Wedding Stationery · Print & Finish
The Art of Custom Hot Foil Press
Luxury is in the details — and nothing makes a detail land like gold foil pressed into velvet, one sheet at a time.
Luxury is in the details. The weight of the paper. The precision of a gold letter pressed into velvet. The way light catches a foil-stamped monogram. At Polina Perri, we don't just print wedding invitations — we craft them, one sheet at a time, using one of the oldest and most demanding print techniques in the world.
Hot foil stamping has been around for centuries. And it hasn't changed much. That's the point.
How It Works: A Six-Step Process
Hot foil stamping transfers metallic foil onto a surface using a combination of heat, pressure, and a custom brass die. There's nothing digital about it. Every step is physical, hands-on, and requires real expertise to get right.
It all starts with the artwork. We've spent years learning how lettering, fine lines, and intricate details behave when they're converted into a metal die. What looks great on screen doesn't always translate cleanly to foil — and we know the difference.
We work with a specialist manufacturer to produce our brass dies. Each one is custom-made for your design. A new design means a new die — and not every design that looks beautiful digitally will produce a beautiful foil impression. We guide you through that process.
Getting the die positioned perfectly, dialing in the pressure, accounting for the material — setup alone can take over an hour. It's meticulous work. We don't rush it.
Heat. Pressure. Timing. Every material responds differently, and finding the right combination for each job takes experience. We run test sheets, adjust the settings, and keep going until every transfer is clean and consistent.
Every sheet gets inspected by hand under raking light. Too much heat damages delicate materials. Too little pressure leaves an incomplete transfer. We catch both — before anything ships.
The result is something a digital file can never replicate. A physical impression in the material. A metallic finish that catches the light. An invitation your guests will hold, admire, and keep.
Hot Foil Stamping Across Materials
We've worked with a wide range of materials over the years — from traditional cotton papers to velvet, acrylic, and vellum. Each one behaves differently under the press, and we know how to get the best out of all of them.
The classic choice for luxury wedding invitations. Its soft texture gives the foil a crisp, refined impression that's hard to beat. Elegant and timeless.
Delicate, translucent, and beautiful when done right. Vellum requires precise press settings and careful handling. We know how to work with it without compromising its unique character.
One of our favorite materials to work with. Its rich, plush surface makes gold foil look extraordinary. Foiling on velvet is technically demanding, but the results speak for themselves.
A modern, striking alternative to paper. Metallic foil on clear acrylic creates a bold contrast that's unlike anything else. It takes a different approach — and we've figured it out.
Our expertise extends to PVC and a wide range of specialty papers, each with its own surface and technical requirements. Whatever material you're working with, we'll help you get it right.
The beauty of a foil-stamped invitation is not only in the metallic finish. It is in the precision of the lettering, the quality of the impression, the choice of material, and the care taken throughout the process.
The Knowledge Behind the Design
Here's what most people don't realize about hot foil stamping: the hardest part isn't the press — it's the artwork preparation.
A delicate serif, a hairline rule, a tiny inscription — all of these behave differently when you convert them from a digital file into a metal die. Sometimes a design needs to be simplified. Sometimes the letter spacing needs to be tightened. These aren't limitations. They're part of what makes this craft what it is.
We've spent years developing this knowledge, and we put it to work on every project we take on. When you work with us, you're not just getting a print vendor — you're getting a team that understands the full journey from screen to press to finished card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hot foil stamping?
Metallic foil is transferred onto paper, velvet or acrylic using heat, pressure and a custom metal die (a cliché). Unlike digital printing, it is a physical process — the result is a crisp metallic finish with a slight impression you can feel.
What is a foil stamping cliché?
A custom brass die made from your artwork by our specialist partner. Fine lines and small lettering are checked before the die is made, because not every on-screen detail transfers cleanly into foil.
Which materials can be foil stamped?
Cotton paper, vellum, velvet, clear acrylic, PVC and a wide range of designer papers — each needs its own heat, pressure and timing, which we test before every run.
How much does extra foil stamping cost?
Every invitation already includes the foil shown in its design. For foil on something extra — an insert, a belly band or an envelope liner — use the estimator below for an indicative price; we confirm the exact cost in your quote.
Which foil colors are available?
Gold, silver, copper, rose gold, white gold and pearl.
How long does foil stamping take?
It is part of production: from 3 weeks after proof approval, or from 4 weeks for velvet folio and boxed suites.
Foil Stamp Price Estimator
Need foil stamping on additional pieces outside your main suite — like inserts, belly bands, or envelope liners? Enter your foil area dimensions below to get an instant estimate.