Lettering on mountboard - is this blocking?

[WannabeFramer]

Screenshot 2026-06-24 160508.png

A customer would like me to replicate this type of lettering on their mount (sorry for the blurriness, it is a photo of a photo). Is this referred to as foil stamping so I am googling properly? I am finding printers but not framers so I'm possibly not searching correctly.

Or do any of you offer this service and would be able to help me out please? I could either send the mount or you cut it, whatever works.

I have tried with my CMC pen tool but I can't get it neat enough.

[pramsay13]

I'm not sure many framers will offer that, seems like it's probably older technology that has been replaced by a cmc or even laser.
If you can find someone that can do it you could cut the mountboard and take it to them to stamp, although it might be easier and cheaper to offer to redo that one as well as the new one using your cmc so they are both the same.

[WannabeFramer]

It’s a point about the CMC and would be quicker.

I only have that blurred image, but it looks like the kind of thing I often have brought in on graduation photos though, with the university name stamped on. Someone somewhere must still do it, although it could be a case of needing a die for large runs only.

[JFeig]

Some of the foil stamping machines used loose type similar to letterpress that was held in a chuck that was designed to hold loose(movable) type.

amazon.com/ZONEPACK-Digital-Embossing-Stamping-Microsoft/dp/B07BT9DP27/ref=sr_1_19?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eelnffzAD-_UKmR7GwGQjOFVGk48zDVlHJm4cgrQDPMeqzQVgrJN_B2sC4i5gQ5UKLcv30C5ubBlwts-_-sPO_hCy40dyNxMvURyV9umFddUOQM4sRWA8tz2kLm6LfjNMtpeM4lZWBEzJIVAzAh5YIrAkGIvXPzxd5S-msgPiyDq-J1NyI7KPbtW1Non_cETRf7koVlUwIHGsM1LhGgsQX7tf_PrzZa5xjexj4pnaj7gjyU2-YsS7jnn6mrAxEulwxHqhL25xtGjWeKTq5HJrrVzbLDoH9ESH_J2rH_5h2U.nqL-DHcxKDOeTyNPyhWr0NYmCr-qrhN8qR9j7VeYClg&dib_tag=se&keywords=hot%2Bfoil%2Bstamping%2Bmachine&qid=1782355299&sr=8-19

[WannabeFramer]

Ah thanks, that looks like it. A little to much for me to invest in for a one-off job, but now I know what I am looking for I may know someone with a similar machine.

[WannabeFramer]

Big shout out to Callaghan Framing for reaching out with a possible work around on the CMC (debossing over foil). It didn't give me the right effect this time but is something I will try to finesse for the future.

I couldn't find anyone with a stamp press and couldn't justify buying one for this one job, so I rang the customer and we agreed on printed wording in an aperture. He asked if there was anyway I could get gold lettering, but I can only print black.

Anyway, I just had a brainwave and tried a couple of experiments.

Gold toner foil + laser printer + the hot press = Gold foil lettering - ta da!

And one very happy customer. Still a compromise on the original but better than standard printed words.

Lettering.jpg

[StevenG]

That's actually pretty cool!!! I'm not sure what gold toner foil is though, can you tell me what you used please? I'd be interested in trying this myself. Nice work

[WannabeFramer]

I hadn't heard of it before, but Callaghan suggested it to try the debossing and as I'd then bought some I looked further. It is for crafting and bonds to laser printer toner under heat and pressure. Not expensive.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SUPERFINDINGS- ... 9hdGY&th=1

I printed out the lettering, placed it on a scrap of mountboard, laid the foil on top of the print out, covered that with a plain sheet of paper and covered with release film. Hot press for 3 minutes at 115 degrees. I tried less heat and time but had patchy results so I set it to the max and it worked.

I'm sure there are ways to refine it, but I think it is something I could do samples of and offer as an option for text inserts. Lots of colours available so I might get a small variety pack.

I'm not sure what framing level it would fall under, or the longevity though, so a little more research possibly.

[StevenG]

Thanks for that, added some to my basket. I'll get some ordered in and have a play about. Cheers