Frequently Asked Questions
We endeavour to dispatch orders for foil held in stock within 12 hours. If a faster service is required, we aim to meet our customers’ requirements. We have been known to dispatch within the hour!
Our business hours are from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm Monday through Friday, 9.00 am to 1.30 pm on Saturdays. However, it is OK to send an enquiry/order via email or by phone anytime.
Our standard cores are cardboard but we are also able to offer plastics cores. The inner diameter of the standard cores we are able to offer are either 16mm, 25mm, 76mm or 152mm.
There is no such thing as a standard roll length to us! We can supply rolls for whatever requirement the customer has, up to a maximum of 6000m. Typically requested foil lengths are 120m, 600m, 1200m and 2400m.
The material that is being foiled determines which grade should be used. Different foil grades are suitable for different materials. We supply a large range of foil grades to suit most applications, and with our knowledge and experience we can help you choose the correct grade for your application.
The graphic design matters when choosing foils. If the design is fine detail, a clean release foil is often most suitable. A quick release foil will give better coverage for a solid design. In the event the image has both solid and fine areas testing is highly recommended to ensure the correct foil is chosen to give the best possible definition in print.
The make ready suitability is usually determined by graphic design along with the material that is being foiled. The term ‘make ready’ can also be referred to as ‘bedding material’. We have found that some customers are not aware of how make readies can increase the quality and consistency of the print. The correct make ready can greatly assist in overcoming many issues faced during the foiling process. As a general rule: Fine detail images often require a harder make ready and large coverage designs may work best with soft bedding material.
The machine being used can often have an impact on the settings that can be used. Some fast running machines will not have a dwell setting and therefore a very high temperature may be needed compared to other machines. This is because the running temperature of these machines is lower than the set temperature. Small hand pull machines are not capable of reaching high levels of pressure.
Typically, the dwell time directly affects the amount of foil that is transferred. For fine detail, a shorter dwell time is recommended. Solid areas may require more dwell time. Be careful; holding dwell can cause gloss foil finish to matt and if dwell is held for too long it can start to dull the finish of metallic foil. It may also cause excessive release often known as bleeding and bridging.
The temperature works similar to dwell. We have data sheets for all the foils which indicate foil applications and working temperature indicators. Lower temperatures are suitable for fine detail. High temperatures are suitable for solid areas. Be careful; if the temperature is too low, the foil will not be activated properly. This can cause patchy results with some areas not being foiled. If the temperature is too high, the finish of the foil may start to stress and mark, this may also cause excessive release.
If you have any further questions or queries, our sales team is fully trained and able to assist with foiling issues and enquiries.