Winners Celebrated During Reception at 2024 Print Embellishment Conference

Topeka, Kansas -- The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) is excited to reveal the honorees in its 31st Annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Competition. The competition evaluates print and packaging submissions that utilize a wide range of 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, book covers, posters and more.

“Our FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Competition showcases the incredible talent, creativity and hard work that goes into each captivating piece,” said FSEA Executive Director Jeff Peterson. “Every year, technology and ingenuity culminate into exceptional works of art that continue to inspire all of us throughout the embellishment industry.”

A record number of entries were received from countries around the world, including the US, Canada, India, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, United Kingdom, Japan, South Africa and Taiwan. Gold, Silver and Bronze winners were honored in 53 categories during a reception held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at the Print Embellishment Conference in Dallas, Texas.

As in 2023, two Best of Show honorees were revealed – one awarded for the best use of traditional foil and embossing techniques, and one to the entry displaying the best use of digital embellishment.

Best of Show: Best Use of Foil & Embossing was awarded to H+M USA for Sea Life. Originally entered in the category for Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Self Promotion, the team at Hinderer + Mühlich (H+M) USA created the ‘Sea Life’ poster using text-to-picture artificial intelligence. A collaboration with ChatGPT and MidJourney, the team’s approach was to merge fashion, design and jewelry with an underwater theme. Embossing and foil stamping then helped bring the printed poster to life.

Best of Show: Best Use of Digital Embellishment was awarded to Print Panther Direct for Extreme Digital Guide 4. Originally entered in the category for Best Use of Digital Embellishments – Sample Guide, the team at Print Panther Direct created Konica Minolta’s ‘Extreme Digital Guide 4’ applications portfolio as a way to showcase to customers how printed materials can be enhanced. The company’s digital press allows for extreme embellishment with CMYK, foils, a second pass of CMYK and varnish. Each page of the portfolio was created to push boundaries a little further with multiple set-ups.

Award winners in the 31st 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 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 

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Hardback Book Cover
Gold: Olympian, Jostens
Silver: Harvard 387, Jostens
Bronze: Out of the Blue, Jostens

Best Use of Foil/Embossing –Softback Book Cover
Gold: Bus Stop Shop “Fourth Wing” Dust Jacket, SunDance
Silver: Ferman Wood Art Collection Exhibit Book, SunDance
Bronze: CalArts – The Pool 50th Anniversary Issue, Clear Image Printing Co.

Best Use of Foil/Embossing –Greeting Card (Creative)
Gold: Winter Stillness, The Occasions Group
Silver: Dad Trees, Hallmark
Bronze: Whiskey Appreciation, BrightMarks

Best Use of Foil/Embossing –Greeting Card (Difficult)
Gold: The Ugly Duckling, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen
Silver: The Official White House Christmas Card, Admore, Inc.
Bronze: Confirmation Blessing, Hallmark

Best Use of Foil/Embossing –Greeting Card (Self Promotion)
Gold: Greenspun Holiday Card, highresolution
Silver: Holiday Greetings, Cereus Graphics
Bronze: ACS Holiday Card, Colornet Printing

Best Use of Foil/Embossing –Folding Carton (Creative)
Gold: Blue Lagoon Iceland Hydration Set, K Laser Technology (USA) Co., Ltd.
Silver: Bronze Folding Carton Box, Clear Image Printing Co.
Bronze: Field Notes “Foiled Again”, Studio on Fire

Best Use of Foil/Embossing –Folding Carton (Difficult)
Gold: Vosges Tom Petty Carton, MCD Inc.
Silver: Amore Vince Camuto, Diamond Packaging
Bronze: Scottsdale Mint Bible Coin Box, Cereus Graphics

Best Use of Foil/Embossing –Folding Carton (Self Promo)
Gold: Autajon USA Capacity Folder, Autajon USA
Silver: JSM Honey Sampler Self Promo, J.S. McCarthy Packaging & Print
Bronze: EPF Bourbon Box, Elite Print Finishing

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Rigid Box
Gold: BBQ Sampler 3 Pk Box, PostPress Specialties
Silver: Helena Farms 70-Pack Pre-Roll Box, Studio on Fire
Bronze: Royal Canadian Mint Queen Elizabeth Coin Set, Gravure Choquet

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Self Promotion
Gold: Movie Box, Omanim Print
Silver: Spark Look Book 2024, Jostens
Bronze: NAPCO USA Greatest Hits, NAPCO USA

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Self Promotion (Industry Supplier)
Gold: Sea Life, H+M USA
Silver: Poster – The Ugly Duckling, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen
Bronze: Kama Foiled Horse Box, Absolute Printing Equipment

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Self Promotion (Holiday)
Gold: Self-Promotion Gift Box, ENAF Sp. Z o.o.
Silver: SunDance Holiday Popcorn Making Kit, SunDance
Bronze: Autajon West Coast Holiday Promo, Autajon USA

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Presentation Folder
Gold: The Boheme Menu Folder, SunDance
Silver: Amaizing Folders, Admore, Inc.
Bronze: Royal Canadian Mint Year of the Dragon Coin Folder, Gravure Choquet

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Client Promotion/Brochure
Gold: Burgopak For Oxygen, Burgopak
Silver: NC Museum of History, Elite Print Finishing
Bronze: Gala Gutenberg 2023, Gravure Choquet

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Digitally Printed)
Gold: Renaissance, VollherbstDruck GmbH
Silver: CEZ, MCC Labels Paarl
Bronze: Enrico Winery- Celebration Charme de L’ile, Great Little Box Company

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Creative)
Gold: Tansy, Paragon Label (Resource Label Group)
Silver: Napa Nuts, Multi-Color Corporation North American Wine & Spirits
Bronze: Houghton Chenin Blanc, Multi Color Corporation Australia

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Difficult)
Gold: We Drink Tequila Labels, Studio on Fire
Silver: Nifo 07, SOVEMEC Labels
Bronze: Raymond – Estate Collection, Multi-Color Corporation – Americas Wine

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Self Promotion)
Gold: Lotus, CARTES/Diversified Graphic Machinery
Silver: Pjafoc 184, CARTES/Diversified Graphic Machinery
Bronze: Wunder Gin Label, H+M USA

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Business Card
Gold: K & W Finishing Business Card, K & W Finishing
Silver: CISIS 24, Gravure Choquet
Bronze: Steward Printing Business Card, Performance Specialty Services

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Announcement/Invitation (Difficult)
Gold: MGM Casino National Harbour Rendez Rouge NYE Invite Set, K & W Finishing
Silver: Diamond in the Rough Origami Invitation, highresolution
Bronze: Guilded Floral Suite, The Prettiest Pixel

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Announcement/Invitation (Creative)
Gold: Selene, Bella Figura/Boxcar Press
Silver: Beyond the Diamond White Sox, Team Concept Printing
Bronze: Golden Luxury Suite, The Prettiest Pixel

Best Use of Foil/Embossing –Calendar (Industry Supplier)
Gold: Hazen Paper 2024 Calendar “Lion Heart”, Hazen Paper Company
Silver: Kurz Transfer Product 2024 Calendar, Gravure Choquet
Bronze: 2024 Beyond Your Imagination, Sakurai USA, Inc.

Best Use of Foil/Embossing –Calendar
Gold: Diamond Packaging 2024 Calendar, Diamond Packaging
Silver: Calendar, ENAF Sp. Z o.o.
Bronze: 2024 Call to Action Calendar, GSB Digital

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Direct Mailer
Gold: Kenmore Lollipop, Kenmore Envelope Company
Silver: Parkland Direct – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Envelope, Parkland Direct
Bronze: VCU, Elite Printing Finishing

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Direct Mailer (Digital)
Gold: Cereus Digital Embellishment, Cereus Graphics
Silver: Team Lux FX, Team Concept Printing
Bronze: Elevation Postcard Invitations, Hudson Printing

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Miscellaneous Product
Gold: B126 Red Envelope of the Year of the Dragon, Univacco Technology Inc.
Silver: Packaging Premiere 2023 – Milan, Italy, Carlo Gasperini & C., Italy
Bronze: Kouvola Licorice, Starcke Oy

Best Use of Holographics
Gold: Precise Digital Printing Christmas Card, Precise Digital Printing
Silver: Hazen 2024 Super Bowl Stadium Editions Program, Hazen Paper Company
Bronze: Between The Sheets Issue 3, Case Paper

Best Use of Embossing (Blind)
Gold: The Ugly Duckling + Swan, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen
Silver: Economica Greeting Card, Carlo Gasperini & C., Italy
Bronze: Gietz Notebook, Gietz AG

Best Use of Embossing (Registered)
Gold: Diamond Packaging 2024 Calendar, Diamond Packaging
Silver: Good Omens Embossed Mini Poster, Clear Image Printing Co.
Bronze: Perfect Peonies Invitation, The Occasions Group

Best Use of Overprinting Foil
Gold: Fowl Play, Paragon Label (Resource Label Group)
Silver: Santo Spirit Mezquila Label, AWT Labels & Packaging
Bronze: Carne Humana, Multi-Color Corporation North American Wine & Spirits

Best Use of Refractive Foil
Gold: LaBarge, Multi-Color Corporation – Americas Wine
Silver: Here’s To 50 B-Day Card, MCD Inc.
Bronze: The Ugly Duckling Cosmetic Box, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen

Best Use of Cold Foiling (Folding Carton)
Gold: StriVectin Holiday Collection 2023, Diamond Packaging
Silver: L’Oreal UV Defender Folding Carton, Edelmann Packaging Mexico S.A. de C.V.
Bronze: Ferrero Rocher Chocolates Folding Carton, Edelmann Packaging S.A. de C.V.

Best Use of Cold Foiling (Label)
Gold: Infatuated, Premium Label & Packaging Solutions
Silver: Trimtab 006 IPA, DMS Color
Bronze: YuMOVE Advance 360, Bay Tech Label

Best Use of Cold Foiling (Self Promotion)
Gold: TTR Starter Kit, ITW ShineMark
Silver: Ultra Matt Gold Cold Transfer Label, Univacco
Bronze: K Laser Cold Foil Selector, K Laser Technology (USA) Co., Ltd.

Best Use of Digital Foil (Self Promotion)
Gold: H&B Celebrate 75 Years of Innovation, Harris & Bruno
Silver: On The Wave of Innovation – The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, Blue Ocean Press
Bronze: 50th Anniversary, Cereus Graphics

Best Use of Digital Foil (Varnish Adhesive)
Gold: Freida Poster Series by Francisco Herrera, Print Panther Direct
Silver: Happy New Year 2024 Champagne Bottle Wrap, Topper & Hanger, The Seidls’s Bindery Inc.
Bronze: Avocorto Slide Box, Gold Leaf Print & Packaging

Best Use of Digital Foil (Toner Adhesive)
Gold: The Kiss, Indigio Ink Digital Printing
Silver: Butterfly Art Prints, Tactive
Bronze: Contemporanae NOW Posters, KURZ

Best Use of Digital Inkjet Coating
Gold: Breakline Kiwi, DMS Color
Silver: Print Embellishment Promotion Brochure, GSB Digital
Bronze: Amaizing Folders, Admore, Inc.

Best Use of Specialty UV Coating
Gold: Limited Run Games Moon Folding Carton, RR Donnelley (RRD)
Silver: MotionCoat–Dog, Kenmore Envelope Company
Bronze: Elevate Ventures Annual Report, Tactive

Best Use of Laminating Film
Gold: AQUA Daily Body & Face Lotion, K Laser Technology (USA) Co., Ltd.
Silver: This is Our Time, Jostens
Bronze: Limited Run Games Doom 64 Folding Carton, RR Donnelley (RRD)

Best Use of Special Diecut
Gold: Price Waterhouse, Coopers or PWC Pyramid, C&C Diecuts
Silver: Acme Tonight Popup, C&C Diecuts
Bronze: Performance Specialty Holiday Box, Performance Specialty Services

Best Use of Laser Cutting (Decorative)
Gold: Dreamy Palms Invitation, The Occasions Group
Silver: Woodland Beauty, The Occasions Group
Bronze: K & W Finishing Business Card and Brochure Set, K & W Finishing
Best Use of Laser Cutting (Label)
Gold: Avamposto Gin, H+M USA
Silver: Charbay, Paragon Label
Bronze: Distillery of Modern Art, Paragon Label (Resource Label Group)

Best Use of Letterpress
Gold: Stout Holiday Card Sets, Studio on Fire
Silver: Death Valley Suite, Studio on Fire
Bronze: Suite Blooms by Nikole Williams, The Prettiest Pixel

Best Use of Film Casting (Cast & Cure)
Gold: EOS Premium Vodka, Inglese S.r.l
Silver: Lotus – The HoloFX Series, Hub Labels
Bronze: Deer Valley Poster, Hudson Printing

Best Use of Unique Fold
Gold: Autajon West Coast Holiday Promo, Autajon USA
Silver: Prismatic Greeting Card Kit, SunDance
Bronze: Oculus – Save The Date, Blue Ocean Press

Best Use of Unique Binding
Gold: NMSDC 50th Anniversary Coffee Table Book, Clear Image Printing Co.
Silver: Lucky Bag 2023, Jostens
Bronze: Online Bindery Promotion, Online Bindery

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Sustainable Design
Gold: Owl Calendar, Harris & Bruno
Silver: O Hydration Spoon, Gravure Choquet
Bronze: Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Holiday 2023, Diamond Packaging

Best Use of Transfer Metallization
Gold: Parkland District – Hawaii Blue Floral Envelope, Parkland Direct
Silver: Hazen 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Booklet, Hazen Paper Company
Bronze: Iridophore, Indigio Ink Digital Printing

Best Use of Digital Embellishments – Sample Guide
Gold: Konica Minolta Extreme Digital Guide 4, Print Panther Direct
Silver: Scodix Elevation Design Inspiration Kit, Hudson Printing
Bronze: Infinity Digital Foil Guide, LPI Letterhead Press

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Foil/Paper Selection Guide
Gold: The Sappi Standard 7, Sappi North America
Silver: Paper Work, Clampitt Paper
Bronze: Paper Brochure, BrightMarks

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Posters
Gold: Freedom of My Press and Pistil Whipped, OceanGrown804
Silver: Sabine Hot Pink, Elite Print Finishing
Bronze: Peace & Prosperity, Hudson Printing

Best Use of Print/Embellishment on 3D Objects
Gold: Luxury Cosmetics Hand Cream, KURZ
Silver: Holographic Gold Cold Transfer Label, Univacco Technology Inc.
Bronze: Eureka Bottle and Packaging, KURZ