What to foil
Foil works best as controlled emphasis: a logo, short line of type, border or simple motif. Large areas, very fine lines and tight registration with printed detail require careful assessment. The effect changes with stock texture, colour and lamination.
Prepare the artwork
- Supply foil shapes as vector artwork.
- Use one clearly named spot-colour separation for each foil.
- Avoid gradients, transparency and photographic effects on the foil layer.
- Keep foil elements within safe areas and away from folds or holes.
- Confirm minimum line, gap and type sizes before finalising detail.
Approve colour and registration
Gold, silver, copper, coloured and holographic foils vary by supplier and lighting. A PDF proof shows position, not the physical reflection or exact material colour. Request or approve a representative swatch when the match is important.
Decision context
Prepare foil as a separate opaque design element
Foil stamping transfers a metallic, coloured or specialist film to defined areas. Unlike CMYK simulation, the result can be opaque and reflective. Supply the foil artwork as clean vectors on a separate named layer and identify the intended foil reference rather than describing it only as gold or silver.
Use suitable line weights and spacing. Very fine type, tiny gaps and large solid areas create different production challenges, especially on textured or strongly shaped stock. Keep foil clear of folds, perforations, drill holes and trim unless the production brief has been designed for that interaction.
Paper shade and surface affect the perceived foil. A warm gold on kraft, white coated card and coloured board will not read identically. Physical samples are more reliable than screen mock-ups because reflected light, texture and viewing angle cannot be reproduced accurately in a flat preview.
Decide what foil should emphasise and keep surrounding content legible without it. Record colour, position, sides, stock and any other finish in the specification. The approved proof should show the foil separation clearly even though it cannot fully simulate the final metallic effect.
