Studio on Fire’s theory11 Beatles Box Set

Association Honors Winners During Reception at Amplify: The Print Finishing & Embellishment Event

Topeka, Kansas -- The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) has announced the honorees in its 29th Annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Competition. Award winners were celebrated during a reception held on Tuesday, June 14, at Amplify – The Print Finishing and Embellishment event in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“Every year, we receive incredible examples of decorative foils, coatings and laminates with print embellishments; and the techniques and applications continue to expand,” said FSEA Executive Director Jeff Peterson. “To be able to honor the award winners and display their work to the audience of a new expo and educational event – Amplify – made this year’s competition even more special. And, we look forward to celebrating our 30th year of the Gold Leaf Awards in 2023.”

Entries were received from countries around the world, including the US, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Australia, South Africa and Taiwan. Gold, Silver and Bronze winners were honored in 39 categories. And, in recognition of the rise in digital embellishment techniques, 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.

Studio On Fire, St. Paul, Minnesota, was awarded the Best of Show: Best Use of Foil and Embossing for “theory11 Beatles Box Set.” Originally entered in the category of Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Miscellaneous, Studio on Fire was hired by theory11, a producer of luxury, designer playing cards, to pay tribute to a band that has shaped the world’s music scene for decades. The Beatles box is comprised of five main components: four decks of cards and the outer special edition box that houses them. The outer box has three passes of foil and then a heavy embossing pass, which gave the artwork the tactility that Studio on Fire is known for. The outer box and internal tray/insert were diecut before final assembly, including the addition of a magnetic closure.

Best of Show: Best Use of Digital Embellishments was awarded to Print Panther Direct, Ontario, Canada. Originally entered in the category for Best Use of Foil/Embossing: Client Promotion, the Konica Minolta “Print So Real You Can Feel It – Extreme Digital 3” package allows users to see and feel the beauty of each included piece, featuring artwork from invitations, labels and more. The outer box and lid were in an aluminum form that was printed and etched. The belly band was printed, laminated, embellished and scored to create a sleek and modern outer box that gave a stunning first impression. The inner images were embellished using gloss foils, holographic foil, spot varnish, metallic inks and fluorescent inks.

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.

Gold award winners in the 29th 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.

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Hardback Book Cover
Lucky Bag; Jostens, Clarksville, TN

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Softback Book Cover
Gold Leaf Capabilities Book; GoldLeaf Print & Packaging, Pelham, AL

Best Use of Foil/Embossing Greeting Card (Creative)
Baugh Holiday Card 2021; Baugh Graphic Finishing House, Indianapolis, IN

Best Use of Foil/Embossing/Laser Cutting Greeting Card (Difficult)
Winter Timber; The Occasions Group, North Mankato, MN

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Client Promotion
Konica Minolta “Print So Real You Can Feel It - Extreme Digital 3”; Print Panther Direct, Ontario, Canada

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Folding Carton (Creative)
Lux FX Peacock; Team Concept Printing & Thermography, Inc., Carol Stream, IL

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Folding Carton (Difficult)
theory11 Harry Potter Tuck Case Set; Studio on Fire, Saint Paul, MN

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Rigid Box
Case Makes Swatch Kit; Case Paper, Harrison, NY

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Rigid Box (Best Engineered)
Cincoro Tequila; Taylor Box Company, Warren, RI

Best Use of Foil/Embossing/Diecutting - Self Promotion
LuxePack 2022 Promo; Autajon Thoro Packaging, Corona, CA

Best Use of Foil/Embossing/Diecutting - Self Promotion (Industry Supplier)
Case Paper Record Box; Case Paper, Harrison, NY

Best Use of Foil/Embossing/Diecutting - Self Promotion (Holiday)
Poster Snow Queen; Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen, Denmark

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Presentation Folder
Prototype Samsung Care Card Holder & Instructions; highresolution printing & packaging, Manalapan, NJ

Best Use of Foil/Embossing Label - Digitally Printed
De Morgenzon the Divas Chenin Blanc; Multi Color Corporation Paarl, Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa

Best Use of Foil and/or Embossing Label (Sheet or Rotary) - Creative
Rested Rum Barrels; Multi Color Corporation (South Australia), Adelaide, South Australia

Best Use of Foil and/or Embossing Label (Sheet or Rotary) - Difficult
Raymond; Multi-Color Corporation North America Wine & Spirits, Napa, CA

Best Use of Foil/Embossing Label - Digital Foil
Hobson Grace Raw Honey and Maple Syrup; Print Panther Direct, Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Best Use of Foil and/or Coatings - Business Card
PRINT | PANTHER | DIRECT; Print Panther Direct, Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Announcement/Invitation
Chamberlain; Bella Figura / Boxcar Press, Syracuse, NY

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Calendar (Industry Supplier)
2022 Cold Foil Calendar of American Cities; Univacco Technology Inc., Tainan City, Taiwan

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Calendar
Diamond Packaging 2022 Calendar; Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Direct Mailer
On the Wave of Innovation - BOP Postcard Mailing; Blue Ocean Press, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Miscellaneous Product
theory11 Beatles Box Set; Studio on Fire, Saint Paul, MN

Best Use of Holographics
Be your self; Performance Specialty Service, Dallas, TX

Best Use of Embossing (Creative)
April Wine the Whole World’s Going Crazy; Gravure Choquet, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Best Use of Embossing (Technical)
Boegli Celebration Card; Carlo Gasperini & C., Prato, Italy

Best Use of Overprinting Foil
2021 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Year Book; Hazen Paper Company, Holyoke, MA

Best Use of Refractive Foil (Micro-Etched Die)
Kurz USA Foil Promotional Box; Superior Packaging & Finishing, Braintree, MA

Best Use of Cold Foil
ARC Blue Light Teeth Whitening Kit; Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY

Best Use of Digital Foil (Varnish Adhesive)
Into the Bright Print Panther Direct; Print Panther Direct, Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Best Use of Digital Inkjet Coating (Raised, Textured or Glitter)
Slightly Stoopid; Elite Print Finishing, Burlington, NC

Best Use of Specialty UV Coating - Screen (Raised, Textured or Glitter)
Patterns That Have Transcended Borders and Time. Now it’s Wisdom into Strength; Sakurai USA, Schaumburg, IL

Best Use of Laminating Film (Holographic, Soft Touch or Other Decorative Film)
One Proud Pride; Jostens, Clarksville, TN

Best Use of Special Diecut
Wisconsin Football Card - Designed by Wisconsin Union, UW-Madison; MCD, Inc., Madison, WI

Best Use of Letterpress
theory11 Grateful Dead Tuck Case; Studio on Fire, Saint Paul, MN

Best Use of Unique Fold
Thoro Packaging 2021 Holiday Promo; Autajon Thoro Packaging, Corona, CA

Best Use of Unique Binding (Perfect, Mechanical, Case)
Mythology, “No One to Pass the Peas” Spoon Book; DataGraphic, Commack, NY

Best Use of Film Casting (Cast & Cure™)
Cast and Cure Cold Foil with Holographic Image; D’Andrea Visual Communications, Cypress, CA

Best Use of Sustainable Design
RELEAF-Duallok Child-Resistant Packaging; Hippo Premium Packaging, San Diego, CA

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. www.fsea.com