Substrates 

It has been said that foil can be applied to anything but metal and glass. This is a slight exaggeration, however there only a few materials that cannot be foiled. The problem often comes from needing a foil in a shade or pattern where only a gold or silver is available.

Each foil is formulated to work on a range of substrates. The most critical part of the foil, in regards to the substrate, is the adhesive. The more absorbent or porous the substrate is, the thicker the adhesive needs to be. Therefore most plastic foils have a thin adhesive and the graphic foils have a thicker adhesive.

The list of possible substrates is endless, however most can be separated into groups. Each sub heading is a link to a list of materials and for our recommendations for the material please see the "Foils" page, choosing the relevant type of foil.

 

Graphics The Graphics industry mainly hits problems around what has been put onto the raw material. Most papers and boards are printed, coated, varnished, or laminated. It is these surfaces that can give problems foiling. Occasionally, a very dry material is used. This can be difficult to foil even before printing. (i.e. parchment, simulator). Book Binders Cartons Greeting Cards Label Printers (reel) Label Printers (sheet) Trade Foiling	Metallics Holographics Special Effects Pearls  Transparent Pigments Woodgrains
Plastics  The plastics industry has some materials that foil easily, and others that don't. The difference is normally down to whether the plastic will melt and assist the foil to stick. Materials like polyprop have a high melt temperature, and therefore need high temperature foils. This means using high temperature release coatings on the foil, which make them expensive and limits the type of foils available. Automotive Cosmetics Picture Frames Plastic Cards Promotional Items	Metallics Holographics Special Effects Pearls  Transparent Pigments Woodgrains
Coding Date coding is a diminishing side of foiling. Many company's having switched to ink jet, thermal transfer or ink rollers. The machines used are basic and can cause problems when too much is expected. However, many bar codes are produced this way without problems. Food Pharmaceutical General date/batch  coding	Metallics Holographics Special Effects Pearls  Transparent Pigments Woodgrains
Picture Frames Plastic picture frames require total decoration. This means that it is not unusual to find a frame which is decorated with 4 or 5 foils. The wood frames tend to use gold to decorate one or two edges. Plastic frames Wood frames	Metallics Holographics Special Effects Pearls  Transparent Pigments Woodgrains
Security The security industry uses mainly holograms, applied via lazor registered impression machines. It may be on a credit card or a gift voucher. Some products have used transparent foils to achieve an image difficult to copy. When it comes to photocopying, plain gold is an effective deterrent as it shows up black on the copy. Credit Cards Gift Vouchers Currency Stamps	Metallics Holographics Special Effects Pearls  Transparent Pigments Woodgrains