How Foil Stamping Can Make Product Packaging Stand Out

Packaging design plays a critical role in influencing consumers, and the more noticeable your packaging is, the more likely it is to get the attention of customers. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can enhance your product packaging with foil stamping.

Think about the products you are drawn to when shopping — the shiny label of a cosmetic product or the glossy red and green packaging of a holiday item. These types of packaging exude recognizable luxury that draws you to the shelf.

This product packaging technique is created with foil stamping and is associated with the gold seal of quality. Your audience will recognize it immediately. It’s an emblem of your business’s commitment to the highest standards of packaging.

What is foil stamping?

Foil stamping is a method of applying metallic or non-metallic foil to an object using a combination of pressure, heat, and adhesives. This technique allows for an infinite number of design possibilities as well as countless applications for any type of product packaging you want to create.

There are 2 types of foiling: Hot and Cold.

Hot Foil – to create a hot foil-stamped product package or label, a metal die is milled to a specific shape and then heated. Once the die is heated, it is pressed onto the printing surface by machine. The heat and pressure of this process applies a thin layer of foil to the printing substrate. Once the foil is stamped, the excess foil is removed. The end result is a clean and striking image.

Cold Foil – on the other hand, cold foiling relies on pressure and adhesives instead of heat. With cold foiling, a pressure roller seals the foil to the substrate with a special adhesive. Then the design is cured under a UV light or allowed to air dry.

The most common types of foil used in foil stamping include metalized foil, holographic foil, and pigment foil. Metalized foil is often the most recognizable, and it creates the shiny, metallic effect frequently associated with foil stamping. Holographic foil is used to create a rainbow effect by diffracting light and is seen in collectible and seasonal items. Pigment foil is versatile and available in an array of colors with glossy or matte finishes.

No matter the type, when combined with the right finishes and effects for your product packaging, foil stamping will create a product package that pops.

How foil stamping can enhance your product packaging

Cartons and labels using foil can influence customer behavior because it is the first aspect consumers will notice. The key to noticeability lies in creating an attractive package or label. Foil stamping can add contrasting effects to virtually any product, making it easy to stand out among competitors.

In fact, according to a study by the Foil & Special Effects Association (FSEA), packaging with foil stamping caught the attention of consumers in just 2 seconds, while products without foil stamping took nearly 4 seconds for the same consumer to notice.

Foil stamping is an excellent choice for enhancing the packaging of your product because it can be applied to almost any type of material. It’s durable and versatile while also resistant to factors like heat and humidity.

In addition, it can be used to create both single-color designs and sophisticated multicolor images. Best of all, it can enhance brand recognition. Because foil stamping is so effective at making products stand out, it elevates any product or marketing with luxury packaging.