How do I set up gold foil on my business cards?

Gold foil is applied from its own separate mask file, kept apart from your standard CMYK artwork. That separation lets the press apply the metallic foil precisely without it mixing into the color print.

• Provide your main design as a CMYK file for the standard color printing.
• Provide a separate mask file marking exactly where the gold foil should land.
• Use solid coverage in the mask so foil edges stay crisp. Keep foil elements bold.
• Match the mask position to your artwork and keep both files the same size and orientation.

Because foil is a physical layer, precise registration between the mask and your color file is what keeps the gold exactly where you want it.