I. What is Hot Stamping?
Hot stamping is a post-press process that transfers gold foil or other hot stamping materials onto the substrate surface using a certain amount of pressure and heat. This requires a dedicated hot stamping machine and a stamping die. The stamping foil is heated to a specific temperature, then pressure is applied to bond it to the substrate surface.
II. What is Cold Foil Stamping?
Cold foil stamping is a method that transfers metal foil or other stamping materials directly onto the substrate surface using UV printing adhesive, all on the printing press. No heating is required. The stamping foil is bonded to the substrate through the UV adhesive.
III. Differences Between Hot Stamping and Cold Foil Stamping
1. Processing Temperature
Hot stamping: Requires heating to a specific temperature (typically 180–220°C) for processing.
Cold foil stamping: Performed at room temperature; no heating required.
2. Stamping Effect
Hot stamping: Produces sharp, well-defined image edges, high surface gloss, and bright, smooth stamped patterns. Hot stamping can also create three-dimensional (embossed) stamping, giving the packaging a unique tactile feel.
Cold foil stamping: Produces a relatively softer effect, with a metallic luster that is less intense than hot stamping. However, cold foil stamping can be applied to a wide variety of substrates, including paper, plastic, and metal.
3. Application Range
Hot stamping: Commonly used for packaging products with high requirements for stamping effects, such as high-end cosmetics and liquor packaging.
Cold foil stamping: Widely used across various packaging printing fields, including food packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, and label printing. Because cold foil stamping can be performed on a wide range of substrates, it offers great versatility.
Post time: Apr-22-2026