Foil Pressed Wedding Invitations: A Guide To This Technique

Foil-pressed wedding invitations are a luxurious and elegant option for couples looking to add a touch of shine to their special day. Foil stamping, also known as hot foil, foil pressed, or foiling, is a printing process that has been used for over a century, commonly on high-end packaging and book covers. The process involves using thin sheets of metallic foil, such as gold, silver, copper, or holographic foil, to create a design with a shiny finish. This technique is similar to letterpress printing but requires specialised equipment and skilled operators to hand-trim each invitation. While foil stamping can be more expensive than other printing methods, it offers a true shiny metallic finish that is perfect for couples wanting to make a sophisticated statement with their wedding invitations.

Foil stamping vs letterpress

Foil stamping and letterpress are two printing methods that can be used to create elegant wedding invitations. While both techniques involve pressing a design onto paper, they differ in the materials used and the final look they achieve.

Foil stamping uses a combination of heat, pressure, and metallic paper to add shine to designs. The process involves using a die engraved with the desired design, which is heated and pressed onto the paper, transferring a thin layer of metallic foil that cools and sticks to the surface, leaving a slight indentation. This method is ideal for creating metallic gold or silver invitations, adding a luxurious touch to the overall design. Foil stamping also allows for versatility in colour options, from rose gold and copper to holographic styles, ensuring that invitations can be tailored to match any wedding theme.

Letterpress, on the other hand, is a historic printing method that uses ink on a design plate, which is then pressed into the paper, leaving a unique, subtle variation in each piece. This technique creates a debossed effect, with the design slightly indented into the paper. Letterpress offers a wide array of ink colours, including low-VOC and vegetable oil-based options, ensuring an elegant and environmentally conscious choice for wedding invitations.

One key difference between the two methods is the opacity of the final product. Foil stamping is not opaque, allowing for solid foil colours to be applied to any surface, including dark-coloured paper, without compromising design or readability. In contrast, letterpress printing may require adjustments for darker papers to ensure the design stands out.

Additionally, foil stamping tends to make typefaces and artwork appear thicker or bolder, especially on thicker papers. This is an important consideration when choosing a printing method, as it may affect the overall layout and balance of the invitation design.

Both foil stamping and letterpress can be combined with other printing techniques to create unique invitations. For instance, foil stamping can be paired with letterpress, embossing, or engraving to add further dimension and texture to the design. Letterpress can also be combined with foil stamping or digital printing, allowing for a mix of colours and textures to create a truly personalised invitation suite.

In terms of cost, foil stamping is generally more expensive than letterpress printing. This is due to the specialised materials and skilled labour required for foil stamping, ensuring each invitation is a luxurious and high-quality keepsake for guests.

The cost of foil-pressed invitations

Foil-pressed wedding invitations are a luxurious option for couples who want to make a statement with their invitations. The foil is typically applied to the text or design elements, creating a shiny and elegant effect. While foil invitations can be expensive, there are ways to incorporate foil details while staying within a budget.

The cost of foil-pressed wedding invitations can vary depending on several factors, including the amount of foil used, the printing method, and the customisation of the design. According to experts, the printing method is the largest factor in determining the cost of wedding invitations.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly option, digital printing is the most affordable choice. For a set of 100 digitally printed invitations, you can expect to pay between $500 and $800. This method involves setting up a file on a computer and printing it directly, without the need for manual ink mixing.

Offset printing and thermography are more expensive options, with costs starting at $800 and going up to $1,800 for 100 invitations. Offset printing offers a similar feel to digital printing but allows for more specific colour shades. Thermography adds a raised texture to the paper by mixing ink with powder.

Letterpress printing is another option, but it is more costly due to the manual labour and custom presses required. You can expect to spend a minimum of $1,500 for 100 letterpress invitations, with each additional colour adding 25% to the total cost.

Engraving is the most expensive printing method, giving a formal, embossed look to the invitations. For 100 engraved invitations, you will need a budget of at least $2,000.

If you have a limited budget, there are ways to include foil details without breaking the bank. One option is to choose pre-designed cardstock with foil elements, such as a floral design or a foil edge. These invitations can be found on websites like papier.com, where foil-detailed invitations sell for about $35 for a set of 10. Etsy also offers some budget-friendly foil invitation options.

Another way to save money is to opt for digital flat printing instead of letterpress. Letterpress uses a metal plate to transfer text to paper, while digital printing is more economical and versatile in terms of colours.

When considering the cost of foil-pressed wedding invitations, it's important to keep in mind that the more foil you incorporate, the higher the price will be. Adding foil accents, such as your names in gold foil, will be more affordable than full foil lettering.

The history of foil pressing

Foil pressing, also known as foil printing, foil blocking, foil stamping, hot stamping, and cold printing, is a process that involves transferring specialised foil onto paper to create an embellishing effect. The technique has existed for hundreds of years, with the first known account of foil pressing being twelfth-century gold leaf decorations on Bible covers from Morocco.

Historically, foil pressing methods were extremely labour-intensive. The process often involved hand-setting gold leaves into calligraphy or letterwork on bound manuscript or leather book covers. Another antiquated technique involved foil pressing from custom-built engraved metal plates. Overall, the most common use of foil pressing was on book covers.

With the invention of Gutenberg's movable type printing press in the fifteenth century, the mass production of books became possible, and the demand for foil-pressed detailing increased. As a result, people began to develop more efficient methods for foil pressing.

In the 1830s, Americans discovered that hot stamping gold foil into cloth book covers was more effective than printing black ink onto cloth, as the ink would run, but the foil would not. This marked a shift towards more modern foil pressing techniques.

In the 1880s, two significant advancements were made. Firstly, the technique of hot stamping silver onto cloth book covers was developed, breaking away from the exclusive use of gold foil. Secondly, Ernst Oeser invented the first modern foils for foil pressing, composed of metallic material and colour instead of real precious metals.

By the nineteenth century, George M. Whiley created foils made of a thin layer of gold on polyester sheets, the closest predecessor to the foils used today. Whiley's foil became popular in the 1950s and 1960s and was preferred over real gold due to its durability, consistency in colour, and lower cost.

Today, foil pressing is done using modern techniques and machines, such as the clamshell press, straight stamp press, and roll press. The process can also be done digitally, allowing for multiple foil colours to be printed simultaneously, further enhancing the luxurious and elegant appearance of foil-pressed stationery.

Different types of foil

Foil-pressed wedding invitations are a perfect way to make your invites shine. Foil is a metallic material that can be dyed in various colours, such as gold, silver, copper, or even holographic styles. The foiling method has been used for centuries, with stationers hand-pressing invitations in the past. Now, invitations can be foil-printed by machines in bulk, in both flat print and letterpress.

There are many different types of foil to choose from for your wedding invitations. Here are some options:

Gold Foil

Gold is the most popular foil option on the market. It is a classic and luxurious choice that will make your invitations shine. Gold foil is a true metallic gold, so it will stand out and make a statement. It pairs well with modern or rustic invitations and can be used on a variety of surfaces, including metallic paper stocks, envelopes, and non-cotton papers.

Rose Gold Foil

Rose gold foil is a modern and trendy option that has been gaining popularity. It is a soft and romantic colour that can add a touch of elegance to your invitations. Rose gold can be used on its own or paired with other colours, such as gold or silver, for a unique look.

Silver Foil

Silver foil is another classic option that will give your invitations a sleek and sophisticated look. It is a versatile colour that can be paired with any style of invitation. Silver foil is also a true metallic, so it will have the same high-shine finish as gold foil.

Holographic Foil

Holographic foil is a unique and eye-catching option that will add a touch of whimsy to your invitations. It is a modern choice that can be used to merge vintage and contemporary styles. Holographic foil can be paired with natural, raw-edge invitations for a soft, yet modern feel.

Coloured Foil

Foil is available in a wide range of colours, including pink, purple, black, navy, and forest green. You can choose a foil colour that matches your wedding theme or that contrasts with the paper colour for a unique and striking look. Coloured foil can be used on dark paper colours, such as black, navy, or forest green, for a bold statement.

Foil-pressed wedding invitations are a beautiful way to add shine and elegance to your special day. With so many foil options available, you can choose the perfect one to match your style and theme.

How foil pressing is done

Foil pressing, also known as foil printing, foil blocking, foil stamping, hot stamping, or cold printing, is a process that involves transferring specialised foil onto paper to create an embellishing effect. The process can be broadly divided into two categories: hot foil pressing and cold foil printing.

Hot Foil Pressing

Hot foil pressing begins with creating a design on a computer. This design is then printed as a film negative, which is laid on top of a metal plate that is sensitive to UV light. The plate is then exposed to UV light, washed, and placed in a special acid bath, resulting in a raised design that will be used as a stamp, known as a die.

Once the die is created, it is heated inside a hot stamping press. The foil is inserted between the paper and the die. Modern foils have a "release", a glue-like substance that enables the foil to stick to the paper when heated. As the hot die heats up the foil, it bonds to the paper's surface, creating the final product.

Cold Foil Printing

Cold foil printing involves printing an adhesive, sensitive to UV light, onto the paper in the desired design shape. Foil is then pressed onto the paper and quickly removed, adhering only to the adhesive. The paper is then exposed to UV light to ensure the foil bonds to the paper.

Foil Types

There are six common types of foil used in modern foil pressing:

• Metallic foil: Aluminium or tin foils mixed with colour to mimic precious metals such as gold, silver, and rose gold.
• Pigment foil: Pigment foils come in various colours and create a matte or gloss look.
• Pearl foil: Pearl foils are translucent and transparent, producing pearlescent glimmers.
• Holographic foil: Holographic foils appear silver but reflect light in rainbow colours.
• Effects foil: Effects foils have special patterns such as stripes or polka dots.
• Scratch-off foil: Scratch-off foils can be easily scratched off, as the name suggests.

Frequently asked questions