Embossing, Foil Stamping and Fine Art Printing

I Love to Help a Curious Customer

Today I had a request form Heather in Seattle, WA and she is interested in obtaining a quote/estimate for Embossed Business Cards with blind embossed logos and 2 colors for names and company information. There are two people that require a set of cards each.

I receive quite a few request everyday and first need to break down a client’s request in terms that can be understood so we have a clear basis for estimatiing the true costs of a project. So, here are the most important specifications required by any embosser before they can provide an up-front, honest quote that will never change.

Here are the 7 Main Components to any Printing/ Engraving Quotation

1. STOCK: What type of paper do you want to use?
2. INK(S): How many ink colors? Raised or flat
3. ENGRAVING: Embossing or foil stamping.
4. SIZE: What is the size of the project. E.g. a business card is 2 x 3 1/2″
5. BLEED: Do any of the elements run off the sheet edges?
6. QTY: What is the total quantity you wish to produce
7. DIEMAKING: What is the type of die required? There are several types of dies that can be used. The least expensive is a magnesium based die

Let me Breakdown Embossing and Printing Prices

PAPER STOCK

There are many options available with engraving but you want to make sure that the paper you select with tolerate the desired effect. If you are using a sculptured die that has many high levels of embossing, debossing or foil stamping then certain papers will work better than others. When you apply embossing effects you are stressing the paper used. Some papers are made to tolerate extreme stresses while others have a much shorter breaking point (they will rip and tear at some point). You are best to ask the engraver for a suggestion based on your unique project.

RAISED OR FLAT INK(S)

The most critical part of the combination of ink and engraving is registration. What is registration? Registration is a term that all printers and engravers can identify with. It means that colors ink colors and engraving (or any other printing/ finishing operation touch or need to align with each other). The general references used by printers include tight registration (colors are close or touching) or loose registration (colors and engraving do not touch and are not close together).

ENGRAVING TYPES FOILING OR EMBOSSING

Describe Engraving operations required. E.g. Embossing or foil stamping. For Foiling area is also important because foil is charged out based on consumption per square inch.

SIZE OF FINISHED PROJECT

Provide the finished trim size such as 2 X 3 1/2″ (standard business card size)

BLEEDING GRAPHICS

This is a term that describes the engraved and/ or printed image exceeding the edge of the sheet.

DESIRED QUANTITY

The total quantity required. For business cards you can describe them like 500 X 2 names. Which means you want to order 500 business cards for 2 different people with the same graphic identity. A word of advice with business cards…group them together at the same time to take advantage of group pricing.

THE ART OF DIEMAKING

This is an area that can be really expensive or very cost efficient. Think about the intended use of the die. Will it be ongoing? You see when you have a die made the cheapest way is by using a magnesium based die but they only stand up for 5-10/k impressions then you need to make another. On the other hand a sculptured or brass die can last for 50,000-100,000 impressions depending on the letterpress pressure required for each impression.

Once these questions are clearly answered an engraving company can be 100% accurate with a quote. There will not be that dreaded message, “The price of your engraving project is going to cost an additional $XXX.00 because you did not tell us that the XXX was XXXX.” Reputable engravers hate contacting a client back and boosting the price, but sometimes descriptions are not well defined and the result is an upcharge. Embossing and engraving is and art that cannot be short-cut or you will see it in the finished project. If it is the cheapest price you want for your uniquely printed masterpiece, then I am sorry engraving and/or embossing is not for you. Perhaps a standard four color business card is the best way to go?

Tags: embossing press, embossing metal, embossing & die cutting system, print script, ready to print, prints ready, embossing arts, embossing stamp