How To Setup Artwork For Foiling // Adobe Illustrator

Today let's talk about how to set up print artwork for foiling. This applies to paper printing such as art prints, business cards, greetings cards... anything involving paper and foil!
HOW TO SETUP ARTWORK FOR FOIL
The process for setting up foil artwork is very similar. When you are setting up your artwork, you have to think of your design in two parts: a foil part and a print part. In Adobe Illustrator, when you initially create your file in the layers panel create a master PRINT layer and a separate FOIL layer.
All of the print elements should go in that print layer, and all of the foil elements must go in the foil layer. I always recommend making your print elements, as usual, adding the foil elements in the print layer when you're building the design. Once you have finished your design, copy and paste the foil elements into the foil layer and delete them out of the print layer.
You shouldn't have anything you want foiling in the print layer. Everything foiled should be in the foil layer. You can check by hiding the foil layer if there is still anything that needs to be foiled on the print layer... move it over.
To get the best results with your foiling, I recommend using a vector-based software (such as Illustrator). You can use raster-based software such as Photoshop or Procreate, but if your artwork is a lower dpi, the edges of the foil might not be the best it can be.
With digital foiling, I always ask for all of the foil elements to be set as 100% black. Always double check your file is in CMYK. Digital foil bonds best to the black toner when it's on its own. With hot foiling, dependant on your printer, the foil elements need to be set to their spot colour. Usually, this is 100% magenta, but it's always best to ask your printer to see which colour is best for them.
SAVING YOUR FILE
As long as you have set up your artwork with the two PRINT and FOIL layers, this step is straightforward.
As with all printing, it's always best to send PDF files to your printer. With foiling you should send the following files for a foiled print. To save these files turn off the layers you don't want visible for each pdf.
A full-colour print file (if you have any colour printing on the file)
A foil file, this has only the foil elements on it.
A sample file where you have both foil and print layer visible to show the printer where the foil overlays on top of the print.
You can add a foil effect in the sample file, but it's not essential if you want to make it super clear what's foiled on the print.
If you have a double-sided print with foil on both sides, all you have to make sure is that the page order is the same on both the foil pdf and the print pdf.
And that's it. Once you have saved your three pdfs, as long as you have done all of the usual print checks, you are ready to send the files to print!
Hopefully, you have found this useful, if you have any comments please just let me know!
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[@elliothugz5890]

Wow! How you explained it answered what I've been trying to google for hours now. Hahaha Thank you so much! It really helped me get a better idea on how to digital foil on top of my whole artwork (laser printed). Sad how no one's seeing this. Keep it up man. With the pandemic I'm sure many artists have been trying to produce their prints at home and this video really helps!

[@reverendhortons2782]

Very helpful - thank you!

[@zuzanapaloch5858]

Hei Rob! Nice and easy!

[@sivanronen6664]

Hi Rob, thanks for the video and the very precise explanation. I wanted to ask a question regarding metallic printing on pp silver paper. Does it work the same? Or should the preparation of the file be different? . . Can I give a shade to a red sample that will be metallic when printed? And if so, how to prepare the file in a good way. Thanks for your response

[@TheDamlaYagmur]

Excellent video, Rob! Thanks for the great information. Is it possible to print a design similar to the 'galactic birthday' card at home.? I appreciate you said it will need to be laminated in between but don't really understand that part. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself and will start off with simpler designs :D Thanks again!

[@awaisiy]

There is An Additional Step For Hot Foil and that is "Reverse the Foil artwork" which means the ground color is supposed to be black and the artwork work is supposed to be white