How do you handle fine foil on uncoated?

Uncoated red stock has tooth; hairline foil can break up on the fibres. Thickened the thinnest scale lines to a minimum weight and ran a slightly hotter, slower foil pass so the gold fills the tooth.

How do you handle flap emboss?

Emboss and foil on the same flap risks the emboss cracking the foil. Blind emboss only on the flap, foil only on the face. They never overlap.

Case study · Envelopes · The Ritz-Carlton, Waikiki Beach

A red envelope for the Year of the Wooden Snake

Lunar New Year 2025 red pocket envelopes for a resort. A coiled gold serpent, the hotel wordmark and crest, and a blind-embossed wave on the flap.

Envelopes for The Ritz-Carlton, Waikiki Beach with gold foil stamping, 120lb vermilion uncoated, blind emboss and 4×7 in folded.

FoilsYellow Gold · 101 TechniquesEmboss, Hot Foil, Gold Foil, Folded StocksColorplan Vermilion

The idea

Each year the hotel sends red envelopes to guests for Lunar New Year. 2025 is the Wooden Snake, and the art team wanted the serpent to carry the card on its own.

Two rules

01Fine foil on uncoated. Thickened the thinnest scale lines to a minimum weight and ran a slightly hotter, slower foil pass so the gold fills the tooth.
02Flap emboss. Blind emboss only on the flap, foil only on the face. They never overlap.

Macro of the gold foil serpent on red stock — The serpent, macro. Foil recess and paper tooth both read.

Start from these materials

Same paper, foil and finish, locked in — nothing of The Ritz-Carlton, Waikiki Beach's artwork comes with it.

Open in Studio Ask about this