 Fine Embossing & Foil Stamping
Give your products and
marketing communications materials increased
visibility and an enhanced perception of quality
that conveys creativity, professionalism and holds
the attention of your audience. Whether utilizing
single or multi-level embossing or any of the
hundreds of metallic, pigmented or holographic foils
available, you will achieve movement and dimension
unachievable with ink on paper.
In today's competitive
market, however, building brand identity is much
more than putting on a pretty face. LPI is all about
creativity, flexibility and award winning
performance. Our customers rely on us to partner
with them and integrate enhancement services with
design objectives and other graphic elements to
achieve the greatest return on investment. Every
product you see on these pages is a testimony to
focused strategic planning and execution.
Foil stamping and/or
embossing are ideal choices for the broadest range
of traditional paper substrates, from smooth to
heavily textured, to light weight and heavy boards.
 
Especially dramatic are the results on hybrid
metallic sheets, ultra-suede's, box wrap products
and book binding materials.
LPI has kept pace with
the most current trends and is experienced working
with the ever growing demand for non-paper synthetic
substrates such as acetate, styrene, polyester,
polypropylene, foam core, coroplast, cloth, leather
and yes, even wood.
 
Glossary of Terms & Embossing/Debossing Die Profiles
Artwork, Camera-Ready
Final drawings or stats in high-contrast
black-and-white, used to reproduce the image with
all blemishes and imperfections removed.
Artwork, Digital-Ready
Preferably Adobe Illustrator vector files, smooth
images without bitmapping, CMYK, 100%
black, 100%
image size and all strokes/fills/text converted to
outlines. Accompany with a complete PDF file for
visual reference.
Beveled Edge
The edge of an embossed or debossed area made to a
specific angle to the paper plane. These beveled
edges range from 30 to 80 degrees from the paper and
image planes.
Blind Emboss/Deboss
Raising or lowering the image without color or foil.
Reshaping the paper fiber produces the image.
Border
Opposite of panel. Referred to as a line to be
printed, stamped, embossed or debossed. It is open
inside its perimeter, rather than solid.
Chiseled
A shape put into embossed or debossed images
resembling a V-shape.
Color Register
Having design elements fit each other through
various press operations, such as printing,
embossing, debossing, foil stamping, die cutting or
folding.
Countercast Epoxy Glass Board
Extremely hard product specifically designed for
crisp, clean stamping applications and for
long-running jobs.
Countercast Phenolic Board
A very hard makeready board mounted on the platen of
the press for extra sharp detail when flat stamping.
Countercast Polyurethane Sheet
Used as flat stamping counter for large coverage
applications. An excellent makeready board for
holograms.
Deboss
Lowering the image below the paper surface.
Die, Combination
A raised image die used to hot stamp and emboss
simultaneously. It has a cutting rule around the
image area to aid in a clean cut of the foil.
Die, Counter
A mirror image counterpart molded from the original
dies used to press the paper into the die to emboss
or deboss. It is usually made of epoxy, fiberglass
or other resins (precast counter).
Die Cutting
Piercing the paper or other substrate with a
knife-edge steel blade. These can be straight single
cuts, slots for the insertion of other items, or
holes cut to any shape or size.
Die, Debossing
A hand-sculpted, machine-tooled or photo-etched die
with the image raised above the main surface level
of the die material. Used to deboss or reshape the
paper under heat and pressure.
Die, Duplicate
Molded duplicate made from an original embossing or
debossing die. These can be made of various
materials, but are usually bakelite or metal
compositions. Used to cut costs when making multiple
dies.
Die, Embossing
A hand-sculpted, machine-tooled or photo-etched die
with the image recessed below the main surface level
of the die material. Used to emboss or reshape the
paper under heat and pressure.
Die, Foil-Embossing
Same as a combination die
Die-Making
The process of photo-etching, machining or hand
finishing images or shapes into metal dies. The
image may be raised, recessed or a combination of
the two depending on the process and application.
Die, Stamping
A photo-etched or machined die used to flat stamp
foil to paper or other substrates.
Die, Steel Rule
A cutting die used to pierce or cut paper or other
substrates. Made type high (.918") with 1/32" thick
steel blades, or rules, cut and bent to specific
patterns and mounted in a wooden base. The steel
blades have knife-like cutting edges.
Domed
A shape put into embossed or debossed images
resembling a semi-circle or half-moon.
Emboss
Raising the image above the paper surface.
Engrave
To mark, print or incise letters or designs onto a
surface, usually paper, with a photo-etched and
hand-finished die. The die, or engraving, is usually
metal, although it can be stone, wood or other
materials. Engravings are one level and shallow to
carry ink in the recessed areas of the die before
transferring the ink to the paper.
Foil
General term for hot stamping material, consisting
of a film carrier (usually 1.5 mil polyester) coated
with additional ultra thin layers such as a release
coat, color coat, metal coat and an adhesive coat.
Foil Embossing
Raising an image and applying foil at the same time
with one press run using a combination, foil
embossing die.
Foils, Dusted
Foils utilizing a metallic powder on the carrier.
Easily applied, but easily rubbed off without an
over-coating. Limited colors available.
Foils, Flat Pigment
Opaque or semi opaque foils of intense color,
resembling flat paint.
Foils, Gloss Pigment
Opaque or semi opaque foils of intense color,
resembling glossy enamel paint.
Foils, Holographic
Foils which include a holographic image embossed
onto an additional ultra thin layer. Many unique
patterns are now readily available.
Foils, Metallic
Foils available in many colors, either shiny
(mirror) or satin in their finish, all manufactured
with a metallic coat or layer as part of their
construction. The most widely used metallic foils
are gold and silver.
Foils, Patterned
Foils manufactured with specific patterns rather
than one color such as woodgrains, marble or
multi-colors.
Foils, Pearlescent
Gloss foils having a translucent pearl appearance
and available in different color shades.
Foils, Tint or Pastel
Flat or dull translucent stamping foils available in
different colors. Can be applied in varying degrees
of color density by changing the press temperature
when stamping.
Glazing
Smoothing out a textured stock with controlled heat
and pressure. Varying amounts of shine can also be
achieved.
Gripper Edge
The lead edge of the press sheet which sets up
against a predetermined stop on the press. For
registration purposes, the same designated edge is
used during all press applications. No embossing,
debossing, die cutting or other operations can be
performed in this area.
Hologram
A three-dimensional picture that is made on a
photo-sensitive glass plate using lasers as the
light source. From this plate a “shim” is made and
the image is then manufactured into a metallic foil.
Hot Stamping
Applying foil with the use of heat, pressure, and
dwell to various substrates, such as paper, plastic,
wood and leather.
Image Area
Printed, stamped, embossed/debossed text and design
elements and the live area they cover.
Light or Color Fastness
The ability of foil products to resist fading when
exposed to light.
Multi-Level
Embossing and/or debossing utilizing images on more
than 1 level. The actual paper surface level is not
counted as a level.
Non-Image Area
All press sheet area other than image area.
Paper, Uncoated
Paper which is ideal for embossing and debossing
because its softer finish allows for greater depth
and it has less tendency to wrinkle or crack. Foils
will appear less glossy on these stocks and textured
sheets may sometimes be difficult to smooth out when
foil stamped.
Paper Level
Reference point for all embossing or debossing.
Photo-Mechanical
Sometimes referred to as chemical milling. For foils
stamping and some embossing and debossing dies, an
image is exposed to a light-sensitive emulsion on
the die material. Then the die is acid-etched to a
specific depth and angle. Depending upon the die
function, the image is etched into an embossing die
or the non-image area is etched away on a stamping
or debossing die.
Press Proof
A short press run for approval by the client prior
to the actual production run. It generally uses the
paper, inks, dies, foils etc. specified for the
actual run.
Reverses
Openings in the image where the background or paper
shows through the printed, embossed, debossed or
foiled areas.
Scorching/Heat Tint
Changing the paper color in the embossed or debossed
area by using additional heat, which creates a
two-toned effect, with the image being the darker
tone.
Scoring
Sharply creasing a material to facilitate folding.
It should be made the same direction as the grain of
the paper when ease of folding is of prime concern.
For greater strength, a score can be made
perpendicular to the paper grain.
Sculpted Embossing
Raising and/or lowering an image with sculptural
realism with any of a variety of shapes, angles, and
edges, as opposed to flat levels. Dies are made by
craftsmen with meticulous hand tooling.
Side Guide
The press sheet edge, either right or left of the
gripper edge, which is pushed or pulled to square up
the sheet against a predetermined stop. For
registration purposes, the same designated edge is
used during all press applications.
Single Level
Raising or lowering an image one flat level from the
paper level.
Step and Repeat
Same image precisely repeated one or more times
horizontally and/or vertically to predetermined
distances. These distances from one image to another
are referred to as "center" when measured from a
point on one image to the same point on an adjacent
image.
© LPI-Letterhead Press,
Inc. |
