Hot foil printing for custom paper bags and boxes
Hot foil printing is a premium finishing technique that transfers a coloured, glossy or matte foil onto paper, cardboard or other materials using heat and pressure. It’s an elegant printing method that enhances logos, lettering and design details with a bright, refined and durable metallic effect.
Since the colour comes from the foil itself rather than ink, the final result is not affected by the colour of the surface: light shades such as white, silver or gold can be applied even on dark backgrounds, achieving an elegant, high-definition finish.
Note: On paper shoppers, except for the CUSTOM, ELITE, POP-UP and LUXURY ranges, the printable area is limited to the two main sides and may be affected by the presence of handles or side gussets.
Main features of hot foil printing
- Heat-transfer technique using glossy or matte foil under pressure.
- Available in metallic and pastel finishes for any graphic need.
- Ensures perfect readability on dark or contrasting surfaces.
- Ideal for logos, lettering, graphic details and luxury packaging.
- Applicable on paper, cardboard, synthetic leather and plastic materials.
Available foil colours: hot foil printing can be achieved with a wide range of glossy or matte foils, divided into:
Metallic finishes: gold, silver, copper, bronze, fuchsia, green, blue, red, anthracite grey.
Pastel colours: white, black, red, electric blue, light blue, pink, yellow, green, fuchsia, brown and grey.
Ideal for personalising
- Paper bags – perfect for boutiques, events and luxury brands.
- Rigid boxes – ideal for gift packaging, cosmetics or jewellery.
- Cake and pastry boxes – perfect for bakeries, patisseries and gourmet packaging.
- Adhesive labels – excellent for sealing boxes, bottles or cosmetic products.
Benefits of hot foil printing
- Premium visual effect with metallic or matte brilliance.
- High precision in graphic and typographic details.
- Perfect coverage on dark or coloured materials.
- Excellent durability and resistance to wear.
- Ideal for high-end packaging and brand identity projects.
Examples of hot foil printing
Some real examples of hot foil printing applied to custom paper bags and boxes:
All images show real hot foil prints on paper and cardboard, produced with high-quality metallic finishes for a refined and durable result.
Return to the overview of printing techniques to compare available methods, materials and applications on Shop for Shop.