Rainbow / spectrum
Full-spectrum diffraction grating refracts ambient light into a moving rainbow — ideal for limited editions and prismatic brand moments.
Effects · Holographic
Holographic cold foil supplier — iridescent rainbow rolls, ready to ship.
B2B rolls of holographic cold transfer foil for UV-flexo and offset packaging lines — rainbow, pillar, geometric and tinted iridescent patterns. Free samples cut to your press width, low MOQ, worldwide shipping. Want the technical deep-dive? Read how holographic cold foil works.
- Embossed grating depth
- 1.4µm
- Inline press speed
- 450m/min
- Aluminium deposit
- <5g/m²
- Over-printable
- 100%CMYK
The technology
How a holographic foil actually works.
Holographic cold foil is structurally identical to a standard silver cold transfer foil — PET carrier, release layer, aluminium, adhesive — with one addition: an embossed diffraction grating in the release/aluminium interface. The grating spacing (commonly 1,000–1,400 lines/mm) acts as a wavelength-selective mirror, splitting white light into spectral colors that shift with viewing angle.
Because the grating is fully formed before the foil reaches your press, the optical effect is independent of the printing process. The cold-foil station only handles transfer; the holographic effect is "baked into" the foil itself.
The same anilox, adhesive coat-weight and UV cure profile you use for plain silver cold foil will work for the holographic version. See our anilox selection guide and CMYK-over-cold-foil note for the press-side details.
Effect library
Six holographic looks, all on the same inline press.
Pillar / starlight
Concentrated point-light reflections that twinkle as the package rotates. High visual impact under retail spotlighting.
Geometric pattern foils
Engineered diffraction patterns (3D dots, waves, brick) for security, anti-counterfeit and structured holographic backgrounds.
Tinted holographic
Holographic base over-printed with translucent CMYK to lock in brand colors — gold-tinted rainbow, rose holographic, emerald holographic.
Production-stable
Same UV-flexo / offset press, same anilox window as standard silver cold foil. No dedicated holographic line required.
Recyclable-ready
<5 g/m² aluminium deposit keeps cold-foil-decorated cartons within the mono-material recyclability thresholds of EU PPWR 2027.
Holographic foil at a glance
Cold vs hot holographic foil stamping.
| Parameter | Holographic cold foil | Hot holographic foil |
|---|---|---|
| Press speed | Up to 450 m/min | 20–60 m/min |
| Tooling | Flexo plate (low cost) | Engraved brass die |
| Heat required | None | 110–140 °C |
| CMYK over-printable inline | Yes, same pass | No — second pass |
| Substrate flexibility | Films, board, label stock | Heat-tolerant only |
| Best for run length | Medium to very long | Short, premium |
Full breakdown: Hot vs cold foil stamping — 2026 buyer's guide.
Where it shines
Categories where holographic cold foil moves the needle.
Cosmetics & beauty
Limited-edition palettes, fragrance secondary packaging, K-beauty cartons.
Confectionery & gifting
Premium chocolate sleeves, seasonal SKUs, kids' lines, advent calendars.
Wine, spirits & RTD
Pressure-sensitive labels with refractive accents; full-wrap holographic on RTD cans.
Tobacco & vape
Anti-counterfeit holographic backgrounds with brand-locked CMYK overlay.
Press setup
Five tuning notes for a sharp holographic transfer.
Use a dark substrate.
Matte black, deep navy or chocolate brown maximises spectral contrast. White or pastel substrates wash out the rainbow.
Anilox 7–10 cm³/m².
Slightly higher coat-weight than plain silver to fully wet the grating. Confirm with a sample roll.
Calibrate UV dose.
Under-cure dulls reflections; over-cure can shrink and crack the grating. Target the foil supplier's published dose ± 10%.
Keep dwell time low.
Holographic foils transfer well at full press speed — slowing the line below 80 m/min can cause adhesive bleed and edge halos.
Plan CMYK trapping.
Tinted holographic looks best with 30–60% ink density over the foil. Solid 100% over-print kills the rainbow; under 20% looks weak.
Deep-dive press guide: Holographic Cold Stamping Foil — effects, press setup & buyer's guide.
FAQ
Holographic cold foil — common questions.
Sample our holographic range, free.
We ship a swatch booklet with rainbow, pillar and geometric holographic foils cut to your press width — anywhere in the world, no charge.