Hot Stamping Foil (HSF) - Metallic, Pigment and Holographic
A metallic or coloured lacquer package transferred exactly where the heated die presses - a logo, a border, a brand mark - and nowhere else.
What is hot stamping foil?
Hot stamping foil is a multi-layer web. In order from the top: a polyester carrier, a release layer, one or more protective and colour lacquer coatings, a vacuum-metallised aluminium layer, and a hot-melt adhesive on the underside.
At the stamping station a heated die or engraved wheel presses the foil against the substrate. The heat activates both the adhesive and the release layer at once - the adhesive bonds to the product, the release layer lets go of the carrier. The polyester peels away, and what remains on the product is the lacquer and metal package.
The lacquer ends up as the outermost layer. Because it is transparent or translucent, you see the metal through it - which is how a single aluminium metallisation produces gold, rose gold, copper, satin and dozens of other shades.
The layer stack
- Polyester carrier - transport medium, peeled off and discarded after stamping
- Release layer - low-melt waxes that let the carrier separate cleanly at stamping temperature
- Lacquer / colour layer - determines shade and lustre, and protects the finish
- Metallised layer - vacuum-deposited aluminium, providing reflectiveness and opacity
- Hot-melt adhesive - substrate-specific, activated by the heated die
Why this matters commercially: the adhesive is engineered for the substrate. A foil formulated for paper and board will not perform on polypropylene, and a PVC grade is not a nylon grade. This is the single most common cause of a failed first trial. Tell us the substrate before ordering, not after.
Foil types we manufacture
Metallic foils
Gold, silver, rose gold, copper, bronze and metallic colour shades in gloss, satin and matte lustre.
Pigment foils
Opaque solid colours - white, black and brand-matched shades - for substrates where a metallic look is not wanted.
Holographic foils
Produced by embossing a diffractive pattern into the lacquer before metallisation. Used for decoration and increasingly for anti-counterfeiting on cartons and labels.
Where HSF fits against HTL and HTF
HSF transfers only where the die touches, which suits logos and brand marks. HTL transfers a complete printed graphic onto a container. HTF sublimates a pattern across a whole surface.
TopGuard HSF specifications
- CarrierPolyester (PET)
- Carrier thickness[INSERT] micron
- MetallisationVacuum-deposited aluminium
- AdhesiveSubstrate-specific hot-melt grades
- Stamping temperature[CONFIRM YOUR WINDOW - foil and substrate dependent]
- SubstratesPlastics (PP, PVC, ABS, PS), paper and board, leather, textiles, coated wood
- Application methodsFlat-bed, roll-on, peripheral roller, vertical stamping
- Reel widths[INSERT]
- Shade range[INSERT - link the shade card]
- MOQ[INSERT]
Where HSF is used
- Packaging and cartons - folding boxes, rigid boxes, labels, shopping bags
- Cosmetics and personal care - caps, closures, jars, tubes, compacts
- Moulded plastic parts - appliance panels, knobs, trims, housings
- Print and stationery - greeting cards, invitations, diaries, book covers
- Furniture and interiors - panel edges, profiles, mouldings, picture frames
- Automotive interiors - trims, badges, dashboard accents
- Leather goods and textiles - bags, footwear, belts, garment labels
- Security and brand protection - holographic authentication on cartons
What we need to quote
Tell us the exact substrate and whether it is coated or printed, the shade and lustre you want, your stamping method and machine, the temperature window it runs, the stamped area size, and your annual running metres.
Frequently asked questions
What is hot stamping foil?
Hot stamping foil is a multi-layer web made of a polyester carrier, a release layer, lacquer and colour coatings, a vacuum-metallised aluminium layer and a hot-melt adhesive. A heated die presses it against the product, the adhesive bonds and the release layer separates, and the carrier peels away leaving the metallic or coloured finish behind.
Why does the same aluminium layer produce gold, silver and other shades?
The lacquer layer sits above the metal and is transparent or translucent, so the metal is viewed through it. Changing the lacquer changes the perceived colour and the lustre, from gloss to satin to matte, without changing the metallisation.
Can one foil be used on every material?
No. The hot-melt adhesive is formulated for a specific substrate family. A paper and board grade will not bond reliably to polypropylene, PVC or nylon. Share your exact substrate so the correct adhesive grade is supplied.
What is the difference between hot stamping foil and a heat transfer label?
Hot stamping foil transfers a metallic or pigment lacquer package only where the heated die makes contact, which suits logos, borders and brand marks. A heat transfer label transfers a complete pre-printed multi-colour graphic onto a container.
Can hot stamping foil be used on plastic containers and caps?
Yes. Caps and closures are commonly decorated by vertical or peripheral stamping and moulded panels by flat-bed stamping, using an adhesive grade matched to the resin.
Does TopGuard supply holographic foil?
Yes. Holographic grades are produced by embossing a diffractive pattern into the lacquer layer before metallisation, and are used for both decoration and brand protection.