The Many Colored Designs Available
Hot foil stamping or rapid heat stamping is an alternative printing method for temporary relief printing where foils or pre-dipped ink is transferred from a heated plate to a flat surface in high heat. The technique has evolved over time to include various other methods as well. The variety and complexity of designs produced with this process are tremendous, as it is now possible to produce almost any shape imaginable.
A hot foil stamper is essentially a metal plate, with a raised metallic layer on its underside. This is then heated to reach the specific temperature necessary to produce the ink. The raised layer of metal provides a solid platform upon which the ink is imprinted. For those who have almost any questions regarding in which as well as the way to use how to measure pipe fittings, you are able to email us with our website. It is important that the hot metal plate be placed on a smooth surface with sufficient drainage to allow for excess ink to escape to the flat surface below. If this is not done, a number of undesirable effects can occur such as a pothole forming in the embossed design.
One of the first types of hot stamping used was to use a hand-operated machine, most likely a rotary cutter, with either an automatic or a manual feeder. The printed design would pass through the raised metal plate and would be held on by a rubber band, which would be attached to the top of the hot stamping die. As the design passed through the die, it would be cut out and the area of the die used to press the design into a sheet of metal. These early machines were very slow to operate and required a steady hand. Many of these designs could not reproduce any images beyond a limited depth.
In the late twentieth century, with advances in technology, a new type of hot foil stamping machine was designed. This time it was the automatic type with an increased sophistication in its operation. The designs could now be reproduced easily and with greater depth. Improvements in manufacturing techniques led to the production of a more reliable and even stronger material than had been used in previous years and to a faster and smoother operation.
Modern hot foil stamping machines can now produce designs that are over twenty layers thick and which can be produced in a variety of different colors. The most popular today are made from a material called polyester mesh, which combines flexibility and durability. The foiled areas of the design are then carefully trimmed by hand to remove any excess material. The resulting product is then pressed firmly into a suitable spot color. Depending on the requirements of the customer on the spot color may be anything from bright white to bright red, and sometimes even rainbow colors.
When hot foil stamping has to be applied to metals like iron or brass, these finishes provide a metallic look without having to dull the natural color of the metal. By choosing a finish such as gold you will have an extremely high quality product that will stand the test of time and heavy use. You can produce these types of finishes in different sizes, depending on the needs of your customer. Many companies will offer a varied range of sizes from very small, about 0.15 inches, to much larger sizes, ranging up to 2 inches. The smaller sizes will generally be cheaper as they are usually used for less elaborate designs.