Digital Foiling vs. Block Foiling: What’s the difference?

When you print with foil at Printed.com, we use a process known as Digital Foiling. But what exactly is it, and how is it different from traditional Block Foiling?

In short, both methods will leave you with shiny, metallic accents, printed onto your design. What’s different is the way that they’re printed, and the finished effect you’ll get from both.

Traditional Block Foiling

Traditional Foil Blocking (or hot foil stamping) involves applying metallic foil to paper or card, using heated plates (or die). This leaves your foiled elements slightly debossed and textured – as the foil is hot pressed onto your card or paper stock. This process works best on uncoated, thicker paper stocks.

Block Foiling Wedding Invites

What designs can you print with traditional Foiling?

Block foiling is a great choice when you want a polished, professional finish that leaves a lasting impression. It’s perfect for wedding stationery, cards & invitations, or branding materials for luxury businesses.

If you’re looking for versatility, traditional hot press foiling is a fantastic option, it can handle almost any design. For smaller, detailed elements like fine serif fonts, we recommend traditional methods for the best precision.

What are the Pros and Cons?

Pros 

• Debossed, tactile finish for a luxurious look. 
• Very durable, long lasting effect. 
• Excellent for detailed designs with crisp, clean edges. 

Cons 

• Higher initial costs due to the need for customised dies and process.
• Better suited for larger print runs to offset the higher setup cost. 
• Limited flexibility for on-demand printing or small orders.

So what about Digital Foiling?

Unlike traditional Foil Blocking, Digital Foiling doesn’t require the use of plates – it’s printed directly from a file on the computer. This means that there are no set up costs, making it ideal for short runs and smaller orders.

Digitally Printed Foil results in a flat print product, without any texture or de-bossing. Once printed, we finish all of our Foiled Print with Velvet Lamination (you can choose either one sided or double sided, but whichever side you choose to add foiling to must be Velvet Laminated). This protects your print with a durable, hard wearing finish.

This process works wonderfully for bold text or larger areas that need foiling, delivering eye-catching results with ease. Just keep in mind that Digital Foiling is best suited to font sizes of 7pt or larger.

Gold Foil Wedding Invitations

What designs can you print with Digital Foiling?

Digital foiling is a fantastic option for bold designs or projects with larger areas that require foiling. It’s a go-to choice for adding metallic touches to business cards, postcards, stationery and promotional products. Plus, since there’s no need for custom blocks, it’s ideal for tighter deadlines or smaller budgets, helping you bring your vision to life without compromising on quality.

Digital foiling is available at Printed.com in various colours, including silver, gold, rose gold, copper, red and blue – on Silk, Uncoated and Trucard paper stocks.

For a more luxurious finish, traditional Block Foiling is the perfect choice and is available exclusively through our Bespoke Service. We can also offer double-sided foiling as part of this service. Simply complete our quick form and we’ll provide you with a customised quote within 24 hours.

Printed Invites with Foiling

What Colours Can You Choose?

We provide a variety of colour options to help you achieve the perfect finish for your design. From elegant gold printing to eye-catching holographic foil, our selection offers the flexibility you need to customise your print. Available foil colours include:

• Gold – Classic and versatile, gold adds timeless elegance. 
• Silver – Sleek and modern, silver is a great choice for minimalist designs. 
• Copper – A warm, earthy metallic ideal for rustic or vintage aesthetics. 
• Rose Gold – A trendy option with a soft, romantic appeal. 
• Holographic – A playful, multi-dimensional foil for unique designs. 
• Red Foil – A bold choice that brings festive cheer to your design.
• White Foil – New and unique, perfect for creating a subtle, glossy texture.

What are the Pros and Cons?

Pros 

• No setup costs, ideal for small or one-off print runs. 
• Quicker turnaround time for prints. 
• Great for bold text and designs. 
• More budget-friendly option compared to block foiling. 

Cons 

• Foil finish is flat, without embossing. 
• May not have the same ability for intricate details as block foiling.

Getting set up

Setting up your artwork for Foiling is as easy as creating just three separate print files! Our handy video tutorial will walk you through the entire process. And don’t forget to check out our top five tips to make sure your print comes off the press sparkling!

Got a question about Foiling? Our Customer Service Team are on hand to help. Call them directly on 0800 840 1430. They’re here every weekday from 8.30am ‘til 6.0pm. Or, drop them a line to theteam@printed.com or chat live on our website.

Which Foiling method will you be using for your next print job? Make sure to share your foiled creations with us on social and use the hashtag #ProudlyPrinted.