There are many potential applications and uses for an automatic foil cutting and die-cutting machine and if you get to know its full capabilities it could help give your business a competitive advantage in the decorative industry.
If you want to learn more technical data and foil stamping machine options you might want to get details from SBL. Meanwhile, here are some relevant points to consider that should help you make the right choice and give you the chance to use many of the features that might be available to you.
Understanding the basics of foil stamping
In basic terms, the process of foil stamping is applying metallic print and foil directly onto a variety of materials such as card, paper, and plastics.
The print is applied through the use of heat and pressure and this can be done quickly and efficiently by using a hot stamp equipment.
There are numerous design opportunities created by the use of foil stamping and you will have the ability to create a range of textures on your chosen medium, which means that if you wanted a glossy finish or even a holographic texture this is perfectly possible using the process.
There is a clear distinction between foil stamping and other printing options like silk screening and pad printing and a fundamental advantage of foil stamping is the fact that you do not need to use ink, which means you don’t have concerns by the stamping being affected by the colour or texture of your chosen medium.
Foil stamping is not a new technology in the way it works but it continues to provide a commercial printing solution and modern machines take advantage of hi-tech advancements to the process.
How it works
You might also find foil stamping referred to as dry stamping or dry foil stamping, but they are all really the same process.
The main aspect of hot foil stamping to be aware of is that the technique is a dry printing application and it does not use any form of liquid ink in order to create the finished product.
A series of dies and bespoke shaped metallic plates are utilized to create the desired shape and image during the stamping process.
Using multiple layers
The Secret behind the ability to create a dry printed product using foil stamping is the use of multiple layers in order to arrive at the finished article.
A typical foil stamp printing job would feature as many as six or more layers of foil which all combine to produce the finish you are looking for.
For example, a typical printing job would feature the following layers-
Carrier layer made from polyester
Image layer
Lacquer layer
Metal layer
Release layer
Outer adhesive layer
A combination of heat and pressure will compress the layers with the help of a cylinder or plate and the heat also activates the adhesive layer, which then melts the release layer and allows the design to be permanently transferred to your chosen target medium.
Many uses for your foil stamping machine
There are many different industries that routinely use hot foil stamping in their production process and there are many packaged products that have been created with the help of foil stamping.
Another key industrial use for hot foil stamping is the creation of the artwork and even currency notes.
Whether you want to create some quality business stationery or produce a professional finish to your packaging you will soon discover that foil stamping is a highly versatile process.
Different hot foil machines to choose from
You will need to have an idea of what you intend to use your foil machine for as there are three specific types that all have different features.
A flat-foil stamping machine would be used for creating an embossed design, for example.
A round-flat foil stamping machine is used to apply the required pressure horizontally as it travels across a rotating cylinder, which makes it more adaptable and suitable for smaller and more straightforward tasks.
Finally, a round-round machine is not dissimilar to a typical printing press and features rotating cylinders on either side of the machine that rotate in opposite directions. A round-round is capable of operating at high speeds and will prove suitable if you are looking to produce some more detailed and intricate designs.
The old and the new
As already stated, foil stamping is a process that has been around for a very long time and that means you are presented with a clear choice of what is described as the traditional method or to embrace modern technology and go for a digital foil printing method.
With the traditional hot foiling method, the chosen design is either etched or engraved onto a metallic plate, which is called a die-cut or foiling die, and a combination of heat and pressure is then applied in order to transfer the design to the surface being printed on.
The fundamental difference between the old and new technologies is that a digital foil printing machine uses a graphic design that is digitally printed using a special foil that is designed to stick to the print medium.
Choosing your foils
One final aspect of the printing process that needs to be resolved is the type of foils you use during the printing process.
Metallic foils are the default option and most commonly used although you have a choice of other foil options to think about such as pigmented foils and special design foils, which are used to create special effects such as holographs.
To give you an idea of the versatility of hot foiling, if you have ever bought a lottery ticket you will most likely have used a coin to reveal whether you are a winner by rubbing away a scratch foil that has been applied using a foil stamping machine.
There are almost certainly going to be a number of useful applications that you could use a foil stamping machine for in your industry and it is simply a case of deciding which type of machine and foil to use to achieve the desired finish that you are looking for.
