brief.