Q: My customer wants to run foil-stamped letterhead through their laser printer. What shall I suggest to them?

A: There is no known foil that is guaranteed to go through a laser printer. Laser printers operate at varying degrees of temperatures. Not only do different brands operate at different temperatures, but heat also varies during the day depending on usage.

The heating element in a laser printer reactivates both the lacquer coat and the adhesive layer of foil. Reactivating the lacquer coat can burn it. When the adhesive layer is heated and then run through the roller station inside the laser printer, the foil can pull away from the substrate.

The API Group foil companies do not guarantee a foil for use in laser printers, and recommends that you do the same. If your customer insists on running foil stamped letterhead through their laser printer, stamp a few sample sheets for them to test, keeping a log of the temperature, type of foil, stock, and make-ready used. Ask them to run the test sheets through their laser printer at different times of the day, and then return the sheets for your evaluation.

Article Index