Apparel
Auto, Home & Tools
Bags
Business & Office Products
Drinkware
Food & Candy
Outdoor & Leisure
Stationery
Technology
Toys & Novelties
Wellness and Safety
Writing
Bookmarks
Booklets
Brochures
Business Cards
Custom Calendars
Door Hangers
Envelopes
Event Tickets
Flyers
Greeting Cards
Hang Tags
Invitation Cards
Labels
Letterheads
Magnets
Menus
NCR Forms
Postcards
Presentation Folders
Rack Cards
Sales Sheets
Stickers
Trading Cards
Table Tents
Banners
Canvas
Decals
Event Tents
Flags
Posters
Reflective Signs
Signs
Table Covers
Tension Fabric Displays
Trade Show Booths
Raised foil is the finish people reach out and touch, and one of the most affordable ways to make a card feel truly premium. Gold, silver or holographic foil is embossed above the surface of the card, so as fingers move across it, the foil rises to meet them. Every raised foil product is printed on 16 pt premium cardstock and laminated on both sides with a soft, scuff-resistant velvet soft touch (suede) laminate, for a substantial 19 pt card. The result is luxurious, very premium and in a class of its own: a keepsake card.
Shop Raised Foil Products
-
Raised Foil Business Cards
3.5″ x 2″, horizontal or vertical. Raised gold, silver or holographic; foil front or both sides.
From 100
-
Raised Foil Postcards
4″ x 6″ and 5″ x 7″ luxury mailers, invitations and thank-you cards.
From 100
-
Folded Raised Foil Greeting Cards
7″ x 10″ folded to 5″ x 7″, with A7 envelopes. Gold foil and holographic holiday cards.
From 100
Love the velvet finish without foil? See Velvet Soft Touch Business Cards and Velvet Soft Touch Postcards. Want two raised effects on one piece, like raised foil plus raised Spot UV, or two raised foils? See Dual Raised Business Cards, Dual Raised Postcards and Dual Raised Greeting Cards.
What Is Raised Foil?
Raised foil (also called embossed foil or 3D foil) is foil applied over a raised layer, so it stands about 60 microns above the printed card instead of lying flat. It pairs a bright, reflective metallic shine with a tactile 3D texture. You see the metallic shine, and you also feel it: run your fingers over the card and the embossed foil rises clearly above the soft velvet surface. Your full-color design prints underneath, and the foil goes only where your mask file says.
Raised Gold, Raised Silver and Raised Holographic Foil
Raised Gold Foil
The most popular choice, especially for business cards. Raised gold foil instantly reads as established and premium: dramatic on black, elegant on white, rich on navy, emerald or burgundy.
Raised Silver Foil
Cool, modern and crisp. Raised silver foil is a favorite on black, charcoal and slate for tech, automotive, architecture and design brands.
Raised Holographic Foil
Raised holographic foil is a true holographic foil: its rainbow colors shift and flash as the card tilts, and because it’s raised, it catches light from every angle. It’s almost majestic. If you’re looking for holographic foil on business cards, postcards or holiday cards, this is it. (Looking for a holographic-style rainbow effect in full color? That’s Akuafoil.)
Velvet Soft Touch (Suede) Lamination
Velvet, suede and soft touch are three names for the same luxurious finish. A 1.5 mil scuff-resistant laminate is applied to both sides of 16 pt premium cardstock, bringing the card to 19 pt. It feels soft and matte, almost like fabric, and it gives full-color printing a rich, deep look. Against that softness, the raised foil feels crisp and dimensional. It’s the kind of card people hold a little longer, show to someone else and keep.
- Soft, suede-like feel on both sides
- Scuff-resistant for cards carried in wallets and pockets
- Substantial 19 pt thickness
- Rich, matte color that makes foil stand out
Raised Foil vs. Foil Stamping vs. Akuafoil (and Other Raised Finishes)
| Raised foil | Foil stamping | Akuafoil | Raised Spot UV | Dual Raised | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it’s made | Foil over a raised layer, on velvet-laminated stock | A solid foil strip heat-stamped flat into the paper | Silver foil base with full-color CMYK printed on top | A raised clear gloss layer, about 50 microns high | Two raised effects on one piece |
| Feel | Raised about 60 microns: you feel it | Flat, with a slight pressed-in feel | Smooth | Raised gloss | Raised |
| Colors | Gold, silver, holographic | One solid foil color per stamp | Any metallic color, gradients | Clear | Raised foil + raised Spot UV, or 2 raised foils |
| Best for | Luxury cards people touch and keep | Classic, mirror-bright gold or silver | Vibrant multi-color metallic and holo-style effects | Glossy texture on logos and patterns | The most dimensional, premium cards |
Choose raised foil when you want people to feel your logo, foil stamping for a classic flat metallic, Akuafoil for metallic in any color, and Dual Raised to combine two raised effects.
Raised Foil Design Guide
Popular Card and Foil Pairings
| Pairing | The look |
|---|---|
| Gold on black | Dramatic, timeless luxury |
| Gold on white or ivory | Clean and elegant |
| Gold on navy, emerald or burgundy | Rich, classic, heritage |
| Silver on black, charcoal or slate | Sleek and modern |
| Holographic on black | Majestic, high-impact color flash |
| Holographic on white or pastel | Bright, playful, futuristic |
Design Rules for Great Raised Foil
- Keep foil to about 30% of the design. More than that can look wavy.
- Bold over delicate: foil text at 10 pt or larger (12 pt for bold or thick fonts), lines at least 1 pt, with proper kerning. Avoid thin line art and fine detail.
- No text under foil. Remove CMYK elements under foil areas so the foil sits on a solid background.
- Deep backgrounds make foil pop; light backgrounds make holographic feel bright and modern.
- Keep small details in ink: phone numbers, emails and fine print.
Raised Foil File Setup
- Mark the foil areas in your full-color CMYK artwork: the text, logo or graphics you want raised.
- Create a vector mask for each side with raised foil: a black-and-white file of the same size, with foil areas in solid 100% K and everything else white. Save it as vector (PDF, AI or EPS); raster masks have jagged edges and can be rejected at prepress.
- Check alignment and clean the CMYK file: the mask must line up exactly, and CMYK elements under the foil should be removed so the foil sits on a solid background.
- Name files consistently: File-Front-CMYK, File-Front-Mask, File-Back-CMYK, File-Back-Mask.
Your CMYK artwork can be a print-ready PDF, JPG, PNG or other image format; masks must be vector. No mask? Our designers can create it for you. Every order includes a free proof. More in our Raised Foil FAQs and raised foil printing guide.
Raised Foil by Industry
| Industry | Popular raised foil products |
|---|---|
| Law, finance and wealth management | Raised Foil Business Cards, Folded Raised Foil Greeting Cards |
| Luxury real estate | Raised Foil Business Cards, Raised Foil Postcards, Folded Raised Foil Greeting Cards |
| Jewelers and luxury retail | Raised Foil Business Cards, Raised Foil Postcards |
| Med spas, salons and beauty | Raised Foil Business Cards, Raised Foil Postcards |
| Hotels, resorts and private clubs | Raised Foil Postcards, Folded Raised Foil Greeting Cards |
| Wineries and distilleries | Raised Foil Business Cards, Raised Foil Postcards |
| Weddings and events | Raised Foil Postcards, Folded Raised Foil Greeting Cards |
| Corporate teams and executives | Raised Foil Business Cards, Folded Raised Foil Greeting Cards |
| Nonprofits and galas | Raised Foil Postcards, Folded Raised Foil Greeting Cards |
| Creators, DJs and tech founders | Raised Foil Business Cards |
Raised foil is a small upgrade with a big return: a card people keep is a good investment in being remembered.
Larger Quantities, Custom Sizes or Shrink Wrapping?
The calculator goes from 100 to 1,000, but that isn’t our limit. Print as many designs as you need (grouped in sets of up to 15 for group shipping savings). Tell us what you need and we’ll send a custom quote.
Need help with your raised foil design or mask file? Chat live, contact us, call (888) 391-0199, or read our Raised Foil FAQs and our raised foil printing guide. Our designers can build your foil mask or your whole design for you.
Signs
