An effective way to incorporate rich, consistent colours, particularly metallics, into your print projects is foil-blocking, or hot-foiling, which uses a process similar to letterpress. Rather than applying ink, metallic and coloured foils are transferred onto the substrate through a combination of heat and pressure for a bright, durable finish. Like letterpress, foil-blocking starts by producing a metal plate engraved with the chosen artwork or type; this heated block is then pressed onto a thin film of foil, which releases and adheres to the material beneath. The result delivers striking metallic effects and precise detail, and it can be a more cost-effective alternative to traditional engraving for many applications.