Product Brief

Holographic Flexo Cold Foils bring rainbow diffraction and metallic movement to inline narrow-web label production. The CR2 family is designed for UV-curable adhesive transfer on compatible flexographic or narrow-web equipment. A holographic flexo cold foil is selected when the package needs a diffractive finish rather than the uniform mirror appearance of standard metallic cold foil.

The product supports wine and spirits labels, cosmetics, personal-care labels, food and beverage packaging, branded labels and decorative security effects. Transfer quality depends on the full system: substrate surface, adhesive film weight, plate, nip, UV cure, web tension, pattern and later overprinting or varnishing.

Technical Specifications & Parameters

Select the optical pattern for the actual label scale

Holographic gold, silver and rainbow patterns change with viewing angle. Pattern scale determines whether the result reads as fine texture, broad movement or a security-oriented cue. Evaluate the holographic cold foil on a physical label-sized sample because a roll viewed at close range can exaggerate both brightness and pattern density.

Keep barcodes, QR codes and small mandatory text clear of strong diffraction. If the design overprints the foil with transparent ink, approve the ink density and pattern together. Opaque ink can suppress the optical movement, while thin transparent color can create additional metallic shades from one flexo cold foil base.

Build a stable adhesive image before pushing speed

Cold foil transfers only where the UV-curable adhesive is printed. Anilox volume, plate condition and adhesive leveling therefore control the boundary and coverage. Broken edges or pinholes can originate in the adhesive image before the foil reaches the nip. Confirm a uniform adhesive film at a controlled speed, then increase speed while monitoring cure and transfer.

Lamp output must cure through the selected construction without overheating or leaving weak adhesion. Nip pressure should create contact without squeezing the adhesive beyond fine graphics. Web tension must remain stable so the holographic flexo cold foil enters and leaves the transfer point without wrinkles, wandering or pattern distortion.

Qualify each receiving surface and print sequence

Coated paper, PE, PP, PET and synthetic label stocks do not share one surface condition. Film substrates normally require controlled treatment; printed and varnished surfaces need full cure and compatible surface energy. Test the exact receiving layer because a holographic cold foil that performs on raw PET may behave differently over ink or topcoat.

Transparent, double-sided and registered variants have separate product pages because they solve different requirements. Use CR2 for standard holographic narrow-web decoration. Specify the transparent route when base artwork must remain visible, a registered route when an optical image must align, and a double-sided route when the construction requires a defined reverse-side appearance.

Plan overprint, varnish and final resistance

If inks are printed over the transferred foil, confirm their transparency, anchorage and UV cure on the foil surface. A gloss varnish can intensify reflection; a matte varnish can moderate glare. Lamination may protect the label but can reduce diffraction or change color, so it must be included in the approval sample.

Test dry and wet rub, tape adhesion, alcohol or oil exposure, chilling, squeeze, die cutting and label application according to the end use. Retain the approved flexo cold foil code, pattern, adhesive, substrate, press speed, curing setup, winding and finishing stack for repeat orders.

Key Product Features

• Holographic gold, silver, rainbow and selected diffractive patterns
• Inline UV flexo cold-foil production without a heated die
• Substrate routes for coated paper and qualified label films
• Overprinting and varnishing options after production testing
• Standard production widths with custom slitting available

Visible Holographic Layer or Transparent Overlay?

Choose this CR2 flexo cold foil when the holographic layer itself should be visibly metallic and diffractive. When the printed color or base artwork must remain visible through a transparent optical overlay, use Transparent Holographic Flexo Cold Foils.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is holographic cold foil different from metallic cold foil?

A1: Holographic foil contains an optical diffraction pattern that changes with viewing angle; metallic foil provides a more uniform reflective surface.

Q2: What controls transfer quality?

A2: Adhesive laydown, plate and anilox condition, nip pressure, UV cure, web tension, substrate treatment and cleanliness work as one system.

Q3: Can the foil be overprinted?

A3: Yes, with qualified inks and curing. Transparent inks preserve more diffraction, while opaque inks reduce the optical effect.

Q4: Which product should be used for registered images?

A4: Use a registered holographic cold foil when a lens, logo or other optical image must align to each label.