How small can foil details be on a business card?

Foil rewards bold shapes and struggles with fine detail. Because the foil is stamped under heat and pressure, very thin or tiny elements may not transfer completely, leaving gaps in the shine.

• Aim for 8pt and larger type, using bold or medium-weight fonts.
• Avoid thin serifs, hairline strokes, and detail below about 6pt, which can break up.
• Keep foiled lines a bit thicker than you would for printed ink.
• Simple, clean shapes stamp the most reliably and look the sharpest.

When in doubt, make the foiled element a little bolder than feels necessary. It will transfer cleaner and read better on the finished card.