Hot Foil Blocking

Why hot foil blocking matters

• Shelf impact that lasts - Metallic and holographic foils read at a distance and resist dulling.
• Crisp detail, real tactility - Brass dies for clean edges and defined relief.
• Brand control - Stable shades from Foilco’s library, repeatable results job-to-job.
• Engineered gloss - Brass’s thermal stability keeps foils glossy across the sheet.

Creative finishing

• Foil palettes - Metallic, pigment, satin, clear and holographic, Foilco exclusive.
• Combination dies - Single-pass foil and emboss for perfect registration.
• Micro and macro - Hold fine hairlines and small type, lay down confident solids.
• Multi-hit builds - Extra coverage on textured/uncoated stocks where needed.
• On-brand effects - Foil-on-foil, tonal metallics, security tells with holo patterns.

What this unlocks for your project

• Luxury covers and sleeves with registered seals and sculpted crests.
• Short-run cartons with precise brand marks and high perceived value.
• Invitations and limited editions that photograph beautifully and feel premium.

Tech specs at a glance

• Tooling - Brass top dies (CNC-engraved) as standard; magnesium/brass options by run/detail, thermoset counters.
• Presses - Multiple letterpress-style hot-foil platens for agility and control.
• Foils - Foilco metallic, pigment, clear and holographic ranges (exclusive use).
• Passes - Foil only or foil-emboss combination, optional multi-hit for coverage.
• Stocks - Coated/uncoated papers and boards, works over laminates with the right grade.

Design tips - faster approvals, smarter results

• Dielines - Supply a vector dieline on a separate layer in a spot colour set to overprint.
• Bleed and safety - 3 mm bleed minimum, keep critical content 3–5 mm from trim/crease.
• Folds and panels - Gatefolds need narrowed inner panels, we’ll confirm exact undersizes.
• Grain direction - Keep long grain parallel to folds for cleaner creasing.
• Glues and flaps - Allow 6–10 mm glue flaps, avoid varnish/laminate in glue areas.
• Perfs and drills - Leave clearance for perf ties, keep art clear of drill zones.
• Proofing - We can supply a moke-up or test cut on your actual stock.

Quality you can see and feel

We pair CNC-engraved brass dies with the right counter, dwell and pressure for your stock and foil grade. Brass retains heat, delivering uniform lay and high gloss; our letterpress foilers let operators feel and fine-tune impression for consistent results across the run.

Sustainability‍

Foil applied to fibre-based paper/board is recyclable when specified correctly (ultra-thin metallic deposit). We’ll recommend board/film stacks that balance durability with end-of-life goals and avoid over-specifying coverage where a lighter touch will do.