Oct 11, 2026Product Knowledge
Hot Stamping Temperature Guide: Practical Settings for Common Substrates
A handy reference of recommended stamping temperatures by substrate - paper, plastics, textiles, leather and pigment foil - plus cold stamping energy and speed settings.
QUICK ANSWER
Most hot stamping foils run at 90-120 °C. Textile foils work from 80-145 °C depending on the fabric and adhesive. Cold stamping foil is not temperature-rated at all - it needs 160 W/cm² or more, at 40 m per minute on plastic and 35 m per minute on paper.
01 PAPER AND BOARD
Paper boxes, greeting cards, labels and printed sheets: 90-120 °C across our standard, holographic and pearlescent grades. This is the widest and most forgiving window, which is why paper remains the classic hot stamping substrate.
If the sheet is laminated (OPP film) or coated, stay in the same 90-120 °C range but check the surface first - our plastics-grade foils are specified for laminated paper and PP, PVC and PET parts.
02 PLASTICS
Laminated paper, OPP film, PP, PVC and PET parts run at 90-120 °C with our plastics-grade foils, smooth or textured, in small and large areas. For surfaces that cannot take heat, switch to cold stamping foil at 160 W/cm² and above.
The reason plastics need their own grade is release behaviour: the foil must let go of the adhesive cleanly, or the stamped area tears. Matching grade to substrate matters more here than tuning temperature.
03 TEXTILES AND LEATHER
Textile foils run from 80-145 °C depending on the fabric. They are applied with an industrial adhesive, then combined with fabric and separated - suitable for coated cloth, prints, T-shirts and water-wash-resistant labels.
Artificial leather, PU, PVC and real leather: 90-120 °C, with good cuttability and release. For PVC tablecloth the same range applies, with strong adhesion and good flexibility. Pigment foils for cables, artificial leather and coated pencils also run at 90-120 °C.
04 COLD STAMPING SETTINGS
Cold stamping does not use a heated die, so temperature is not the variable. Set energy at 160 W/cm² or above - 40 m per minute on plastics, 35 m per minute on paper - and the foil transfers onto the UV adhesive layer.
This is the setting to use for heat-sensitive surfaces: single-sheet offset stock, white card in UV or non-UV cold stamping, and plastic parts where a heated die would warp the material.
05 A NOTE ON TRIALS
These figures are reference settings from our product application data. Real presses vary, so our own guidance recommends a trial run before bulk use.
06 NEXT STEP
Tell us your substrate and machine, and we will confirm the settings and prepare a matching sample foil for your test.
