How does hot foil stamping work?

1.

A cliché (usually made of brass) is created from the embossed motif. The motif is raised.

2.

The cliché is covered with the hot stamping foil, then the paper to be embossed is applied.

3.

Pressure and heat cause the hot stamping foil to bond with the paper at the raised areas of the cliché.

4.

The hot-melt adhesive film that is not part of the motif remains on the remaining roll when it is subsequently removed.

Flat embossing

With the basic version of hot foil stamping, the foil is flat on the substrate. Structured substrates (such as linen paper) can be finished with hot foil. The structure of the substrate is imprinted on the film, gloss level and opacity are not affected.