WT-QY300 Foil Stamping on Glossy Cardstock: Why 140°C Won This Test

What temperature should you start with for foil stamping and embossing on glossy cardstock? In a documented WT-QY300 foil stamping on glossy cardstock test, 140°C gave the best overall result among the four settings compared: 100°C, 120°C, 140°C and 150°C. At 100°C, large areas of the lion design had missing foil; at 120°C, transfer improved but some details remained incomplete; at 140°C, the foil coverage and relief looked clean and complete; and at 150°C, foil spread beyond parts of the design edge.

This guide is for print finishers and packaging teams producing raised metallic graphics on coated cards or similar paper stocks. It explains what the test showed, how to interpret the temperature comparison, and which setup checks to make before repeating the result. 140°C is a starting reference for this tested combination—not a universal setting for every cardstock, foil or embossing die.

Key takeaways

• Machine named in the report: WT-QY300, 3-ton pressure.
• Substrate and process: glossy cardstock with an embossing die and hot-stamping foil.
• Temperatures compared: 100°C, 120°C, 140°C and 150°C.
• Best result in this test: 140°C, with complete-looking foil coverage, clear relief and tidy edges.
• The report does not state numerical stamping pressure, dwell time, cardstock weight or foil model; confirm settings with a controlled sample run.

WT-QY300 test setup at a glance

The report compared a lion relief design stamped on glossy cardstock using the WT-QY300. Pressure, stamping time, foil, die and other conditions were held constant across the temperature comparison, so the samples could be judged against the same setup. The report does not provide the numerical values or product identifiers for those held variables.

For current machine specifications, see the WT-QY300 3-ton pneumatic-hydraulic foil stamping machine. Its product page lists a 200 × 300 mm heating plate and a 50–350°C control range; these are product specifications, not additional test conditions from this report.

WT-QY300 machine view from the supplied process-test report. The product specifications are listed on the WT-QY300 product page.

Temperature comparison: 100°C, 120°C, 140°C and 150°C

The best setting was judged by more than whether gold foil appeared. The report compared foil coverage, relief definition, edge clarity and the visible condition of the glossy cardstock. This matters for combination work: a design can transfer much of its foil and still fall short if fine areas are missing or the outer edges become untidy.

The sample photos make the change easier to see: 100°C left substantial untransferred areas, 120°C improved the overall image but missed details, 140°C produced the cleanest complete relief, and 150°C showed foil beyond some narrow outlines. These are visual observations, not measured adhesion-strength or durability results.

100°C: incomplete foil coverage

At 100°C, the report describes insufficient activation for the tested foil and glossy-cardstock combination. Parts of the lion formed a visible impression, but the metallic layer did not cover the whole design. A raised outline alone is not enough when the finished artwork requires an even gold surface.

100°C: visible gaps in the transferred foil on the lion design.

120°C: better transfer, but details still missing

At 120°C, the stamped image improved substantially, but the test report still notes missing foil around parts of the mane, face and other details. This intermediate result shows why a single visual check of the solid center can be misleading: inspect thin lines, small spaces and the full outline as well.

120°C: more of the design transferred, while some detail areas remained incomplete.

140°C: the best balance in the comparison

At 140°C, the report records even-looking coverage, clear detail in the mane and limbs, full relief and neat edges. It also reports no obvious yellowing or damage to the cardstock surface. Based on these stated inspection criteria, 140°C was the strongest result in this four-temperature test.

140°C: complete-looking gold coverage and a clearly defined raised design in the tested sample.

150°C: complete transfer with unwanted edge spread

The main image transferred at 150°C, but the report noted foil extending outside portions of the contour. The tail, legs and narrow edge areas were especially vulnerable, reducing the precision of the design. If fine lines are important, a fuller transfer does not automatically mean a better setting.

150°C: close-up of foil outside the intended contour in the tested sample.

Why can glossy cardstock need a different setting from other paper?

Glossy cardstock is identified in the report as a smooth, tightly coated surface. Foil adhesion depends on the coating, the foil’s adhesive layer, the die and the combined heat and pressure at the point of contact. A foil grade and temperature that work on an uncoated sheet, envelope or another coated board may not produce the same result on this stock.

이 Foilco foil grade guide describes its own foil grades and directs users to select products for their application and substrate. That is useful for material selection, but it does not validate 140°C for every foil or coated paper. Confirm compatibility with the foil supplier and test the actual stock and finish.

이 FSEA guide to foil stamping and embossing design distinguishes flat foil stamping from foil embossing and explains that paper, die and foil selection all affect the finished piece. The WT-QY300 report likewise evaluates both the metallic transfer and the raised relief, so the trial should inspect both outcomes.

Practical setup checks before sampling

Use the test result as a disciplined starting point. Before changing heat, confirm that the material, die and support are representative of the finished job.

1. Identify the cardstock. Record supplier, product name, weight if known, coating/finish and sheet batch. The source report does not state cardstock weight or brand.
2. Confirm foil compatibility. Match the foil to the coated paper surface and the intended stamping method. Record its product code and batch for repeat testing.
3. Inspect and clean the die. Remove paper fibers, foil residue and dust that could obscure fine relief details or create uneven contact.
4. Support the sheet evenly. Use a flat backing with suitable firmness. Keep the sheet flat under the stamping area so pressure does not vary across the image.
5. Check alignment and contact. Inspect the full design, including the mane, feet and narrow contour areas; do not judge only the large central foil area.
6. Allow the setup to stabilize. Follow the machine and tooling supplier’s instructions and sample only when the die is stable at the chosen setting.
7. Start at 140°C only for a closely matched trial. Keep pressure, dwell time, die and foil fixed while making a temperature comparison.
8. Adjust one variable at a time. If you see missing foil or edge spread, record the result and make a small controlled change rather than changing heat, pressure and time together.
9. Retest after material changes. New cardstock, foil, coating, die geometry or backing can shift the best process window.
10. Approve repeat samples before production. Keep a signed or otherwise identifiable sample and record the conditions used; do not infer durability from appearance alone.

If the impression is weak or uneven, review why a paper embosser may not make a clear impression before raising temperature. That can help separate pressure, support and tooling issues from a foil-transfer issue.

Common defects and what to check first

For tooling choices and custom die discussion, see custom brass molds for foil stamping. Die construction needs to match the artwork, relief requirements and substrate; the report does not identify the die material or provide its design dimensions.

Is 140°C the right setting for every WT-QY300 cardstock job?

No. It is the best result in this report for one glossy cardstock, one lion embossing die, one foil and the process conditions used during the test. The report does not give the foil model, cardstock weight, exact pressure, dwell time or numerical adhesion measurements. Those limits matter because a different coating, foil adhesive, die area, relief depth or backing can change both transfer and paper condition.

Do not transfer the 140°C result to soft PVC or another material. In a separate WT-QY300 soft-PVC test, , 호일 전이가 약하고 얼룩이 있었습니다. 110°C에서 was the best balance among the settings compared for a 5 × 19 cm die. The different outcome is a useful reminder that the temperature belongs to the complete material–foil–die setup, not to the machine alone. See the WT-QY300 soft PVC large-die test after that companion article is published.

Frequently asked questions

결론

For the tested WT-QY300 glossy-cardstock embossing and foil-stamping setup, 140°C produced the cleanest overall result. The 100°C sample had substantial missing foil, 120°C improved but remained incomplete in some details, and 150°C showed edge spread. Use 140°C as a first sampling point only when your cardstock, foil, die and support are close to the test combination; then verify the complete impression on representative production stock.

If you are developing a raised metallic logo or packaging design, review the WT-QY300 machine specifications and share the cardstock type, foil code, artwork and relief-die requirements with ZHENGFEI. Contact the team to discuss a sample test or custom die.