The art of foiling is indebted to these various and odd materials which overcome many problems. They can help, but aren't a guarantee. If you know any other, please let us know.

BlackRubbercloth : A black fabric interlaced with minute glass beads to given it a firm but flexible finish. Very popular on Geitz machines where it smoothes out any irregularity with the bed.

Blotting paper : As it says, this is simple blotting paper. When mixed with PVA glue it produces a malleable paste useful for building counter forces for the female embossing die.

Blue Print Base(can be grey) : A soft self adhesive rubber that sticks to the machine bed. Its attraction is "longevity" and forgiveness as it allows the die to sink into the substrate and confirm the print. Very popular in the reel to reel label industry.

Car Body Filler : A less conventional but useful mixture for making "counter forces".

Cork Board : Soft make-ready, good for short runs, compensates for uneven substrate thickness and aids achieving a large solid.

Embossing Board : A yellow dry board that is used to make the counter force by wetting the board and then allowing the heated die to shape the board under heat and pressure.

Embossing Cement : Embossing cement is a powder based compound creating a counter force when mixed with water

Emery paper : This is sometimes used to pierce a very hard UV Varnish. A piece is laid across the die and the sheets are run through without foiling. This is a desperate measure and requires a double run. However it is generally successful.

Epoxy Glass board : A hard milky white material, used to create a firm base to assist with keeping the results clean on soft materials and to stop pvc from becoming distorted under heat. Available in various thickness'.

Presspahn : Probably the most popular make-ready material. It consists of compressed board, and comes in various thickness' (0.3 to 1.5mm)

Pertinax : A very hard melamine type material. Also used as a cutting base by die cutters. It is useful for providing a very firm base so that the dies cannot sink into the material. Thus useful when fine detail is needed.

Plastotherm : A thin red plastifiable synthetic material for foil embossing, that moulds under heat & pressure of the die. Available in .15mm & .25mm thickness'. It can be applied to itself to build up the necessary depth.

PragoHart : A powder & hardening liquid mix that creates a paste, which hardens in 15 mins,and is used to make a counter force when embossing 200g-500g board.

Pragopaste : A cream coloured paste, which hardens in about 60 mins under the die temperature, and is used to create a counter force when embossing. It dries under the heat of the die and the excess can be cut away.

PragoPlast : A self adhesive "pad" which is pressed into a shape by the blind embossing die. Then excess areas are then cut away. Only suitable for blind embossing on 50g-180g paper. Very fast makeready possible. A Prago film can be applied over the top to protect it 

Pragotherm : A thin semi-transparent material which is applied to the make-ready and forms under the heated die to make a counter force. It is limited in the depth it can achieve, but is easy and quick to use.

Sustamid : This is a milky white plastic version of presspahn. It lasts longer but is more expensive. Also, it is only available in one thickness.

SPZ (Acetate) : Used as an overlay sheet on cylinder machines, this milky white thin plastic acts as a protection for the make-ready from the rigors of the constant press of the cylinder.