What is block foiling?
Block foiling is the process of printing a metallic finish onto a printed product, over either a fine or larger area. Foiling can be done in many colours, with matt or gloss finishes and can also be combined with embossing if the entire embossed area is to be foiled. A foiled design can be created over a fine or large area and can be used effectively to create shimmering textures and highlights.
You can select matt or gloss foils in gold, silver or other colours and, optionally, make the foiled area stand out with blind embossing.
How is block foiling?
To create artwork that will be completely foiled first make sure you are completely happy with your artwork. Save a print ready PDF of your artwork with full crops and bleeds and label it non foiled. Create an exact copy of your full artwork and deleting everything but the elements you would like to be foiled. Convert these to a spot colour, preferably a colour dissimilar to any other colour in your artwork. Save another copy of this as foil only.
Foil blocked images use an ultra thin film carrying a foil pigment. The film is then fed through a press were a die of the desired image is pressed against the paper, trapping the film. As heat to the die and pressure to the paper are applied, the foil or pigment is released from the film carrier and transferred to the paper, forming a foil image.
Why would you use foil blocking?
Foiling can create a luxury finish to printed materials. It can be used to highlight specific parts of a design or make specific wording stand out.
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