Techniques / Finishing
Gilded Edges
Edge gilding gives your printed piece the Midas touch: metallic foil applied to the trimmed edges of the stack, creating a captivating mirror surface that flashes every time the card is handled.
Classic gold and silver are just the start — our range runs through copper, gunmetal, and holographic hues that can complement or deliberately collide with the face design. A black card with a holographic gilded edge is one of the most-photographed things we make.
Where edge painting applies pigment for a matte band of color, gilding applies foil for reflective shine. Both want thick stock — 2-ply and up — where the edge is a real surface. The precision of the process guarantees a consistent, top-tier finish that enriches the feel of premium business cards, invitations, and stationery.
What gilding needs
Thickness. The edge is the canvas, so the technique wants 2-ply stock and up — the thicker the card, the wider the mirror. Execution is artisanal: cards are trimmed, clamped, and gilded in stacks, which is how the finish comes out uniform across the run. And duplexed builds with a color core let the edge do two tricks at once: a stripe of color wrapped in metal.
Gilded edge samples
FAQ
Gilded edges or painted edges?
Gilding applies foil for reflective mirror shine; edge painting applies pigment for a matte band of color. Both want thick stock — the choice is shine versus hue.
How thick does the card need to be?
2-ply and up is where the edge becomes a real surface. On 3-ply and duplexed builds the gilding reads from across the table.
What colors are available?
Gold, silver, copper, gunmetal, and holographic — matched to the face design or deliberately colliding with it.
Does the gilding wear off?
It's foil bonded under heat and pressure to the trimmed stack — it lives with the card, handling included.