Foil printing with a laser printer has become extremely popular among crafters, designers and small businesses looking to add a luxurious, professional finish to projects like business cards, invitations and greeting cards.
While it might seem complicated at first, using a laser printer for foiling is actually quite straightforward once you understand the process. In this guide, we’ll explain how foil printing works, why laser printers are essential, and recommend the best laser printer for foiling projects in 2025.
What is Foil Printing?
Laser foil printing (commonly called toner foiling) is a specialised technique where laser printers use heat-reactive toner to bond a thin layer of metallic or pigmented foil onto selected areas of a design. The heat from the foiling machine reactivates the toner, allowing the foil to adhere precisely to the printed sections.
The result is a high-impact, glossy finish that can be used to highlight logos, text, borders, or entire backgrounds.
Foil printing is especially popular for:
- Wedding invitations and save-the-dates
- Greeting cards and event stationery
- Business cards and branded materials
- Handmade crafts, journals, and art prints
- Luxury packaging labels and certificates
Unlike traditional metallic printing methods, toner foiling is much more affordable, achievable at home or in small studios, and doesn’t require specialised commercial foil presses.
It’s important to note that foil printing only adheres to toner-covered areas — any blank spaces or non-toner-printed sections remain untouched, creating beautiful contrasts between matte and metallic finishes.
What You Need For Foil Printing
To start toner foiling successfully, you’ll need a few key supplies and the right setup.
1. A Mono Laser Printer
While any laser printer uses toner, a mono laser printer (Which prints only in black and white) delivers the best foil printing results. Here’s why:
- Monochrome printers focus on sharp, consistent black toner coverage, essential for even foil transfer
- Colour laser printers sometimes blend multiple toners, which can cause patchy foiling or inconsistent finishes.
- Mono laser printers are more cost-effective to run, with lower toner replacement costs.
Recommended brands include Brother and HP, both known for their reliable, dense toner printing.
Tip: Make sure your laser printer uses traditional toner cartridges and does not use wax-based or low-temperature “Toner-saving” modes, which might affect foil adhesion.
2. Foil Transfer Sheets
Foil transfer sheets are specialised foils specifically designed to bond with toner when heat and pressure are applied. They react to the toner printed by a laser printer, creating the shiny, professional finish that makes foiling so popular for cards, invitations, and crafts.
Leading brands like Patsy May, DecoFoil, Heidi Swapp Minc Foil, and the Thermoweb iCraft Deco Foil offer a wide range of colour options, including gold, silver, rose gold, holographic, matte black, and more. Finishes also vary, from glossy and satin to patterned effects, allowing you to create everything from elegant wedding stationery to bold, creative artwork.
Tip: When selecting your foil, always choose sheets that are clearly labelled as “Toner-reactive” or “Heat-transfer foil”
3. A Foil Applicator (Foiling Machine)
To successfully transfer foil onto your toner-printed designs, you will need a foil applicator – a machine that applies consistent heat and pressure across the surface. Without the right level of heat activation, the foil will not adhere properly to the toner.
Tip: It is highly recommended that you choose a foil machine with adjustable temperature control. Different foils and paper stocks react differently to heat; being able to fine-tune the temperature helps avoid common issues like bubbling, patchy transfers, or foil misalignment.
4. Paper (Or Cardstock)
The type of paper you use plays a critical role in achieving clean, professional foil results. Poor paper quality can lead to patchy, inconsistent foiling, even if your printer and foil are perfect.
For The Best Results:
- Use smooth, uncoated paper or cardstock. Smooth surfaces allow toner to adhere properly and react consistently to heat during the foiling process.
- Avoid coated, glossy, pearlised, or metallic papers unless you have tested them carefully beforehand. These papers often have non-porous surfaces that prevent toner from bonding securely and may melt under the high temperatures required for foil transfer.
- The ideal paper weight for foiling projects typically falls between 120 and 300 gsm. This range provides enough thickness to withstand the heat and pressure of a foiling machine without curling, warping or burning.
Tip: Before committing to a whole project, always run a small test sample using your chosen paper, foil and printer combination. Even slight differences in paper texture, thickness, or coating can dramatically affect foil adhesion and the final appearance of your design.
Why Laser Printers?
Laser Printers are essential for successful foil printing because they use heat-based technology to apply toner to the paper.
When a sheet printed with a laser printer passes through a foiling machine, the toner reheats, softens and becomes adhesive, allowing the metallic foil to bond perfectly to the printed areas.
There are a few key reasons why laser printers work so well for foiling:
- Toner contains plastic polymers that, when reheated, create the sticky surface needed for foil adhesion.
- Consistent, high-density black printing ensures clean, sharp and professional-looking foiled details.
- Wide foil compatibility allows you to use different colours and finishes, from gold and silver to holographic and patterned foils, without needing specialised equipment.
- Because of their heat-reactive toner and precision, laser printers are the only reliable choice for direct foil transfer at home or in small businesses.
Can I Use An Inkjet Printer For Foiling?
Inkjet printers are not suitable for toner foiling because they use liquid ink instead of toner. Unlike toner, inkjet ink does not react to heat or become adhesive – it simply soaks into the paper. As a result, the foil has nothing to bond to and won’t transfer correctly.
However, inkjet printers can still be part of the process if you’re creating mixed-media designs. For example:
- You can print the non-foiled elements of your design (like background images, coloured text, or graphics) with an inkjet printer first.
- Then, using the same sheet, print the sections you want foiled with a laser printer afterwards.
- Finally, apply the foil using a foiling machine, ensuring that only the toner-printed areas react and take on the foil.
This two-step method is ideal for creating beautiful, partially foiled designs where foil accents complement full-colour inkjet backgrounds.
Best Printer For Foiling: Brother HL-L2400DW
The Brother HL-L2400DW is our top recommendation for foiling projects. This compact mono laser printer has been tried and tested by countless crafters, designers, and small business owners, consistently delivering excellent results for toner foiling.
Why it’s a great choice for foiling:
- High-quality toner density – The HL-L2400DW produces sharp, dense black prints, ensuring the foil adheres cleanly and evenly to every printed detail without patchiness or weak spots.
- Reliable print consistency – Its laser technology maintains stable heat and toner application across every page, crucial for achieving smooth, professional foil transfers.
- Cost-effective running – As a mono printer, it uses a single black toner cartridge, helping keep ongoing costs low, perfect for hobbyists or businesses producing larger volumes of foiled work.
- Compact and user-friendly design – Easy to set up and operate even for beginners, with Wi-Fi and USB connectivity offering flexibility for different home or office setups.
Please Note:
While the Brother HL-L2400DW has proven highly effective for foiling among users, it’s important to remember that no standard printer is officially designed for foil transfer.
This recommendation is based on real-world feedback and results from the crafting community. Printerbase cannot guarantee perfect outcomes and is not responsible for any issues that may arise during the foiling process.
Step-By-Step Guide For Foil Printing
1. Create and Print Your Artwork
Begin by creating your design using software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva, Procreate, or Microsoft Word.
When preparing artwork for foil printing, it’s important to plan carefully:
- Only toner-printed areas will attract the foil. Blank spaces or inkjet-printed sections will remain unfoiled.
- Use bold fonts, solid black shapes, and clean vector graphics. These elements ensure strong, crisp foil adhesion and a professional-looking finish.
Once your design is complete:
- Print your artwork using a mono laser printer onto smooth, uncoated, high-quality paper.
- Optimise your printer settings by selecting “Best” or “high-quality” mode to achieve maximum toner density for better foil transfer.
If your design includes both foiled and non-foiled elements (e.g a logo with foil and regular text):
- First, print the non-foiled elements (such as text) using an inkjet printer.
- Then, run the same sheet through a laser printer to print the areas intended for foiling (such as the logo)
- Finally, proceed with the application.
This two-step method ensures that only the laser-printed areas will attract foil, while the inkjet-printed elements stay untouched.
2. Choose and Cut Your Foil
- Select your toner-reactive foil.
- Cut the foil slightly larger than the printed design to ensure full coverage.
- Place the shiny side of the foil up and press it flat to prevent wrinkles.
3. Apply Heat and Pressure
- Preheat your foiling machine to at least 150 degrees.
- Place your print and foil into a carrier sheet to protect them
- Run it through the foiling machine.
4. Reveal and Finish
- Let your foiled print cool before handling.
- Gently peel back the foil to reveal the final effect
Tips For Better Foil Printing Results
- Use smooth, uncoated paper – Textured or coated papers can prevent the foil from adhering properly to the toner surface.
- Clean your foil before applying – Dust, fingerprints, and lint on the foil sheet can create imperfections or prevent proper adhesion. Wipe your foil lightly with a microfibre cloth before use.
- Test your materials – Always run a small test print with your chosen paper, foil and machine settings before starting a large project
Final Thoughts
Foiling with a laser printer is a simple, cost-effective way to add a luxurious, professional touch to your printed projects.
Whether you’re creating bespoke wedding invitations, elegant business cards, or custom-crafted stationery, mastering toner foiling gives your designs a stunning finish that rivals commercial production – all from the comfort of your own workspace
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73 comments
Hi Danial
I have just posted this in another thread, and then just discovered this post of yours from today, so I will post here too if that’s ok? Here are my ramblings regarding foiling…
I must say that this is probably the most informative and most recent advice that I have been able to find on the internet. I, like previous posters, was looking for a laser printer for foiling. I spoke to some knowledgable printer sales staff at a local shop and got swayed into buying a machine different to what I was thinking of first. I ended up with the Oki c332dn. I love that it is almost a flat path. It is a great printer.
However, I really it just isn’t the right printer for me to do foiling with. I was worried for a few reasons. – Firstly, I wondered if there was a difference with a true laser versus an LED one such as the OKi that I have?
– Secondly, it is a colour machine, which by some reports does not work quite as well as a monochrome machine. Maybe the density of the black is different when using composite black as opposed to full black?
– Thirdly, it is a fairly new printer and I don’t know the full composition of the toner. What would we be looking for in terms of toner make up? This doesn’t seem to be mentioned int he specifications.
I know that the quality and smoothness of the media has an effect on the foiling as well as the quality of the foil itself.
It got me thinking of looking for a compact (as I am running out of room with 3 printers already :-/), monochrome laser printer that is reasonably priced. Preferably with a back feed. I know I am asking a lot, I am getting very picky from starting to know what does and doesn’t work. I came across a blog that mentioned the Canon LBP6030w. Did you ever get to test this for foiling? It does seem to have a door at the back which made me think it may cope with a heavier cardstock. What kind of toner does it use and what kind of toner am I looking for? I have been looking at the Samsung that you ahve been recommending, but obviously it is tricky to get hold of, a little bit more than I would like to spend (I may get divorced if I am found to spend more on printers), and at best has a U feed (not so great for card foiling).
Any suggestions you have are very welcome.
Thanks for your time, I really look forward to your response.
Helen
Hi Helen, thanks for getting in touch and I’m delighted our post has been helpful.
Regarding your first question about the differences between laser and LED, there isn’t really much difference and where foiling is concerned it is down to the toner. The difference between laser and LED is the method by which the machine draws the image on the drum. The rest of the process is identical.
With monochrome machines, they tend to actually have a lower print density than a colour machine in most cases. It is possible that the toner composition is different for black on mono machines than on colour ones, although that isn’t certain. Also, printing a four colour black on your colour machine would actually make the overall coverage more dense and so could provide a better base for foiling.
With the toner composition, you won’t find the specific toner composition of toners in any of the specs, most likely because each manufacturer has their own recipe suitable for their own toner/drum/fuser setup. The key difference between old toner and new ones though is the number of wax-like substances used. The key for manufacturers is to create toner that is glossy and bold to view, whatever it is that they use to make this the case does not appear to lend itself to the foiling process. We did ask a toner manufacturer about this, and they implied the same. It’s also worth noting that another factor is the fusing temperature, to make a laser/LED printer more energy efficient, it is effective to reduce the fusing temperature. In order to do that, you change the toner makeup to melt at lower temperatures.
It is true that the quality and smoothness of media will have an effect. Rough media won’t work so well as the toner sits in the ridges of the page and it’s hard to make the foil contact it evenly. The smoother the better in our experience.
With your final point, we haven’t tested the Canon range as far as I’m aware but it is not one that we have ever heard used by customers doing foiling. Also, it looks to have a standard feed in method and not a rear exit tray and so it still adopts the ‘U’ shape feed path, it would also only be rated for 220gsm. We can only say with any certainty that the Samsung ones we previously mentioned are suitable. As for choosing toner, there is not a hard and fast rule as we currently only know from trial and error and feedback of the ones that work. If there is a chemical composition of toner that works, we don’t know it nor would the manufacturers give that information to us as their toner is effectively a recipe that they would want to keep to themselves. As toner technology advances, it’s likely to become worse for foil as the factors the printers consider such as glossy output and energy efficiency are adverse to the foiling method.
I hope this helped!
Thanks
Thanks Danial
I really appreciate your reply. I will mull over your reply, it has been very informative. I might play around with the toner density, and seriously consider another printer, eek! I might try to get hold of some glossy type media too that is laser friendly. Do you have any suggestions? Also I read your post on foiling and photo print and was wondering if you have any suggestions for media that I could try ink jet printing on, and then laser printing on after for foiling? Am I right in thinking that not all paper for ink jets are suitable for lasers? Is it the coatings and do they melt in laser printers? Does printerbase supply such media? And lastly jus to check it is the Samsung range ProXpress range M3320 and upwards? Or just the M3320 and M3820? You seem to be the guru on this so I will hanging around this website a lot I think.
Thanks
Hi Helen, no problem at all.
Xerox do a range of gloss coated media, which you can find here – https://www.printerbase.co.uk/printer-paper/standard-office-paper/xerox-colotech-paper/colotech-gloss-coated.html – they also do some supergloss – https://www.printerbase.co.uk/printer-paper/standard-office-paper/xerox-colotech-paper/colotech-supergloss.html – which is coated only on one side, but as the names suggests, it’s very glossy. There will be other brands available, you just need to ensure it meets the requirements for your device on weight and also that it is laser approved. Some papers are suitable for both inkjet and laser, but these would generally be uncoated plain papers. The reason being that ink will not stick to laser coated papers. If you try to print an inkjet coated paper on a laser machine, you will melt the coating and damage the fuser (and printout). In general, people looking to print on an inkjet followed by a laser or vice versa use a standard uncoated media – https://www.printerbase.co.uk/printer-paper/standard-office-paper/xerox-colotech-paper/colotech.html – or an uncoated craft paper. Regarding your last point, it would be the M3320, M3820 and up. Essentially the Samsung mono models with 1200 x 1200 dpi as the lower end models have 1200 x 600dpi resolution.
I hope this helps!
Thanks
Thanks for such a great post. I have just purchased the samsung xpress m2835dw for use with deco foil and an amazon laminator.
I am finding the results really patchy, with lots of black spots after foiling.
I have changes the settings to be thicker card stock, high resolution, max clear text with all black font and max edge enhancement with 0 brightness / 100 contrast.
I am using a smooth card stock, but have tired with thin paper also and get same result.
It feels like the toner isnt dense enough almost.
I am a wedding stationer so need a card stock which would be suitable for table numbers / invites etc.
Thanks in advance
Hi Jo, thanks for getting in touch and for the great feedback.
Unfortunately, the M2835DW model is one of the lower resolution devices (1200 x 600dpi) and not one of the ones we would usually recommend for foiling. The news post recommends the M3820 model with a 1200 x 1200 dpi or the M3320, which shares the same resolution. As you rightly suggest, the issue is likely one of toner density and not paper related. The maximum recommended weight on any of these devices is 220gsm and so are not recommended for thicker card stocks. There isn’t a solution currently available that can handle heavier papers and so of the devices available we would recommend the Samsung M3820 for this application.
I hope this helps.
Thanks
The Printerbase Team
Hi JO,
I have exactly the same printer. It’s a proper nightmare, I will be sending it back.
However to help you: make sure the toner it set up at max black density, all the eco mode’s off, printer features set to highest resolution and edge enhancement off.
P.S. It can’t print ANY graphics (images) in good quality. Just text. The only good thing I can say – prints 300gsm from manual tray without an issue.
Heat up the laminator for at least 20 mins. 🙂 I can foil text just fine with this horrible device.
Is there any update on this? Interested to know if any other models have been tested?
Hi there, thanks for getting in touch.
Unfortunately we haven’t done any new testing at the moment. As the need to improve the energy efficiency of printers increases, there is more focus from manufacturers on reducing the fusing temperatures of toner. In order to achieve this, the toner composition has to change and this is why they now contain more wax-like substances. Unfortunately, this is a trend that is likely to continue, so if anything the newer machines are even less likely to be suitable than previous ones.
Thanks
The Printerbase Team
I am using Brother MFC9125CN and Brother TN 240black toner cartridge since 2017. The post is quite informative and helpful for me because I am thinking of buying a printer in a few days.
Hi Danial, in your article you wrote
‘Also bear in mind that A4 laser mono printers generally cannot print onto cardstock thicker than 220 gsm, with the one exception being an OKI machine at 256gsm, which we wouldn’t advice using for this type of printing process.’
Please can you explain why you wouldn’t use the OKI?
The response I got from the customer support was that ‘This printer won’t work with foiling due it only supporting a lower end GSM’……
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated to help me understand the possible limitations.
Thanks, Georgina
Hi Georgina, thanks for getting in touch.
Apologies, it appears that you received the wrong information from one of our representatives as to why this OKI is not suitable for foiling. The issue is not the media weight, it is in the toner formulation. OKI toners are very high in wax content, which does not lend itself to the foiling process. Tests we did ourselves and samples sent to a company who use a foiler were very patchy.
I hope this helps.
Thanks
The Printerbase Team
hi I’m new to the process and have i am looking to buy an inkjet printer for quality and longevitiy with designs for display, does you have to use toner ink or would pigmented ink act in the same way? If not are there any spot ink cartridges I could use for printing metallic colours using an inkjet printer. I’ve been researching for the past hour or so but just can’t seem to find a solution for printing with metallic inks! The printer I have been looking at is the canon pima pro-1, would really appreciate any help and advice before I purchase!!! Thanks
Hi Catherine, pigment based ink systems are great for producing lasting quality prints for display purposes such as photographs and artworks provided you use a decent coated paper. The Pro 1 is a very good device and can produce excellent images, unfortunately, this is not in stock at present and it may be that it is actually going to be discontinued (not confirmed yet). However, any of the other pro photo machines found here (except pro 100s, which uses dye) will be capable of producing work for display – https://www.printerbase.co.uk/other-devices/photo-printer/high-quality-photo-printers.html?dir=asc&order=price
As far as I am aware, there aren’t any devices that have metallic inks in them, certainly not the ones we sell in any case. You may be able to source them third party but we wouldn’t be able to comment on how effective or not they are. Sorry I can’t help more with that.
Thanks
The Printerbase Team
Hi Danial,
I am thinking of purchasing Xerox Phaser 3330DNi is there any reason why I shouldn’t?
I’ve recently purchased Samsung Xpress M2835DW and it was great for printing text but nothing else. Foiling results were great but couldn’t print any line art in acceptable quality so had to return it.. P.S. it prints 300gsm with no problem.
However I am in need to print my drawings without pixelated / jagged lines.. Do you have any information regarding the toner for Xerox Phaser 3330DNi and foiling? It appears that I need a postscript3 for my drawings so this is the best I’ve found.
Thanks for your advice.
Hi Gigi, thanks for getting in touch.
From a foiling perspective, I would not recommend the Xerox 3330DNi machine for two reasons; firstly it cannot handle heavier papers and secondly the toner formulation on this model does not lend itself to the foiling process, based on our own tests and samples tested by customers who we sent prints to. This is the case across most of the new fleets of machines as the toner uses a high amount of wax-like substances that do not lend themselves to foiling methods. I would caution against printing 300gsm in your Samsung machine, as whilst in the short term you may be able to force it through, you are likely to start finding that the quality of the prints will degrade as the thick paper will wear both the drum and the fuser unit too fast, which can result in jamming and quality issues.
The output quality on the 3330DNi would be better than on your Samsung (higher actual resolution), although the intended function of devices of this type is really for text as opposed to line drawings and so I am not certain it would be quite as crisp as you would like on any mono laser model. You are correct in regard to postscript, it is the preferred driver when printing images when compared to PCL drivers which are most useful for text.
I hope this helps.
Thanks
The Printerbase Team
Hi Daniel, would you have a colour laser alternative that would do the job? (Obviously I would use the black toner but would like to purchase a printer i can print colour with aswell), unless I can buy colour toner for the one but I can’t see the option…
Hi Cath, the only devices that are really capable of printing good quality images in laser are the top end A3 graphic devices such as the Xerox 7800 or OKI C911, although I would add that even these are unlikely to give the same result as a pro photo inkjet.
Also, I would make the assumption that as you are printing artwork, that the paper is necessarily quite thick, which is a problem for most laser machines, which are rated for 220gsm only, again except the high-end graphic models. Likewise, there are not metallic toners available as far as we are aware, if you were looking for this option in a laser.
I hope this helps.
Thanks
The Printerbase Team
hi can you post a # of samsung or Hp models best suitable for foiling?
Hi Aqib, thanks for getting in touch.
The Samsung M3820ND is one we definitely know will work for the foiling process – https://www.printerbase.co.uk/samsung-m3820nd-a4-mono-laser-printer.html
Would this be suitable?
Thanks
The Printerbase Team
Hi Danial
I have the Samsung M2070W laser printer for foiling, but I now get what looks to be roller smudge marks across the whole sheet when printing onto 216gsm card. Prints fine on standard printer paper. Used to print OK on the 216gsm card. Also is the toner for the M2070W still good for foiling, or has the formula changed?
Hi Yvonne
This sounds likely to be an issue relating to the fuser rather than being a roller smudge, could also be the drum unit in the toner but suspect not as this will be changed each time the toner is changed. It may be that the fuser is no longer getting hot enough to fuse correctly on the heavier papers, which is why you only see this on cardstock and not standard media. As for the formula, it is unlikely to have changed at all as a particular formula is designed to work with a set of components ie the fuser usually. Of the current range, only the M3320/3820 are recommended for foiling.
Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I hope this helps.
Kate
Printerbase
Hi Danial,
Hope you can advise.me.
I’m thinking of getting a Samsung Xpress M 2026 for use with foiling. I am on a budget and can’t stretch to the recommended model. Do you think this one will work..
Thanks
Susan
Hi Susan,
Unfortunately, we can’t make that recommendation as it has not been tested with foil. Only the M3320 or 3820 models are the ones we currently recommend as we have tested it ourselves and sold them to other people doing the same.
I suspect the M2026 would be much like the other lower end Samsungs we tested which did not work effectively.
I hope this helps – apologies for the delay in getting back to you
Kate
Printerbase
I have just bought a hp laserjet pro m15w and I wanted to know if it was compatible for foiling
Hi Zoe,
We have not tested this specific model, but I would say that aside from the Samsung M3320/M3820 all other machines we tried did not work with foiling and I would suspect this HP one would be the same I’m afraid.
I hope this helps – apologies for the delay in responding to your question.
Kate
Printerbase
I’m trying to buy the HP colour laserjet pro mfp M281fdw but I desperately need to know the max gsm this printer takes?
Is this good for foiling too?
Help xxx
Hi,
The maximum rating is 220gsm from the bypass feeder, this is standard across all low-mid range laser printers. Unfortunately, we cannot recommend this for foiling. The only machine we are confident will work with this process is the Samsung M3320/3820.
I hope this helps,
Kate
Printerbase
Hy Danial. Do you have some info about Xerox machines..and how they toner sticks to foil? I know that older Xerox printers (like DC12, Dc2060, dc8000) are with oil fuser system, so I guess that this isn’t so good for foiling. Newer Xerox like DC250 and Versant series doesn’t have fuser oil, but have special toner that is oily inside and prints from them look more matt.
I found these video..it’s look like some newer printer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Nf1i9oO4I
Hi Danial, I have a Xerox 7800 printer and the foiling result is not as uniform as I would like it to be. I’m getting black spots and a lot of foil residues around the artwork. I’m aware that a monochrome laser printer is the best way to go but since I already have this printer, I’m wondering what can I change in the settings for a better foiling result. Would really appreciate any help!
Thanks, Betty
I was keen to purchase a moderately priced laser printer for foiling, I belong to several crafting groups on Facebook and was recommended the Ricoh SP 211 A4 Mono Laser Printer, unfortunately I work on a Mac and it’s not compatible, so I ended up buying a Samsung XPress C43OW, it foils well, but will not take the 220 gsm as stated in its specifications. I have watched YouTube videos by the lady who recommended the cheap Ricoh and the results are brilliant on cardstock. Someone should make a low priced laser printer for all us crafters out there.
Hi I have just purchased the Samsung M3820 for printing on card max 220gsm and then foiling. When printing I find the ink doesn’t stick to the page and the ink can easily be rubbed off and when foiled it leave black specs on the foiled area like it isn’t sticking properly any tips on change of settings to stop it from happening?
Hi Daniel / Kate
I’ve read through all the comments regarding toner (and wax particles), fuser temps etc for foiling. I’m still at a loss as to what colour laser printer I can purchase which will satisfy, 1 – 220gsm card (I know it doesn’t go more than that unless I by a big one), 2 – feeder tray, 3 – high resolution and 4 – most importantly recommended for foiling.
I was very tempted to buy the Xerox 6510DN but see above in the comments that the monochrome version Xerox 3330DN is not recommended due to wax particles in the toner. What worries me about the 6510DN is the fuser melting the toner at low temperatures – and Xerox won’t tell me what temperature that is. Not that it makes a difference if the toner is waxy.
Is there a colour printer that you could recommend?
Hi Aline,
Many thanks for your question.
Unfortunately the composition of toner in colour machines often is much higher in wax-like polymers. This is to ensure a vibrant and shiny output but does not lend itself to the foiling process. The only machines we can recommend at all for foiling are the Samsung mono M3820/3320 which we know work from feedback from customers as well as our own testing.
As toner foiling is not part of the intended functions of the printer, manufacturers can’t make recommendations on the efficacy of it for this purpose. Sorry to not be of more assistance, but the information is just not available on colour printers for foiling.
hello, samsung sold their printers to HP?
I am in the US and its hard to find that printer here.
what would be the next best printer for foiling?
Thanks
Elisa
Hi Elisa,
Yes, Samsung have sold their printers to HP. You can find more information about HP/Samsung support for the M3820 laser printer here. The M3820 or M3320 would be the only models we currently recommend for toner foiling.
Many thanks for your question.
Hello
Could you use a colour laser printer and only work on the black ink?
Hello
Can you use a colour laser printer?
Hi Rebecca,
Yes, in theory this is possible. However, colour printers tend to have toner with higher levels of polymers that don’t lend themselves to the process of foiling. If you printed a composite black (all four colours) then this would give a larger area for foil to stick to, but would be more costly than using a monochrome printer – the only one of which we currently recommend is the Samsung M3820ND.
I hope this helps!
Hi Danial,
Hoping you can help. I’m using photoshop with the Samsung proxpress M3820ND, I’ve got coloured and black layers for foiling. I keep receiving the warning to enable or disable the printer’s colour management in the print settings dialog box, and I’ve looked everywhere for this and can’t find it anywhere in the printers utility I’m assuming because it’s a mono laser printer. So if I print with this error I just get loads of code and have to switch off from the mains. I would just give up and say this is not compatible but I managed to print in this way previously (photoshop with coloured layers off and mono layers on). Hoping you can shed some light it’s driving me demented and HP help for the samsung could only suggest updating photoshop app – which hasn’t made a difference! I don’t know what I did differently the last time!
Here’s hoping!!
Catherine
Hi Catherine,
I can’t profess to be an expert on Photoshop, but part of the issue is almost certainly down to the fact that the machine won’t have a colour management setting.
My guess would be that the problem is in the setting in Photoshop rather than the printer though. When you select print, there should be an option to select:
Printer manages colours
Photoshop manages colours
None
I suspect yours may be currently set to printer manages colours and so it is relying on the printer to process the file for print.
Another thing that may have an impact is the printer driver itself. If you haven’t already, please visit the driver download page and update to the latest version based on the operating system you are using. If it is windows, then you would likely need the Postscript one. On Mac, I think there is only the one option.
I hope this helps.
Will the Samsung Xpress M2020W Wireless Monochrome Laser Printer work as well? It says it has the 1200 x 1200 resolution. I’ve been comparing models for 2 days and I can’t find any difference aside from the page rate.
Hi James,
Its not just the resolution that is the deciding factor, it is also the composition of the toner. The newer models have a higher amount of polymers in the toner, which do not lend themselves to the toner foiling process in the same way that the old toner types do. Unfortunately, we can’t recommend the M2020W for foiling and still recommend the M3320/3820 models.
I hope that helps,
Kate
Printerbase
Thanks for this info it has been very insightful. It looks as though the newer version (or more readily available version) of the recommended printer is the M3820DW instead of the ND. Do you know if there is a huge difference there? It looks like the printer resolution is the same at 1200 dpi but I’m now wondering about toner quality.
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for your question.
These machines are exactly the same except the DW has Wifi built in.
Hope this helps.
Many thanks,
Kate
Printerbase
Hey there,
I just purchased the M3820DW and I’m having two issues trying to print thicker paper to foil. Firstly the printer takes exceedingly long from pressing print to actually spitting out page. I am working with large files, but they worked perfectly fine before with my brother printer at a normal print speed. Each time I print anything it takes three minutes for it to come out. The toner quality looks really good however I am printing small a5 size cards and what I found is the printer sucks them up so fast from the tray that they are askew as they print and not aligned correctly. I’ve tried holding the paper guides in place and everything. Planning on calling HP for some troubleshooting help as well, but I figured you may have insight about how to work around these two issues.
Hi Michelle,
The size of the file makes a difference, but assuming that the preceding Brother machine was a mono-only device it likely didn’t have more memory or processing power. This makes me think the issue could be driver related rather than hardware. I would recommend checking that you have the full driver installed by visiting the website:
https://support.hp.com/gb-en/drivers/selfservice/samsung-proxpress-sl-m3820-laser-printer-series/16463006/model/16463010
Assuming you are printing PDF’s then the postscript driver would make the most sense. It could be at the moment that you are using the generic Windows or Mac driver?
With the feeding issue, I would again suggest looking at the driver. If the settings are wrong for the paper type being used this can affect how fast it feeds. The max media weight for this model is 220gsm and there should be a setting in the driver for heavyweight or cardstock. Heavy media also needs to be printed from the MP tray on the front of the printer.
If neither of the above recommendations work, then the next stage would be to speak to HP to ascertain if it’s a setting or hardware issue.
I hope this helps.
Printerbase
HI – I am interested in buying a laser printer for foiling but could you tell me if you can use a colour laser printer for the same purpose? I need a colour printer so wondered if one printer would do the job. Thanks
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for your question. The only printer we can tell you has definitely worked for the foiling process is the Samsung ML380ND unfortunately so we can’t give you a definitive answer on this question currently, sorry.
Many thanks
Kate
Printerbase
Hi Danial,
I’ve tried foiling on three different machines now, a Samsung, a Brother and a Xerox, with Samsung clearly giving the best results, and Xerox the worst. BUT this particular samsung only does plain A4 paper. Of course i’d like be able to print on heavy A3 paper! any suggestions on which printer would be most suitable for that? Thanks a lot!
Good morning Johannes
Thank you for getting in touch.
We don’t have an A3 printer we would recommend for foiling.
Hope this helps
Thank you
Adam
Great post very helpful .i have a Samsung xpress M2825ND and when I print onto card 160 msg it seems to smudge the ink and print the same image but faint just below as if it’s smudged down.. It prints nice on paper but obviously for foiling I would prefer card, the cooking itself I am doing in a laminator which is coming out a little blotchy, what would you suggest? It might be because I am using cheap laser ink?
Thanks in advance
Hey Polly
Thank you for getting in touch regarding your Samsung Printer. From the sounds of it, the 160gsm paper you’re using is incompatible with the Printer, especially if it’s working fine on other types. Your printer can take paper up to 220gsm. It is also possible to be an ink issue with the blotchy prints. Our Compatible cartridges come with a 12 month guarantee where we would cover any issues like that if it was due to the toners.
https://www.printerbase.co.uk/compatible-toners/
Hope this helps
Thank you
Adam
Hi. Thanks for the informative post. What do you think about the Xerox VersaLink C8000DT A3 Colour Laser Printer. Do you think this would be good for foil printing as I am thinking of purchasing this, but don’t want to spend a large amount of money on the wrong product. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated. Thank you
Hey Sofia
Thank you for getting in touch regarding the Xerox C8000DT
It’s not recommended to be used for foiling as it’s not what the Printer is designed for
However, the Brother HL-L2400DW has been tested to be suitable for foiling. This is a black-and-white A4 laser printer that supports media up to 230gsm.
Hope this helps
Thank you
Adam
This is really so much helpful tips you share. Thanks for this article.
Hi as the Samsung printers have been replaced by HP what printer is best for foiling?
Your website recommended Samsung M3820ND and ML380ND which has been replaced by the HP M404DN and wireless version HP M404DW.
Would you recommend these to produce nets foiling results or any other newer HP models?
Hi Taslima
There’s been an update in the foiling world. We now have the Brother HL-L2400DW has been tested by other creative professionals, and discovered it is a great printer for foiling.
Thank you!
Hi,
I’m looking for a mono laserjet printer that can be used for foiling, so I’m looking for a model that can offer the following spec:
– Mono laserjet
– Minimum 1200×1200 dpi
– Compatible with a Mac
– Ideally prints on cardstock up to 300gsm
– Prints on A4 and A5. If it could print on A3 too that would be great, but isn’t essential
– Produces prints that are suitable for foiling (I use the Heidi Swapp Minc Machine to foil)
Are you able to recommend any printers please? I can see that you’ve previously recommended the Samsung M3820ND printer for up to 220gsm, however that seems to have been discontinued, so any advice on other printers that work for foiling cardstock would be really appreciated!
Thanks in advance
Helen
Hi Helen
Thank you for getting in touch. We don’t have a laser printer that could support up to 300gsm and has been testing on foiling.
However, the Brother HL-L2400DW can be used for foiling, it’s a mono printer too and supports paper up to 230gsm.
Feel free to call our friendly sales team on: 0161 308 5800 for more information
Thank you
Adam
Ok, I have been researching this, exhaustively, for the better of six months. I see all your notes, and see most recently you suggest that no mono laser in production will work for foil. But how can that actually be true?
I completely understand the issue of toner composition – and that a “new” machine would be rubbish. However, from what I understand of many of the mono printers I have investigated so far, they are all models that have not changed in a decade – and have used the same printer cartridge. So, wouldn’t it then stand to reason that any machine DEVELOPED prior to a certain year, would thus have the proper heat and chemical composition that was enjoyed in the much beloved Samsung? Am I missing something, because I am able to identify a great many mono lasers that fit into this category – it seems most of the manufacturers are more concerned with color machines, and do not put the R&D into the mono units…
So, I guess I would like to know, instead of a “manufacturer” or a specific model – can you say what YEAR things began to change so one might be able to research the first year of production of a particular machine of interest, to also be able to immediately weed out those whose origins were after the great waxapocalypse?
I have different needs than most of you here – I actually print on transparencies, and then apply foil with a high-end, professional laminator. But I am seeking a new mono with higher DPI than my current machine, and so this particular information would be of great use to me.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Hi Maggie
Thank you for getting in touch.
We’ve recently had an update regarding foiling printers, and found the Brother HL-L2400DW can now be used to foil. It’s been tested by other creative professionals to give great results!
Hope this helps
Thank you
Adam
The Printerbase Team
Hi,
I wish I came across this post before my purchase of the OKI C824n.
I currently have an HP M15W Mono laser printer and it is excellent for foil printing. The only reason I bought the Oki was because I needed to start foil printing in A3. The Oki, as per comments above is an awful printer to use for foil print and now I understand it could be as they use a waxy toner? Now my predicament is I am left with this printer as it is ‘not faulty’ (just useless) and even though I have the box, I don’t have the inner packaging so it is ‘unreturnable’. So, yes I could eBay it etc, but if I used a different toner, for example I pour in one that works well with the HP M15W, would this make the prints come out better to foil? I know this will mean no more warranty, but I literally have nothing to lose now.
Many thanks.
Hi Katherine.
Thank you for getting in touch and I’m sorry to hear you’re unhappy with your Oki printer.
However, we never recommend refilling toner cartridges. The printer wouldn’t accept the toner used in a HP Printer under your device and it is highly likely to cause damage to the printer.
Hope this helps
Thank you
Adam
The Printerbase Team
Hello. Thank you so much for all the info, so helpful!
I know this is an old post but I’m so desperate for an A3 laserjet printer. I have done so much research but I couldn’t really find a good A3 laserprinter that I could use for foiling. I was wondering if by any chance you know if HP Laserjet 5100n would be good to use for foiling on a Minc laminator? I was thinking of printing out the text with the printer and then placing gold foil on the paper and use a Minc laminator so the foil sticks to the text.
Would any mono laserprinter work if I use this method?
Hi Sala
Thank you for getting in touch.
We’ve finally had an update with a printer that’s suitable for foiling. We now recommend the Brother HL-L2400DW, which we’ve seen other creatives use for foiling.
Hope this helps
Thank you
The Printerbase Team
This is an old printer first available in 2011, so not a new printer. I’m sorry that I keep asking questions, but what am I looking for exactly in a printer to know if it’s a printer that will work with foiling? Are all monochrome printers generally good for foiling? Or it depends.
Once again sorry for my questions but I’m desperate.
Hi There,
What’s the best A3 printer for foiling? Ideally up to 200g paper.
Cheers,
Bart
Hi Bart
Thank you for getting in touch.
There are no A3 printers we have currently tested on foiling. The OKI MC883DN is capable of printing up to 256gsm in A3. However, this is a colour printer, the printers would need to be set to Greyscale to make this possible.
https://www.printerbase.co.uk/oki-mc883dn-a3-printer.html
The printer we do recommend for foiling is the Brother HL-L2400DW. This is a mono A4 printer that supports up to 230gsm media though.
If this doesn’t help, please feel free to get in touch with a member of a sales team for more advice.
Hope this helps
Thank you
The Printerbase Team
Hi there, I’m late to the party! I’m looking for a printer recommendation for foiling but the one you suggest here seems to be discontinued. Do you have any newer or alternative recommendations please? Your help is greatly appreciated! 🙂
Hi Laura!
Thank you for your comment!
We’ve had some updated news since your initial comment! The Brother HL-L2400DW is our best laser printer for foiling, we’ve seen it in use by other creative minds!
Hope this helps
Thank you
the Printerbase Team
Hi,
Any update on a recommended laser printer for golden foiling?
Hi Marco
Thank you for your comment.
We’ve had some updated news since your original comment, the Brother HL-L2400DW can be used for foiling.
Hope this helps
Thank you
The Printerbase Team