Ever received a beautifully packaged gift and been blown away by the sleek, shiny details on the box or bag? Or seen a logo that's caught your eye, and you've just had to shop for that particular brand or product? Yeah, me too! And let’s be honest - all brands want their packaging to stand out, right? And one way they can make that happen is with foil printing. But how does it actually work? Let’s break it down:
What actually is foil printing?
Foil printing is quite literally the process of applying foil to a surface using heat and pressure. It can be used on gift boxes, paper gift bags, cotton bags, note cards, and more - giving your packaging a pretty, shiny finish that looks really fancy and professional. But don’t just take my word for it, check out these simply gorgeous products below…
Pretty stunning, right? I'm particularly obsessed with the foil printed gift boxes!
Alright, so how does foil printing work?
Great question! Let's dive in...
Firstly, a print plate is required (more on what this is a bit further down). This plate is reusable and we retain it on premises, meaning, if you’d like us to, we can keep stamping your design onto different products and packaging over and over again!
There are lots and lots of foil design options, with so many colours and finishes available:
Metallic foils have a shiny finish and change in gradient colour under changing light conditions.
Matt foils give a solid fill effect and have a slight shine but the colours stay the same in all conditions.
Gloss foils give a glossy print effect and have a shine but maintain their colour.
Satin foils give a shiny print effect with a subtle metallic quality.
Lustre foils give a soft sheer print effect.
One lil thing to note - foil printing is limited to one colour per print plate, but that's what makes it so perfect for simple logos where you’re after a clean, elegant finish.
You mentioned a print plate - what is that and why do I need one?
Yes, onto the print plate! This is required to foil print your logo or design onto our packaging. This plate is measured to an agreed size, and your logo is etched onto it. This is then stuck to the print machine, while your choice of pretty foil is fed through the machine. As the print plate is stamped down, it perfectly prints your logo onto your chosen packaging for a flawless finish. We then keep this on file to use for all your future packaging, as long as the size or logo don't change. You also own this and at any point, we can send it back to you!
Okay, so how much does it cost?
There are two costs involved for foil printing. The first is for the plate, as this is required to set up your job, and this costs around £30-£80 (+VAT). The good news however is that this is just a one-off cost, so once it’s made, it's good to use for any future packaging orders too! How great is that?
The other cost is the charge per product being printed, which is required for every printed item/job. This depends on the range or product type - get a full breakdown of costs right here.
But what can I use foil printing for?
You'll be pleased to hear that foil printing has loads of uses - but with its shiny and eye-catching effects, it’s no surprise that it's a top favourite for luxury finishes. For example:
Branded packaging: Boxes, bags, you name it - your logo foil printed will make your branded packaging instantly recognisable, and just screams luxury and sophistication. Or if you’d rather not splash out on all new boxes and bags, have your branding printed on an accessory like ribbon or a note card instead!
Birthday and Christmas gifts: Have a cute cotton bag foil printed to create the perfect gift packaging solution for any occasion. I mean, aren't gifts just that bit more special when they come in a printed bag? Make it personal with your own design or check out pre-printed options for specific occasions like, say, our Easter gift bags.
Wedding invitations: Planning a wedding? Foil printing is perfect for those invites, menus, place name cards, etc on your special day - because you deserve the best! But of course it’s not just weddings, use foil-printed note cards for any event you like - whether you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or any other special occasion!
Anything else: Foil printing adds luxury to any gift and occasion, from wedding favour bags to corporate gifting and trade shows. It’s just such an easy way to show off how sophisticated you are, so really you can just use it for any packaging where you want to convey a high-end, premium vibe.
And does foil printing affect the recyclability of products?
Good news - it doesn’t! If a product was recyclable before it was printed, it's recyclable after too. (The same applies to digital printing, just FYI.)
Elevate your branding with foil printing
Foil printing isn’t just about making things look pretty (though it definitely does that!). It’s also a powerful branding tool that adds value, elegance, and a premium feel to any product or occasion. So whether you’re looking to impress customers, elevate an event, or simply add some shimmer to your packaging, foil printing is definitely the way to go.
Ready to bring your brand to life with foil printing? Get started today and watch your designs shine bright - literally!