Unveiling the Foil Stamping Technology on Packaging

Foil stamping, commonly known as "gold stamping", refers to stamping text and patterns made of colored foil and other materials onto a substrate, or embossing various raised or recessed book titles or patterns. Besides book covers and business card printing, foil stamping is also very common on packaging, such as cigarette and liquor packaging boxes.

Today's foil stamping technologies are mostly divided into hot foil stamping and cold foil stamping. Hot foil stamping technology refers to transferring the stamping foil onto the surface of the substrate by means of a dedicated metal stamping plate through heating and pressure; while cold foil stamping technology refers to the method of transferring the stamping foil onto the substrate using UV adhesive.

Hot foil stamping delivers good quality and high precision: the edges of the stamped image are clear and sharp, the surface gloss is high, and the stamped pattern is bright and smooth. The choice of stamping foil is wide, and it can be foils of different colors, foils with different gloss effects, and foils suitable for different substrates. However, hot foil stamping is generally expensive and is suitable for large-volume production.

Cold foil stamping features fast plate making and a short cycle, and can also reduce the cost of making the stamping plate; however, the graphics usually require secondary processing such as lamination or varnishing for protection, which increases production costs.

1. The appropriate stamping foil must be selected according to the different types of materials to be stamped. During stamping, the coordination of temperature, pressure and stamping speed must be well controlled, and adjustments should be made according to the different stamping materials and stamping areas.
2. When cutting, the speed and direction of the cutting tool should be well controlled.
3. For aluminum foil stamping foil, paper, ink (especially black ink), kerosene and composite glue with suitable properties should be selected; the stamped parts must be kept dry to prevent oxidation or damage of the foil layer.
4. The general packaging is: one roll of 64CM×120M, 10 rolls per box; custom widths of 64CM, lengths of 120M or 360m in large rolls, or other special specifications (1.5 meters wide and 1000 meters or 3000 meters long) are available.
5. During storage, stand upright, protect against pressure, moisture, heat and sunlight, and place in a cool, ventilated place.