Question 1

What is hot stamping foil and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Hot stamping foil is a metallic or pigmented film that transfers a decorative layer onto a substrate using heat and pressure. A heated die presses the foil against the material; the release layer separates from the backing, bonding the color or metallic coating to the surface. It creates a crisp, high-gloss finish used widely in cosmetics, wine labels, luxury packaging, and books.

Question 2

What is the difference between hot stamping foil and cold foil?

Accepted Answer

Hot stamping foil transfers via heat and pressure using a heated metal die — it is ideal for short runs and high-definition detail on paper, plastic, and leather. Cold foil (cold stamping foil) uses a UV-curable adhesive applied inline on a printing press; the foil is laminated then cured, enabling speeds of 75–150 m/min and making it cost-effective for high-volume label and flexible packaging production.

Question 3

What substrates can hot stamping foil be applied to?

Accepted Answer

Lihyang hot stamping foils are formulated for a wide range of substrates including coated and uncoated paper, paperboard, ABS, PP, PE, PVC plastics, genuine and synthetic leather, textile fabrics, and wood. Different adhesion formulas are available for each substrate category — please contact our engineers to confirm the right grade for your application.

Question 4

What temperature and pressure settings are needed for hot stamping?

Accepted Answer

Typical hot stamping parameters range from 80–160 °C die temperature and 20–80 kg/cm² pressure with a dwell time of 0.1–0.5 seconds, varying by substrate, foil grade, and machine type. Paper-based substrates generally use lower temperatures; plastics and leather may require higher heat. Lihyang provides technical data sheets with recommended parameters for each foil series, and our engineers offer direct troubleshooting support.

Question 5

What is metallized film (VMPET) used for?

Accepted Answer

Metallized film (VMPET — vacuum metallized PET) is a polyester film coated with a thin layer of aluminium under vacuum. It provides excellent light barrier, moisture barrier (WVTR ≤1.0 g/m²/day), and oxygen barrier (OTR ≤1.5 cc/m²/day) properties. It is widely used in flexible food packaging, snack bags, coffee pouches, pharmaceutical blisters, and insulation materials.

Question 6

What is AlOx transparent barrier film and how is it different from metallized film?

Accepted Answer

AlOx (aluminium oxide) transparent barrier film uses a nanometre-thick ceramic coating instead of metallic aluminium. This gives it optical transparency, microwaveability, and compatibility with metal detectors — all features that standard metallized (VMPET) film cannot offer. Barrier performance is comparable to VMPET, making it ideal for premium food packaging, medical device pouches, and any application requiring transparency or metal-detector safety.

Question 7

What is your minimum order quantity (MOQ) and lead time?

Accepted Answer

MOQ and lead time vary by product line and specifications. For standard hot stamping foil in catalog colors, MOQ starts from 1 roll for sample orders. For custom colors, custom widths, or specialty films (VMPET, AlOx), minimum production quantities apply. Standard lead time is approximately 2–4 weeks after order confirmation; please contact tw@lihyangfoil.com for an exact quotation.

Question 8

Do you offer free samples and custom color matching?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Lihyang provides free technical samples for qualified inquiries across all product lines — including hot stamping foil, cold foil, holographic foil, VMPET, and AlOx film. We also offer custom color matching: submit a Pantone reference or physical swatch and our R&D team will develop a matched formula. Contact tw@lihyangfoil.com or use the form below to request samples.

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