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Foil Master Question

PostPosted: November 29th, 2017, 11:06 am
by creativeexpressions
Hello Everyone,

I just purchased my Foil Master and tried it out for the first time.
I tried foiling on matte stock white and a dark coloured stock, metallic cardstock and a metallic envelope so far.
I am using a colour laser printer and foils from Sherri.
The results were not so good.... None of the papers got an even finish of the foil. Is it because I am using a colour laser printer instead of monochrome? (I just want to check in before I go ahead and purchase another printer).
Also, have any of you had experience with metallic stocks? Seems that there might be something in the metallic paper that is also taking some of the foil as it left a darker almost dirty looking tone to the paper where the foil piece was.
The dark cardstock I used had a very fine texture to it, is that also a problem? (This cardstock took the least amount of foil).
Finally, the envelope was a mess due to the heat, so, that is definitely not something that can be foiled.

Any experience or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Anita

Re: Foil Master Question

PostPosted: November 29th, 2017, 5:00 pm
by Gigi
I will try and answer all of your questions. You are right about the metallic - it has materials in it that pick up the foil I have never had success foiling on metallic items.

You will have to adjust the heat according to the material that you are running through the machine.

A textured card stock will obviously not foil evenly - and the results can be interesting depending on what effect you want.

I don't know what temperature you had the FoilMaster on - but more heat does not necessarily mean better foiling - you have to find the optimum temperature for
your material.

I started with a color laser printer and my results improved greatly when I bought a monchrome printer - like night and day. My foiling results are beautiful now on laser transparencies, vellum, card stock - you name it.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Re: Foil Master Question

PostPosted: November 29th, 2017, 11:28 pm
by creativeexpressions
Thank you for your response. Much appreciated.
Can you please let me know which monochrome printer you have? I have to go out and get one.
I have always been an "HP" girl, but was wondering which one you have had success with.

When you say that your foiling improved dramatically from the colour laser to the monochrome. What experience were you having with the colour laser? Was it incomplete coverage or no coverage on your tests? Some of my cardstocks (softer, perhaps more cotton content) did not get any foil at all! Some, just a little smattering, my best result was with Classic linen by Neenah which got an even coat, but not complete, so black showed through.

Also, can you let me know what temperature setting you have had the best results with?
I tried a number of temperature settings from 155 - 199. It didn't seem to make much of a difference....

Thanks

Anita

Re: Foil Master Question

PostPosted: November 29th, 2017, 11:52 pm
by Gigi
I have a Brother monochrome laser (HL - 2280DW)- that is the brand so many of us got at one point several years ago - and it was not expensive. As I recall it was under $100.

With the color laser printer, it has been the experience of most of us, that you can get good foiling by putting it on black only, but it can still pull in the other colors to create the intensity of the black. I had fairly good foiling but with speckling. With the mono printer, I usually have no speckling at all. I try to stick with smooth card stock unless there is a reason to get a more mottled foiled effect.

Foiling honestly takes a lot of experimentation. It's not just about the card stock you are using, but what material you are using as your carrier. I have been all over the place with foiling temperatures, but seem to be getting the most consistent results lately at about 150. That is with a medium weight card stock and heavy vellum as the "carrier". I have used a variety of carriers from file folders (my preferred carrier of a year ago!) to copy paper (not a fan due to wrinkling often) to my latest attempts this year with the heavyweight vellum. I have had consistently good results with that sandwich.

I cannot remember ever having no foiling adhere - at least not with the monoprinter.

Hope this helps and that I answered everything.

Re: Foil Master Question

PostPosted: November 30th, 2017, 8:42 pm
by creativeexpressions
Thank you Gigi,

I was using the colour laser printer with copy paper as my carrier and there were some cardstocks, as I mentioned that took no foil at all.

Anyways, I have ordered a monochrome printer that is to arrive tomorrow. So I will continue to experiment when it arrives. I will keep you posted on my success.

I didn't think of using a different carrier. Perhaps I will give the folder a try and I also have a medium weight vellum that I could try.

Thanks again for your help.

Anita

Re: Foil Master Question

PostPosted: December 1st, 2017, 2:26 am
by Gigi
You are very welcome , Anita. Good luck.

Also, when using the monoprinter, to get the best foiling, change your settings for the optimal amount of ink. So you want to set your dpi as high as it will go (mine is at 1200 and for heavyweight card stock regardless of what you are using. The more ink that is printed on the card stock, the better it will foil.

I am sure you will see a pronounced difference in your foiling by simply changing to the monoprinter, and then making other adjustments will continue to improve your work.