Our company does something very few companies do that contributes greatly to the level of print expertise and knowledge of our team. During our busy holiday season, we see an increase in order volume and it’s all hands on deck. Everyone in the company, from the president on down, is asked to help in production to get all orders printed and shipped. I have been helping in the foil stamping department during this time for the past few years.
Working in foil stamping, I see lots of different designs and ideas as I operate the press. It’s an excellent source of inspiration for my own work as well as highly educational. While doing something that is not routine, you tend to learn some things you otherwise would not, whether it be the print process or just the flow of work through the company.
1. With every card I pulled off the nearly 100-year-old press, I could see the incredible quality only a Heidelberg press can achieve. The press still produces absolutely gorgeous results, and I could see the timeless nature of foil stamped stationery. This goes to show that newer technology is not always the answer when looking for the best in print stationery.
2. Another thing foil stamping has taught me is how versatile foil can be, from small accents to borders to an entire card done in foil. I had never designed for foil stamping before my experience with the foil press so my knowledge of what was possible was limited. Working with foil, I have seen that it can be used in so many ways. We’ll be sure to elaborate on this in future blog posts, so stay tuned.
3. I think the most important thing I have learned while printing foil holiday cards is how much care goes into making every card look its absolute best. Each press operator has to be attentive and thoughtful while running each and every order. The cards come out so beautifully because every run is quality checked and completed with care. For me, this adds to my appreciation of foil stamping as it’s not an automated process and an individual takes great care to have every order come out perfectly.
Foil stamping on a Heidelberg press is not easy, and I have spent many hours learning to do so over the last few years. Although there were times of frustration, I have to admit that I have grown as a designer through this experience, and I have a much stronger appreciation for the skill and expertise of our press operators. The next time you receive an order printed to perfection, feel free to email us at customercare@tog.ink and we will be sure to share your message with our print team.
Leave a Reply