Pastel rainbow
Soft peach, mint, lilac and sky-blue interference layer over a silver cold-foil base. Perfect for K-beauty, gifting and confectionery.
Effects · Rainbow & Iridescent
Rainbow cold foil — soft iridescence, inline at full press speed.
Pastel rainbow, mica-iridescent and pearlescent cold transfer foils for cartons, labels, gift wrap and stationery. Runs on standard UV-flexo and offset presses up to 450 m/min — no die, no heat, no second pass.
- Pastel rainbow palette
- 6tones
- Inline press speed
- 450m/min
- Aluminium deposit
- <5g/m²
- Solvent-free system
- 0VOC
The technology
What makes a foil "rainbow" or "iridescent".
Rainbow, iridescent and pearlescent foils all rely on thin-film interference: stacked transparent or pigmented layers refract light at slightly different angles, so the observed color changes with viewing angle. The base aluminium layer provides reflectivity; the top mica or interference pigment defines the color shift.
Unlike holographic cold foil, which uses a sharply embossed diffraction grating, iridescent foils give a softer, more painterly color shift. They are ideal when a brand wants the premium feel of metallic packaging without the high-energy "spectacle" look of a true hologram.
Because the optical effect is built into the foil web itself, no special press configuration is required — the same anilox, adhesive coat-weight and UV cure profile you run for plain silver cold foil will work. See our anilox selection guide for the press-side details.
The range
Six rainbow and iridescent finishes in stock.
True iridescent
Mica-pigmented foil that shifts between two complementary colors depending on viewing angle — copper/teal, gold/violet, pink/green.
Pearlescent satin
Subtle pearl-white foil with a single-axis shimmer. Reads as 'soft luxury' rather than the bolder rainbow look.
Rainbow + CMYK tint
Use the rainbow cold foil as a base, then over-print 30–60% CMYK in the same pass to lock the iridescence into a brand color.
Mono-material compatible
Thin-deposit aluminium keeps decorated cartons within EU PPWR 2027 recyclability thresholds — no plastic laminate required.
Documented Δ E control
Lot-traceable foils with Δ E reports under D65 illumination. Consistent color shift across reorders.
Effect comparison
Rainbow / iridescent cold foil vs holographic cold foil.
| Parameter | Rainbow / iridescent | Holographic |
|---|---|---|
| Effect mechanism | Pigment / interference layer | Embossed diffraction grating |
| Visual character | Soft, painterly, pastel shift | Sharp, prismatic, high-energy |
| Best substrate | Cream / coated / uncoated | Matte black / dark |
| Brand mood | Premium, calm, gifting | Bold, futuristic, limited edition |
| CMYK over-print | Yes, 30–60% | Yes, 30–60% |
| Press speed | Up to 450 m/min | Up to 450 m/min |
Not sure which to brief? Read our CMYK-over-cold-foil rainbow-effect technical note or gold-tone comparison.
Where it shines
Categories that pull a measurable lift from rainbow packaging.
Cosmetics & K-beauty
Pastel rainbow cartons for fragrance, skincare sets and limited-edition lipstick lines.
Confectionery & gifting
Easter, advent and seasonal SKUs where the package is part of the gift experience.
Stationery & paper goods
Greeting cards, wedding invitations, hardcover notebooks, premium gift wrap.
FMCG limited editions
Soft drink cans, cereal boxes, beauty drops — short, premium runs that need to stand out.
Press setup
Five tuning notes for clean iridescent transfer.
Pick the substrate first.
Cream, ivory and pale stocks give the softest pastel reading. Pure white can mute the shift; dark substrates push it toward holographic.
Anilox 6–9 cm³/m².
Slightly less coat-weight than holographic — the interference layer is thinner and over-flooding the adhesive can wash out the iridescence.
Run full press speed.
Iridescent and pearlescent foils transfer cleanest above 120 m/min. Slowing below this can cause edge halos.
Tint with translucent CMYK.
30–60% ink density lets the iridescence show through. Solid 100% overprint blocks the color shift entirely.
Mind the lighting in your sales artwork.
Iridescent foils only animate under directional light. Brief your photographer to use a single key light at 30–45° for the marketing shots.
Deep-dive press guide: Holographic & iridescent cold stamping foil — effects and press setup.
FAQ
Rainbow & iridescent cold foil — common questions.
Sample our rainbow range, free.
We ship a swatch booklet with pastel rainbow, mica-iridescent and pearlescent cold foils cut to your press width — anywhere in the world, no charge.