Excellent question. We've been doing a bunch of testing and these are the results to date:
Based on a platen type foil stamping machine:
Make ready material used: Glassboard or pertinax (hard material usually a reinforced resin type) Optimal temperature: 120 degrees C 248 degrees F Pressures: slightly heavier than normal paper
Foils tried:
Phillips and Foilco foil are UK based and Kurz foil are a worldwide supplier
DX10 silver: good on text and solids PM51 gold: good on text and solids Colourfoil CC01 gold: good on text only Phillips HD/10-18 Rainbow holographic: good on text only Phillips DXC80 pigment black: good on text only Kurz HC Alufin silver: good on text and solids Foilco 6220 DG gold: good on text and average on solids Foilco 6707SB gunmetal colored foil: good on text average on solids
Conclusion of the tests
It's clear that softer, easier releasing foils like Kurz HC are the best to use. We tried various foils from metallic's to pigments including colors and Holographics all of which worked great on text to different PTs and font types.
As per normal with flatbed or platen type presses that 'gassing' (air trapped behind the foil at the time of pressure and stamp) is an issue but this is not unusual. This happens with all filmic or varnished (UV or waterbased) based stocks with a sealed surface. Uncoated stocks don't generally have this issue. Foiling the stock on a cylinder based machine will also eliminate this issue.
Based on a platen type foil stamping machine:
Make ready material used: Glassboard or pertinax (hard material usually a reinforced resin type)
Optimal temperature: 120 degrees C 248 degrees F
Pressures: slightly heavier than normal paper
Foils tried:
Phillips and Foilco foil are UK based and Kurz foil are a worldwide supplier
DX10 silver: good on text and solids
PM51 gold: good on text and solids
Colourfoil CC01 gold: good on text only
Phillips HD/10-18 Rainbow holographic: good on text only
Phillips DXC80 pigment black: good on text only
Kurz HC Alufin silver: good on text and solids
Foilco 6220 DG gold: good on text and average on solids
Foilco 6707SB gunmetal colored foil: good on text average on solids
Conclusion of the tests
It's clear that softer, easier releasing foils like Kurz HC are the best to use.
We tried various foils from metallic's to pigments including colors and Holographics all of which worked great on text to different PTs and font types.
As per normal with flatbed or platen type presses that 'gassing' (air trapped behind the foil at the time of pressure and stamp) is an issue but this is not unusual. This happens with all filmic or varnished (UV or waterbased) based stocks with a sealed surface. Uncoated stocks don't generally have this issue. Foiling the stock on a cylinder based machine will also eliminate this issue.