We understand the necessity of seeing ideas and thoughts become tangible.
We always have done. Foilco has a long-established, fully comprehensive paper library in our own test facility, sourced from all of our friends at leading paper manufacturers and merchants around the world.
This gives us the opportunity to work with and advise those paper suppliers on the best Foilco grades for the widest variety of their materials. It helps creatives keep combinations specified and on track. If the marriage of paper and foil isn’t working, then something has to give.
The creative concept can unravel pretty quickly, especially when the deadline is looming. And nobody wants that. Foil Lab provides early intervention to test the union, providing technical guidance and physical printed samples.
Our collaborations with material suppliers allow us to find the perfect combination of foil colour and grade for each substrate. Concepts start with colour. Print follows with function. This facility provides us with a test bed for multiple Foilco grades with the specified substrate.
Our in-house hub to test bold ideas – where a feeling becomes something you can see and touch. Because experimentation is part of our creative DNA.
At the infancy of the project, a physical print allows the creative to be assured that the combination of the foil colour and chosen material works in unison.
Foilco’s small-scale testing allows you to experiment with a broad spectrum of grades to deliver the optimum solution, reducing press setup time.
Confidence that the project will run smoothly at the production stage. It can take the foil consideration earlier in the planning stage, so Foilco can dedicate stock to your specific project, reducing lead times. The design has been fully considered and conceptualised, and it’s disappointing for all if the foil colour is swapped out at the last minute for a standard bright gold or bright silver product.
It gives the curious and creative mind the opportunity to take more design risks. It’s rare to allow for experimentation at the start of a production day. Here, at an early stage, designers can experiment with different combinations to see what works, pushing the boundaries of creativity in foil and paper.
Print projects spring up a multitude of combinations; inks, laminates and demanding surfaces. Foil too often arrive as the last-stage consideration. Meaning there can be genuine challenges when it’s our turn. Foil Lab can run tests for you on our in-house platen machines and advise printers on temperatures, makereadies, pressures, and alternative grades to keep the concept intact.
We’ll test any material. Whether it’s fabric, plastic, wood or metal, send the product to us, and we’ll stamp it.
Our free-of-charge testing service offers three designs as standard – fine detail, medium or solid, to reflect your artwork. If you want to see your own brand or the client’s design, we’ll make you a stamping die (maximum size 100mm x 100mm) and print with it. We’ll then store that plate in our die library at Foilco for your future use, please talk to us for further details.
Our test results give you high confidence – but all foils should still be tested under final production conditions, as results may vary by press, pressure, temperature and environment.
Every creative leap starts with a small experiment.
Got a project you’re working on – Get in touch and let’s test it for you
Choose the substrate/materials you hope to work with and we'll show you the correct foils from the largest range of grades & shades on the market.
Tell us the type of substrate/material that you are working with:
Coated Board
Coated Paper
Digital Varnish
Ribbon
Textiles
Uncoated Board
Uncoated Paper
Box / Book Board
Labels
Laminates
Leather
Plastic
Dieless Flexo
WoodDigital Toner
Digital Inks
Varnish
Overprintable
All Foils