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ETIVAL

Premium metallic finish without hot dies

Cold Foil Labels

The metallic shine of hot stamping with the flexibility of cold foil: fine details, gradients, and accessible costs for mid-size runs.

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Minimum run

10,000 labels

Substrate

BOPP, PET, coated paper, metallized paper

Technology

Cold foil transfer with UV adhesive and flexible plate

Quick quote

Get your Cold Foil Labels quote in 30 seconds.

Configure what you know — if you don't know the material or the finish, choose “Not sure yet” and a professional will help you define it.

03 · Volume (labels)

Minimum run for this technology: 10,000 labels. The larger the run, the lower the cost per thousand: from 50,000 to 250,000+ pieces the unit price drops by 15% to 35%.

Every project is different

Get the guidance and technical development of a professional.

Dimensions, container, materials, and finishes change the price of every label — that's why your project's exact price is set in the formal quote, not on an online price list; reference per-thousand ranges are published in our pricing guide. Your advisor prepares the quote with a plotter proof before the run.

  • Formal quote in under 24 business hours
  • Plotter proof included before press
  • Delivery in 15 days — repeats in 8

Based on metallic cold foil · the industry standard delivers in 25 days (15 for repeats).

Need more options? See the full quote wizard

Want to hold it before quoting? We'll ship you a printed specimen of Cold Foil Labels — no cost, no commitment.

Features

What sets it apart.

Each technology solves a specific technical challenge. Here is what distinguishes it from the rest of the catalog.

  • Cold metallization

    We transfer gold, silver, or special-tone foil using UV adhesive and a flexible plate. No engraved dies, no heat.

  • Ultra-fine details

    Resolution comparable to printing: small logotypes, serif text, 0.2 pt lines, and metallic gradients impossible with hot stamping.

  • No die cost

    No engraved die is manufactured: the flexible plate costs a fraction of a hot stamping die and is changed in minutes.

  • In-line combinable

    We apply the foil in the same flexographic pass: ink + foil + UV varnish on a single reel, with no double handling.

  • Palette of tones

    Silver, champagne gold, red gold, holographic, diffractive, and special tones on request. Combinable with transparent inks.

  • Shelf effect

    The difference between an ordinary shelf label and a premium one: metallic foil triples the visual contrast.

Applications

Where this technology shines.

Real use cases in industries where this label delivers a technical or commercial edge.

Industries that use it

BeveragesPersonal CarePharmaceutical
  • Premium wine, sparkling, and spirits bottles
  • High-end facial and body cosmetics
  • Perfumery and luxury goods
  • Special-edition spirits
  • Folding gift cartons
  • Secondary label for premium OTC pharmaceuticals

Data sheet

How it's made. Nothing left out.

Transfer of a metallic film (silver, gold, or special tones) using UV adhesive and cold lamination. Unlike hot stamping, it requires no engraved dies, lowers costs on medium runs, and allows fine details and metallic gradients over any area of the artwork.

Technology
Cold foil transfer with UV adhesive and flexible plate
Available tones
Silver, champagne gold, red gold, holographic, diffractive
Detail resolution
0.2 pt lines, serif text legible at 6 pt
Minimum run
10,000 labels
Application
In-line with 8-ink flexography and UV varnish
Substrate compatibility
BOPP, PET, coated paper, metallized paper
Resistance
Withstands rubbing, humidity, and surface water contact
Color registration
Spectral with per-batch Delta E control

Design validation

Your design, approved before production.

We secure your design's quality before the print run: a physical sample printed with your artwork — a minimum of 80% similarity with the on-press result, which can exceed 90% — so you can approve it and move to production at no extra cost.

  1. Plotter proof

    We print your design on the proofing plotter to secure quality before production: a physical sample with your artwork and a minimum of 80% similarity with the on-press result — it can exceed 90%. You approve color, registration, and finishes on something you can hold in your hand.

  2. Approval → production

    With your sign-off you move to production at no additional cost: validation is part of the quality protocol. What you approved is what gets produced, with full confidence in print-run quality.

The complete cycle — proof, approval, and start-up — is included in your order: zero added cost for securing quality.

Materials & finishes

Configure it to your spec.

Substrates, adhesives, and finishes available for this technology. The combination defines cost, performance, and look.

Materials

Substrates compatible with this technology.

  • White BOPP
  • Clear BOPP
  • Polyester (PET)
  • Coated paper
  • Metallized paper

Finishes

Available surface and decorative treatments.

  • Silver cold foil
  • Champagne gold cold foil
  • Holographic cold foil
  • UV varnish over foil
  • Emboss over foil
  • Contrasting matte laminate

Don't see the combination you need? Most projects are developed to spec — share your brief and we'll propose alternatives.

Comparison

Cold Foil Labels vs Traditional hot stamping.

Hot stamping uses an engraved metal die and heat: high fixed cost but a sharper finish across millions of identical pieces. Cold foil uses UV adhesive and a flexible plate: a far lower initial cost, resolution comparable to ink, ideal for mid-size runs.

  • No engraved-die cost ($1,500–$5,000 USD saved per project)
  • Fine details and metallic gradients impossible with a hot die
  • Setup in minutes vs hours for hot stamping
  • The flexible plate allows design changes without re-tooling
  • Better cost-benefit ratio on runs of 10k to 500k labels

Frequently asked questions

Before you quote, we answer.

The most common questions about this technology, materials, and process.

How much do Cold Foil Labels cost?
Reference price: $420 MXN per thousand in standard configuration (cold foil on a BOPP base) at a 50,000-piece run. Your project's final price depends on substrate, format size, volume, and finishes — the formal quote puts it in writing within 24 business hours, with a plotter proof included before the print run.
What is the minimum run to buy Cold Foil Labels?
10,000 labels. If your volume falls below that floor, tell us about it in the brief: every project is quoted to spec and your advisor finds the path. Volume moves the price — growing from 50,000 to 250,000 pieces lowers the cost per thousand by 15% to 35%.
How do I get a quote for Cold Foil Labels, and how fast is the reply?
Three ways, all answered within 24 business hours: the quick-quote form on this very page (material, finish, and volume in 30 seconds), the full quote wizard at etival.mx/cotizador, or Quotes at 56 4166 5930 (phone and WhatsApp). The formal quote includes the plotter proof before press.
Does ETIVAL manufacture Cold Foil Labels, or is it a reseller?
We are the manufacturer: Cold Foil Labels is produced at our plant in the Valley of Mexico under ISO 9001:2015, with batch traceability. Sales are factory-direct — no middlemen — and a technical advisor walks your project from the quote to delivery in 15 days (repeats in 8).
Does cold foil look as shiny as hot stamping?
The visual difference is marginal for the end consumer. Cold foil reaches 85–95% of hot stamping's shine — enough for premium markets. Only on runs of millions of identical pieces, where hot stamping's unit cost drops dramatically, is the switch worth it.
Does it withstand the ice bath or the cold room?
Yes. The foil is sealed under a UV varnish that protects it from condensation, humidity, and rubbing. We validate in the laboratory with ice-water immersion and a 50-cycle rub test before releasing production.
Can I combine it with embossing and spot varnish?
Yes — in fact, that is what we recommend. We combine cold foil + embossing on the logo + matte UV varnish on the backgrounds to create tactile and visual contrast: the foil's shine stands out against the surrounding matte.
Can I design metallic gradients?
Yes. Because the foil is transferred with printed UV adhesive, we can vary the adhesive density to create metallic gradients — something impossible with hot stamping. Use it for gold-to-silver transitions, or from foil to solid ink.

Before you quote, read this

B2B guides on cold foil labels.

We go deep on cost, materials, regulations, and brand strategy on the ETIVAL technical blog.

Want to see more? See all 21 B2B blog guides

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Next step

Let's bring Cold Foil Labels to your line.

Touch the specimen before authorizing the print run: we ship it at no cost, and a technical advisor responds within 24 business hours.