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Foil, letterpress & emboss specification guide

The artwork rules for each luxury process, the foil colour range, what plates and dies cost you in time, and the rush-friendly alternatives.

Foil, letterpress & emboss specification guide
Minimum line weight
0.5 pt (0.007")
Minimum type size
6 pt sans / 8 pt serif
Plates / dies
Magnesium or copper die per foil color
1–2 business days for dies + make-ready
Reverse & spacing: Knock-outs ≥ 1 pt; avoid fine reversed serifs
GoldRose goldCopperSilverMatte blackWhiteHolographicClear gloss

Foil on dark Colorplan stock is the luxury look; large solid areas may show pinholes on textured paper. Supply artwork as 100% K vector (one layer per process/color), fonts outlined. Every plate is a fixed cost — reprints of the same design reuse it.

Designers & agencies: put this calculator on your own site — free, always up to date.