The Topeka, Kansas-based Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) has announced the honorees in its 30th Annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Competition. Pearls are the traditional gift for married couples celebrating their 30th anniversary, but the FSEA celebrated with Gold, Silver and Bronze!
“Our FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Competition showcases how embellishments have become a catalyst in the printing industry,” stated FSEA Executive Director Jeff Peterson. “The creativity and technology used in the pieces we receive continue to amaze us every year, from greeting cards and book covers to folding cartons and wine labels.”
A record number of entries were received from countries around the world, including the US, Canada, India, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, Japan, South Africa and Taiwan. Gold, Silver and Bronze winners were honored in 47 categories during a reception held on Tuesday, June 6, at The Print Embellishment Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.
As in 2022, two Best of Show honorees were revealed – one awarded to the best digitally finished piece and one to the entry displaying the best use of conventional finishing techniques.
Gravure Choquet, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was awarded the Best of Show: Best Use of Foil and Embossing for “RE/MAX.” Originally entered in the category of Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Miscellaneous Product, the team at Gravure Choquet had quite the task – take an already impressive, framed award that its client, RE/MAX Real Estate, had been using for years and make it even better. More than 35 versions of the award were manufactured. Each framed 20” x 14” award received between eight to 16 passes through the presses, with several passes of foil, embossing in register for the client’s logo and diecuts with perfect registration for the different categories of the certificates. A filler was integrated behind the certificates to create weight and depth between the two layers, with all the components assembled in a frame and integrated in a presentation box.
Best of Show: Best Use of Digital Embellishments was awarded to Post Press Specialties, Independence, Missouri, for Willy. Originally entered in the category for Best Use of Digital Foil (Self Promotion), the team at Post Press Specialties created the piece to demonstrate the company’s capabilities. The graphics were created in Adobe Illustrator, with small dots of opaque foil intermingled to create an image resembling a lithographic photo, producing foil halftone dots in different foil colors in a way none of the team members had ever seen before. “Willy” was created on a leftover scrap piece of board that the team laminated, and the project was created in an afternoon with fewer than 10 copies made.
The competition evaluates submissions that utilize a wide range of specialty finishing techniques, from foil stamping and embossing to specialty coating, film laminating, laser cutting, diecutting and cold foil applications. Submissions come in a variety of formats, including greeting cards, folding cartons, labels, promotional pieces, calendars and more.
Award winners in the 30th Annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards, along with the categories in which the submissions won, are listed in this press release. To view photos of the pieces submitted by the Bronze, Silver and Gold honorees, visit www.fsea.com.
The 2023 categories and winners:
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Hardback Book Cover
Gold: Yumi, Lakeside Book Company, Crawfordsville, IN
Silver: Pandora, Jostens, Clarksville, TN
Bronze: Polaris 2022, Jostens, Clarksville, TN
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Softback Book Cover
Gold: Swiat Druku (The World of Printing), Multifol Uszlachetnianie Druku (UE),Kraków, Poland
Silver: Superman, Gravure Choquet, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Bronze: Dallas Country Club, Performance Specialty Service, Dallas, TX
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Greeting Card (Creative)
Gold: Thanksgiving Gratitude, The Occasions Group, North Mankato, MN
Silver: Champagne Fireworks, BrightMarks LLC, Lenexa, KS
Bronze: Lafayette 148 Holiday Card, highresolution printing and packaging,
Manalapan, NJ
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Greeting Card (Difficult)
Gold: Happy Birthday Batman, Hallmark Cards, Inc., Lawrence, KS
Silver: 50’s the New 30’s, BrightMarks LLC, Lenexa, KS
Bronze: Part ICON Superman, Hallmark Cards, Inc., Lawrence, KS
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Greeting Card (Self Promo)
Gold: Gietz New Year Greeting Card 2023, Gietz AG, Gossau, Switzerland
Silver: Thumbelina Christmas Card, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen, Denmark
Bronze: Gravure Choquet Christmas card, Gravure Choquet, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Folding Carton (Creative)
Gold: Ciao Vince Camuto, Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY
Silver: Surly Darkness Box, Studio on Fire, St. Paul, MN
Bronze: Sheer Science: Plexaderm Skincare Folding Carton, RRD Packaging Solutions, Durham, NC
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Folding Carton (Difficult)
Gold: Lord of the Rings Box Set, Studio on Fire, St. Paul, MN
Silver: Luxe Pack Promotional, Thoro Packaging, a Company of the Autajon Group, Corona, CA
Bronze: Clinique Folding Carton, McLean Packaging Corporation, Moorestown, NJ
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Folding Carton (Self Promo)
Gold: MCD 50th Anniversary Unfolding Box, MCD, Inc., Madison, WI
Silver: BOP Holiday Gift Box & Card Combo, Blue Ocean Press, Syracuse, NY
Bronze: Toad Box, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Rigid Box (Creative)
Gold: Hard Cover The Awakening (Wynn Hotel), Gravure Choquet, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Silver: Union Horse Anniversary Release Box, BrightMarks LLC, Lenexa, KS
Bronze: NAPCO USA – “The Count” Spirits Box & Bottle Label, NAPCO USA, Sparta, NC
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Rigid Box (Difficult)
Gold: boxes No. 2, KURZ Transfer Products, Huntersville, NC
Silver: Three Sisters Apothecary Autumn Gift Set, Pacific Southwest Containers LLC, Modesto, CA
Bronze: NAPCO USA – “Black Cask” Spirits Box & Bottle Label, NAPCO USA, Sparta, NC
Best Use of Foil/Embossing/Diecut – Self Promotion
Gold: Diamond Packaging 2023 Calendar, Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY
Silver: Bigger, Bolder, Brighter-Look Book 2023, Jostens, Clarksville, TN
Bronze: Putting Your Pieces Together Binder, On Line Bindery, Richmond, CA
Machinery Suppliers: Bobst, Sakurai
Best Use of Foil/Embossing/Diecut – Self Promotion (Industry Supplier)
Gold: Univacco – Rebuild Your Imagination, Univacco Foils, Tainan City, Taiwan
Silver: La Bellezza Salverá il Mondo (eng. Beauty will save the World), Carlo Gasperini & C., Prato, Italy
Bronze: Deck the Halls with Neenah, Neenah, Alpharetta, GA
Best Use of Foil/Embossing/Diecut – Self Promotion (Holiday)
Gold: Baugh Christmas carton, Baugh Graphic Finishing House, Indianapolis, IN
Silver: MCD 2023 Desktop Calendar, MCD, Inc., Madison, WI
Bronze: KURZ Transfer Products 2022 Holiday Cards, Subtle Impressions, Inc., Gastonia, NC
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Presentation Folder
Gold: EPF – E3D Self Promotion, Elite Print Finishing, Burlington, NC
Silver: Change the Way you View Folders, Folderworks, North Mankato, MN
Bronze: Hillwood Folder, Performance Specialty Service, Dallas, TX
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Client Promotion/Brochure
Gold: CARTES Client Promotion Brochure, CARTES, Moglia MN and Italy
Silver: Maggie Rose, Team Concept Printing & Thermography, Inc. , Carol Stream, IL
Bronze: Mother Earth Amplify Poster, Carlson Print Group, Eden Prairie, MN
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Digitally Printed)
Gold: Ten Vintage “VENDEMMIE”, SOVEMEC Stampa Company, Nola, Italy
Silver: Arana (The Silver Spider), CARTES, Moglia MN and Italy
Bronze: Cantilever, Multi-Color Corporation North America Wine & Spirits, Napa, CA
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Creative)
Gold: Vera Volente Elegance, MCC Label Paarl South Africa, Western Cape, South Africa
Silver: Black Carbon – Professional Grade Seasoning Blend, Blue Ocean Press, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Bronze: HOPE Sauvignon Blanc, Bay Tech Label, St Petersburg, FL
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Difficult)
Gold: Raymond, Multi-Color Corporation North America Wine & Spirits, Napa, CA
Silver: Mr. Black Starward Front, Multi Color Corporation Australia, South Australia
Bronze: Block Head, Multi-Color Corporation North America Wine & Spirits, Napa, CA
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Self Promotion)
Gold: Whiskey label, Carlo Gasperini & C., Prato, Italy
Silver: Gietzerollo Liquor, Gietz AG, Gossau, Switzerland
Bronze: Thumbelina Nature labels, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen, Denmark
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Business Card/Stationery
Gold: On Line Bindery Business Cards, On Line Bindery, Richmond, CA
Silver: Tequilia Brand Ambassador cards, Print Panther Direct
Bronze: Sweet Notes, DataGraphic, Commack, NY
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Announcements/Invitation (Creative)
Gold: Acrylic Wedding Invitation, The Prettiest Pixel, Shawnee, KS
Silver: Flexjet Invitation, DataGraphic, Commack, NY
Bronze: Lawrence, Bella Figura for Boxcar Press, Syracuse, NY
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Announcements/Invitation (Difficult)
Gold: Florence, Bella Figura for Boxcar Press, Syracuse, NY
Silver: Class of 2023 Life School, Performance Specialty Service, Dallas, TX
Bronze: Foil on Deckle Edge, The Prettiest Pixel, Shawnee, KS
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Calendar (Industry Supplier)
Gold: Year of the Rabbit 2023 Calendar, K Laser Technology (USA) Co., Ltd., Santa Ana, CA
Silver: Multi-Dimensional KURZ Calendar, LPI – Letterhead Press, New Berlin, WI
Bronze: Kaname, Sakurai, Schaumburg, IL
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Calendar
Gold: Tokyo Bay Fish Calendar 2023, Ichikudo Printing Co, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
Silver: Diamond Packaging 2023 Calendar, Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY
Bronze: Globe 2023 Calendar, Globe Die Cutting, Metuchen, NJ
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Direct Mailer
Gold: Parkland Direct – Christmas 2022 Envelope, Parkland Direct, Forest, VA
Silver: Levin Rinke Direct Mail Die Cut Door Postcard, SunDance, Orlando, FL
Bronze: Parkland Direct – Saguara National Park Envelope, Parkland Direct, Forest, VA
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Miscellaneous Product
Gold: Re/Max, Gravure Choquet, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Silver: Waco Police Padded Document Holder, K & W Finishing, Baltimore, MD
Bronze: Wired Productions: The Black Label Collection, RRD Packaging Solutions, Durham, NC
Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Miscellaneous Product (Industry Supplier)
Gold: BEAUTY, H+M, Charlotte, NC
Silver: BOOK Whiskey, KURZ Transfer Products, Huntersville, NC
Bronze: Tampolamina, GTO, Srl, Casalgrande RE, Italy
Best Use of Holographics
Gold: 2023 Super Bowl Stadium Program, Hazen Paper Company, Holyoke, MA
Silver: Hazen Alabaster Holojet®, Hazen Paper Company, Holyoke, MA
Bronze: Father’s Day, Leanin’ Tree, Boulder, CO
Best Use of Embossing (Blind)
Gold: NFL Sleeve, DataGraphic, Commack, NY
Silver: Flower Garden, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen, Denmark
Bronze: Oscar de la Renta Bella Bouquet, Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY
Best Use of Embossing (Registered)
Gold: Iconic Box, Studio on Fire, St. Paul, MN
Silver: Diamond Packaging 2023 Calendar, Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY
Bronze: Special Edition 12″ Vinyl Gothic Luxury, Super Lustre Graphique
Best Use of Overprinting Foil
Gold: Unidisc 12″ Vinyl, Gravure Choquet, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Silver: Dad, Hallmark Cards, Inc., Lawrence, KS
Bronze: Pokémon Arceus VSTAR Ultra-Premium Collection, RRD Packaging Solutions, Durham, NC
Best Use of Refractive Foil (Micro-etched)
Gold: Analog x Digital, H+M USA, Charlotte, NC
Silver: Avrae, Multi-Color Corporation North America Wine & Spirits, Napa, CA
Bronze: Chateau Univacco, Carlo Gasperini & C., Prato, Italy
Best Use of Cold Foil (Carton or Label)
Gold: Hydroxycut Advanced, Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY
Silver: Abercrombie & Fitch Away Weekend (Woman), Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY
Bronze: Metamorphia, Overnight Labels, A Premium Label & Packaging Solutions Company, Deer Park, NY
Best Use of Cold Foil (Promotion or Brochure)
Gold: Wallace Carlson Vinfoil Promo, Wallace Carlson, Minnetonka, MN
Silver: Las Vegas Skyline, Kenmore Envelope, Richmond, VA
Bronze: Burgopak x Windles Unicorn, Burgopak, London, UK
Best Use of Digital Foil (Self Promotion)
Gold: Willy, Post Press Specialties, Independence, MO
Silver: EPF – E3D Self Promotion, Elite Print Finishing, Burlington, NC
Bronze: Hunters Original artwork limited edition prints, Print Panther Direct, Ontario, Canada
Best Use of Digital Foil (Carton)
Gold: Titleist Masters VIP Boxes, Curtis Packaging, Sandy Hook, CT
Silver: Double Lit, Elite Print Finishing, Burlington, NC
Bronze: D9 Gummies Tuck Top Boxes, The Anstadt Company, York, PA
Best Use of Digital Foil (Varnish Adhesive)
Gold: 2022 Las Vegas Raiders Season Ticket Books, Consolidated Printing, Van Buren, AR
Silver: Konica Minolta Shine and Evolution Direct Mail Campaign, Print Panther Direct, Ontario, Canada
Bronze: Sylvamo Papers Promotional Sheet, LPI – Letterhead Press, New Berlin, WI
Best Use of Specialty UV Coating – Screen (Raised, Textured or Glitter)
Gold: Special Edition 12″ Vinyl Gothic Luxury, Super Lustre Graphique, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Silver: Spring Hill College Seek More Brochure, SunDance, Orlando, FL
Bronze: that’s our nature, Jostens, Clarksville, TN
Best Use of Laminating Film (Holographic, Soft Touch or Other Decorative Film)
Gold: Legacy, Jostens, Clarksville, TN
Silver: 12″ Jacket Unidisc, R&L Lamination, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Bronze: Change the Way You View Folders, Folderworks, North Mankato, MN
Best Use of Special Diecut
Gold: Metallic Snowflakes, The Occasions Group, North Mankato, MN
Silver: Rev it Up, Hallmark Cards, Inc. Cards, Inc., Lawrence, KS
Bronze: On Line Bindery Wine Bottle Brochure, On Line Bindery, Richmond, CA
Best Use of Laser Cutting (Decorative)
Gold: KOVAL Dry Gin, Paragon Label (A Resouce LabelGroup Company), Petaluma, CA
Silver: Serene Forest, The Occasions Group, North Mankato, MN
Bronze: We are Back, Jostens, Clarksville, TN
Best Use of Letterpress
Gold: Stout Holiday Cards, Studio on Fire, St. Paul, MN
Silver: Amoret, Bella Figura for Boxcar Press, Syracuse, NY
Bronze: Love Embraced, The Occasions Group, North Mankato, MN
Best Use of Film Casting (Cast & Cure™)
Gold: Indian Life by David White, Visions, Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN
Silver: Great Nations Freaky Friday – Vapor Ringz, Rose City Label, Portland, OR
Bronze: Perennial Artisan Ales – Double Entendre, Cursive, Mason, OH
Best Use of Unique Fold
Gold: Luxe Pack Promotional, Thoro Packaging, a Company of the Autajon Group, Corona, CA
Silver: Happy New Year 2023! (Molly McCoy Self Promotion Piece), Molly McCoy Graphic Design, Oakland, CA
Bronze: Christmas Carol Bulb Fold Out, Team Concept Printing & Thermography, Inc., Carol Stream, IL
Best Use of Unique Binding
Gold: Sagittaria Calendar, Carlo Gasperini & C., Prato, Italy
Silver: Lucky Bag, Jostens, Clarksville, TN
Bronze: Poor Richard’s Press Creative Toolkit, Poor Richard’s Press, San Luis Obispo, CA
Best Use of Sustainable Design
Gold: Cold Transfer KPS slim (patent pending) Packaging, KURZ Transfer Products, Huntersville, NC
Silver: HOMETOWN HERO Infused Gummies (+POP), Hippo Premium Packaging, San Diego, CA
Bronze: Big Picture Farm Gift Box, Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY
Best Use of Transfer Metallization
Gold: Hazen Paper 2023 Calendar “Chariots of Fire”, Hazen Paper Company, Holyoke, MA
Silver: Parkland Direct – City Scene Vector Envelope, Parkland Direct, Forest, VA
Bronze: Eilish No 2, Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY
The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) provides a wide range of resources to help companies remain profitable today and into the future. From cost-saving programs and educational opportunities to green initiatives proving the sustainability of foil decorated paper/board, the FSEA strives to provide its members with ideas, resources and solutions to grow in today’s marketplace.
To learn more, visit www.fsea.com.