Logo or brand mark
Design direction
Choose a bold logo or mark with clear spaces between its parts. The foil should make the shape easier to notice.
What to send us
Supply a separate foil mask and tell us which areas should remain ordinary print.
NEW ERA PRINT SOLUTIONS · MISSISSAUGA
Raised Foil Printing & Digital Foil Embellishment
Metallic shine with a raised feel. Raised foil sits above the printed surface, highlighting logos, larger lettering and selected decorative details.
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
See what raised metallic foil adds
The copper fan catches the light against the dark blue matte background. Its raised surface adds a detail you can feel. Compare it with traditional hot foil, which transfers a flatter foil layer.
What to notice
- Copper highlights make the metallic areas easy to identify.
- The surface relief adds a tactile edge to the larger shapes.
- Unfoiled spaces separate the pattern and preserve contrast.
Illustrative design concept, not a print proof.
Plan the details that matter
Invitation or greeting card
Design direction
Let the main motif or headline provide the metallic focus. Keep essential names, dates and smaller copy easy to read in the base artwork.
What to send us
Confirm the paper, finished size, foil colour and any additional clear gloss before quoting.
Presentation folder or packaging
Design direction
Use foil on a product name or logo, then keep it clear of folds and assembly areas. Show us the whole layout so we can check its placement.
What to send us
Mark scores, glue areas and assembly details so we can check the full construction.
Use this guide to plan your idea. We’ll check the paper, artwork and finishing details before confirming the job.
Is raised foil the same as metallic ink?
No. Foil is a transferred film that reflects light differently from metallic-looking ink. A screen image shows only one view of those reflections.
How do gloss and foil work together?
Clear gloss and foil need separate artwork and production passes. Using them on different areas often works well. Ask us to check any overlap and agree on the sequence before production.
What is raised foil?
Raised foil adds a metallic detail you can feel. Try it on a bold logo, name or title. Gold and silver are familiar choices; ask us which other colours are available and will work with your paper.
Compare the finishes
| Finish | What changes | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|
| Raised gloss / raised spot UV | Clear tactile coating above the surface | Shine, texture and selected design details |
| Flat spot UV | Selective clear gloss with less relief | Gloss contrast rather than a raised accent |
| Traditional embossing | Paper is shaped by dies | Raised paper detail; consider the reverse |
| Raised foil | Metallic finish with surface relief | Tactile metallic focal point |
| Traditional hot foil | Foil transferred using a heated die | Foil effect whose impression depends on stock and setup |
Ideas for raised metallic foil
Compare the same printed design before and after raised foil. The flat-print version uses ordinary ink; the finished version adds only metallic raised foil, with no separate clear-gloss treatment. These are illustrative concepts, not completed customer projects. We’ll check the paper, finish areas and production details for your design.
Raised foil on business cards
A raised foil logo or company name stands out when you hand over the card. Use bold shapes with space between them. Ask for a custom raised foil quote; standard foil cards don’t automatically include this digital raised treatment.
Explore business cardsRaised foil on pocket folders
Use a raised metallic brand mark or cover title on a presentation folder for sales proposals, welcome kits and event follow-up. Specify front-cover placement and keep folds, pocket construction and slits clear. We’ll need to check the paper and any lamination before confirming the finish.
Explore pocket foldersRaised foil on packaging and folding cartons
A raised foil product name, emblem or border can add a premium detail to a folding carton or sleeve. Apply the treatment to approved flat-sheet areas before conversion. Keep glue flaps, scores and compliance text clear, and review an assembly sample.
Discuss a custom projectRaised foil on holiday cards
A metallic seasonal title or snowflake accent can give holiday cards and Christmas greeting cards a celebratory detail. Ask about available foil colours and compatibility. Put personal messages and signatures on untreated inside areas.
Explore holiday cardsRaised foil on birthday cards
Emphasise a large age number, birthday title or simple celebratory motif with raised metallic foil. Keep party details in printed ink and give the foil elements enough space. For folded cards, keep the embellishment off the score.
Discuss a custom projectRaised foil on greeting and thank-you cards
Try raised foil on a bold thank-you, a monogram or a few decorative details. Keep the rest of the message easy to read and leave room for a handwritten note.
Discuss a custom projectRaised foil on brochures
Add a metallic cover title or emblem to a brochure or booklet, with full-colour imagery and body copy kept separate. Specify the exact panel or cover, foil colour and side. Avoid running raised foil over folds or binding areas.
Explore brochuresRaised foil on postcards
Use raised foil on a short event headline, logo or premium offer title. It should support the message rather than replace readable copy. Keep address, postage, barcode and QR areas clear and confirm suitability for the intended distribution.
Explore postcardsRaised foil on wedding invitations
Use raised foil on your names, a monogram or a bold border to highlight one part of the invitation. Ask us to check fine scripts and closely spaced flourishes. Match foil, stock and envelope choices through a sample rather than a screen preview alone.
Explore wedding invitationsTWO FINISHES · ONE COORDINATED DESIGN
Add clear gloss around a raised foil detail
Start with a foil logo, monogram or short headline, then give the surrounding printed illustration a clear raised-gloss accent. Keeping the metallic area focused helps it stand out, while gloss adds a second texture without turning the whole design gold.
From foil artwork to a combined finish
- Start with the flat print. Confirm the stock, printed artwork and any compatible lamination. All versions below use the same underlying design.
- Prepare two separate masks. Supply one aligned mask for raised foil and another for clear raised gloss, with a composite proof showing both. Clearly identify the treatment and side in each filename.
- Plan separate production passes. The foil treatment uses its own varnish pattern and the iFoil One transfer stage. The clear raised-gloss pattern is applied in a separate pass. NEPS confirms the sequence, registration, adhesion and curing requirements for the approved material and coverage.
- Finish and assemble. Review the sample or proof, then complete cutting, scoring, folding or assembly as specified. Keep both treatments away from folds, glue areas, writing spaces and functional codes.
Separate accents are usually easier to plan than overlapping gloss and foil in exactly the same area. If you want overlapping treatments, send the design for a specific production review rather than assuming they can simply be layered. The combination is a custom quote and is not included automatically in a standard gloss-only or foil-only order.
Ideas for using the two finishes together
Try a foil logo with a clear gloss pattern on a business card or folder. On greeting cards, foil can highlight the greeting while gloss follows the illustration. Wedding invitations can pair foil initials with gloss leaves or flowers. Cartons, brochures and postcards can use foil for a product name or title and gloss for selected image details, on suitable paper.
Illustrative concepts, not completed customer jobs. Screen images suggest the effect; ask NEPS to review physical stock and finish samples for your project.
Explore clear raised gloss · Explore metallic raised foil · Plan holiday cards · Explore Gloss Emboss business cards
Choose the details you want to highlight
- Choose one detail to lead: a logo, monogram, name in larger type or cover title. Keep the wording around it clear and readable.
- Use bold strokes and space between the details. Ask us to check fine scripts, small openings in letters and tightly spaced text.
- Keep small text, contact details, QR codes and barcodes in ordinary print so they stay easy to read and scan.
- Use a pattern where it adds something to the design. Large solid areas and dense details affect the feel, what we can produce and the price.
Dos and don’ts
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Send an aligned print PDF and separate finish mask | A flattened image with no way to identify the treatment |
| Leave room around logos and letters | Fine hairlines, tiny type and narrow gaps without approval |
| Keep treatment away from folds, scores and glue areas | A raised accent crossing a structural fold |
| Ask for a stock and finish sample | Judging texture or metallic colour only on a screen |
| Confirm scan and writing areas | Raised treatment over a QR code, barcode or signing area |
Prepare your raised foil artwork
- Supply the full-colour print PDF and a separate, clearly named vector mask for each finish and side. Keep the same dimensions and position in every file.
- Use solid 100% black (C0 M0 Y0 K100) on white for the finish mask. Avoid shadows, glows and grey values unless NEPS has approved a special setup.
- Outline fonts, embed print images and follow the job-specific bleed and safe-area template. Identify front and back explicitly.
- Include a composite reference showing the intended result. Ask us whether foil-only or blind-emboss elements should appear in the print PDF; do not remove underlying print artwork without confirming the intended effect.
- Ask NEPS to approve line weights, type size, spacing, edge clearance and stock before committing to production.
MGI digital enhancement: AccurioShine 3600 + iFoil One
We create raised digital foil with our MGI AccurioShine 3600 and iFoil One unit. A digital mask identifies the areas for varnish, and the iFoil One stage transfers the foil to create the metallic detail. This differs from traditional hot foil stamping with a custom die. The AccurioShine also produces clear gloss effects, including the raised gloss on our Gloss Emboss cards. For a design using both finishes, we plan separate masks and passes and check their sequence, alignment and adhesion on the chosen paper.
Questions before you order
Is raised foil the same as traditional hot foil?
No. Raised digital foil creates a tactile metallic effect using digital embellishment. Traditional hot foil transfers foil with a heated die; choose by the desired result and suitable stock.
Can I use this on packaging or pocket folders?
These finishes can be explored on suitable papers and designs. Send the dieline, quantity and areas you want treated so we can check adhesion, folds, glue areas and how the piece will be assembled.
What does custom foil printing cost?
The price depends on the piece, quantity, paper, finish areas, sides and any other treatments. We’ll confirm the cost and timing after reviewing your artwork. Raised finishing is included only when it is specified in the product or quote.
Can you help create the finish artwork?
Yes. Send your artwork or a design brief and identify the details you want to highlight. Design and artwork preparation are quoted separately.
Let’s work out your raised foil design
Show us the metallic detail you have in mind and the foil colour you prefer. Send the artwork, stock, size, quantity and deadline, and tell us if you also want clear raised gloss. We’ll review the separate treatments and quote your design. Our team is based in Mississauga and ships across Canada; delivery time is separate from production.
Need help with the design? Explore graphic design services.