Winners Celebrated at 2026 Print Embellishment Conference
Topeka, Kansas -- The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) has revealed the honorees in its 33rd Annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Competition. The competition awards the “best of the best” in print embellishment and finishing under several categories, featuring an array of finishing techniques, such as hot foil stamping, embossing, specialty coatings, digital foil and spot coatings, laser cutting, special diecuts and cold foil transfer.
This year, FSEA received 450 submissions – breaking the record for the number of entries by more than 100 – from countries around the world, including the US, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Australia, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates.
“It never ceases to amaze me when seeing the wonderful designs and innovative uses of embellishments – from more conventional processes to new digital technologies,” commented FSEA Executive Director Jeff Peterson. “Print and print embellishments are alive and well. Our competition is a prime example of how popular print embellishments are in many different industries.”
Gold, Silver and Bronze are awarded in each category. From the Gold winners, two “Best of Show” honorees were recognized – one for best use of traditional foil and embossing techniques (Spectrum Packaging Corporation) and one displaying the best use of digital embellishment techniques (ADC Nederland).
Best of Show: Best Use of Foil & Embossing was awarded to Spectrum Packaging Corporation for The Chronicles of SPC. A Gold Award Winner in the category of Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Self Promotion (Holiday), SPC’s annual production features intricate diecutting, multi-layer, multi-pass foil stamping, embossing and spot UV across 27 individual components. Built around the concept of a hinged book, the outer structure consists of two separate cartons joined with tabs, allowing it to open and close like a book. When opened, the outer carton transforms into a bookshelf, revealing 12 individual folding carton “books” on the righthand side.
Best of Show: Best Use of Digital Embellishments was awarded to ADC Nederland for ADC Braille Children’s Book. A Gold Award Winner in the category of Best Use of Embellishments – Client Promotion/Brochure, the colorful, oversized, spiral-bound children’s picture book presents the story of a little monkey’s quest with bright, vivid illustrations and carefully chosen tactile elements. On the left-hand pages are large black text and transparent raised braille dots on white paper; on the right are colorful illustrations of the story with raised outlines and raised patterned fills of the main visual elements.
Award winners in the 33rd 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
Attached: FSEA logo, Best of Show Award Winners: Spectrum Packaging Corporation for The Chronicles of SPC and ADC Nederland for ADC Braille Children’s Book.
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Hardback Book Cover
Gold: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, BindTech
Silver: More Than a College, Jostens
Bronze: Wicked, BindTech
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Softback Book Cover
Gold: Current Magazine Volume 04, SunDance
Silver: Into the Fog, Duplo USA Corporation
Bronze: Zalen, Jostens
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Greeting Card (Creative)
Gold: Peace Dove, Creative Paper Crafting
Silver: Glamour Wreath, Posty Cards
Bronze: Grateful Poinsettia, Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Greeting Card (Difficult)
Gold: Polar Bear Pop-up, American Greetings
Silver: Sparkly Snowman, Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Bronze: Valentine Butterfly, American Greetings
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Greeting Card (Self/Client Promotion)
Gold: Bulgari Greeting Card, Carlo Gasperini & C. s.a.s.
Silver: The Butterfly Christmas Card, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen
Bronze: Jostens Commercial Printing Holiday Card, Jostens
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Folding Carton (Creative)
Gold: Kingpen Vape & Vape Cart Boxes, Treeform Packaging
Silver: The Difference Bourbon Box, Spectrum Packaging Corporation
Bronze: Venus Hair & Skin, Edelmann Packaging Mexico
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Folding Carton (Difficult)
Gold: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, LPI
Silver: Ferrero Roc Cube, Edelmann Packaging Mexico
Bronze: Abercrombie & Fitch 100% Passion, Diamond Packaging
Best Use of Foil/Embossing Folding Carton (Self Promotion)
Gold: Daisy, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen
Silver: Sagittaria Christmas Box, Carlo Gasperini & C. s.a.s.
Bronze: Girl with a Wolf, Grawer Polska
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Rigid Box
Gold: Mont Luxury Box, Silver Point The Print House
Silver: Medal of Honor, TPC Packaging
Bronze: Alice in Wonderland Collectibles, Graphic Packaging International
Best Use of Embellishments – Client Promotion/Brochure
Gold: ADC Braille Children’s Book, ADC Nederland
Silver: Hampden Dream Dog, Hampden Press
Bronze: Vista Color Cafecito Box, Vista Color Corporation
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Self Promotion
Gold: Xmas ‘25 Gift, Erredue 1973 SRL
Silver: Mini-Maine Adventure Kit, J.S. McCarthy Packaging & Print
Bronze: FPI x SDF Fusion PR, Franklin Press, Inc.
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Self Promotion (Holiday)
Gold: The Chronicles of SPC, Spectrum Packaging Corporation
Silver: SunDance Holiday Snow Globe, SunDance
Bronze: Silent Night, Grawer Polska
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Self Promotion (Industry Supplier)
Gold: The Butterfly - A4 Posters, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen
Silver: “Love the Real,” H+M USA
Bronze: spc Lab, Harris & Bruno
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Presentation Folder
Gold: Utility Perspectives Pocket Folder, MetroVCS
Silver: 151 Kentucky Oaks, Elite Print Finishing
Bronze: Amaura Solene, FolderWorks
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Presentation Folder (Self Promotion)
Gold: Franken-Folder, Admore Inc.
Silver: Making Waves with Folders, FolderWorks
Bronze: Konica Minolta Summit, Print Panther Direct
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Label (Creative)
Gold: LeFontanelle, FE Group srl/CARTES
Silver: Oliver Toronga ‘the Hunt for Mrs. Oliver,’ Label Avenue PTY LTD.
Bronze: Private Property 2022, Multi-Color Corporation - Americas Wine & Spirits
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Label (Difficult)
Gold: Le Pich 2022, Multi-Color Corporation - Americas Wine & Spirits
Silver: Mai Kai Rum, Multi-Color Corporation - Americas Wine & Spirits
Bronze: Tealeaves Masala Chai Label, Great Little Box Company
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Label (Digitally Printed)
Gold: Quartese Limitless, Tonutti/CARTES
Silver: Eselo Agave - Front Label, RLG Wine & Spirits
Bronze: LEMOENCELLO, MCC Label Paarl
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Label (Self Promotion)
Gold: Dreyer Labels, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen
Silver: The Two Kings - Wine Label, Univacco Technology, Inc.
Bronze: “Gietz Vodka” Label, Gietz AG
Best Use of Digital Embellishments - Label (Creative)
Gold: Nebbiolo Churchill, Multistampa/CARTES
Silver: Castello di Montequieto Wine Bottle Label, GAM Graphics and Marketing
Bronze: Naturelle Rose, Brazicolor
Best Use of Digital Embellishments - Label (Technical)
Gold: Oro Del Sol Tequila Label, CARTES/SOVEMEC
Silver: Blue Ocean Dry Gin, CARTES
Bronze: Seriprint Rum, Seriprint
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Business Card
Gold: NEKD Business Card, On Line Bindery
Silver: CY Creative Business Card, Print Panther Direct
Bronze: bigDAWGS® NFC Business Card, bigDAWGS®
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Announcement/Invitation
Gold: Wedding Invite, MetroVCS
Silver: Gasperini Boegli - Deposizione dalla Croce - Rogier Van Der Weyden, Carlo Gasperini & C. s.a.s.
Bronze: Vivien, Bella Figura
Best Use of Foil/Embossing Announcement/Invitation (Ensemble)
Gold: Surreal at Sixty, Marc Friedland Couture Communications
Silver: Delilah at Wynn Las Vegas Grand Opening, Marc Friedland Couture Communications
Bronze: Delevingne, Bella Figura
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Calendar
Gold: Perpetual Calendar, Erredue 1973 SRL
Silver: Diamond Packaging 2026 Grandfather Clock Calendar, Diamond Packaging
Bronze: Alpha Femme Calendar, Gravure Choquet
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Calendar (Industry Supplier)
Gold: Sakurai ‘26 Calendar, Sakurai USA, Inc.
Silver: Gravure Choquet Calendar, Gravure Choquet
Bronze: Botanicals Reimagined: The Art of Cold Transfer Calendar, Univacco Technology, Inc.
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Direct Mail
Gold: Parkland Direct - Scented Wallet TED-C, Parkland Direct
Silver: Octopus Post Card, Absolute Printing Equipment Service, Inc.
Bronze: Parkland Direct – Zebra, Parkland Direct
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Miscellaneous
Gold: Theory 11 Playing Card Packaging Series, Franklin Press, Inc.
Silver: Chanel Holiday Display, MetroVCS
Bronze: Advent Health Foundation Central Florida Golden Gala Fourty-Four, SunDance
Best Use of Holographics
Gold: Iron Horse Vinyards – Resilience, RLG Wine & Spirits
Silver: Hazen 2026 Super Bowl Stadium Edition Program, Hazen Paper Company
Bronze: Paris Hilton Iconic, Diamond Packaging
Best Use of Holographics (Self Promotion)
Gold: Hazen 2026 “La Rosa Volcanica” Calendar, Hazen Paper Company
Silver: Sentient Stardust, Harris & Bruno
Bronze: Tactive Holiday Card, Tactive
Best Use of Embossing (Blind)
Gold: Album Jay-Z and Kanye West, Gravure Choquet
Silver: NEKD Presentation Folder, On Line Bindery
Bronze: Happy Birthday Cake, American Greetings
Best Use of Embossing (Creative)
Gold: Diamond Packaging 2026 Grandfather Clock Calendar, Diamond Packaging
Silver: Mini-Maine Adventure Kit, J.S. McCarthy Packaging & Print
Bronze: Rivera Del Fiori Wine - Stone Church, RLG Wine & Spirits
Best Use of Embossing (Registered)
Gold: Sculpted Blooms Invitation, The Occasions Group
Silver: Praying Mantis – Black, Multi-Color Corporation - Americas Wine & Spirits
Bronze: April Wine CD, Gravure Choquet
Best Use of Overprinting Foil
Gold: CYPHER SEA CREATURES, Hampden Press
Silver: Tutankhamun Poster, Kenbunsya Co. Ltd.
Bronze: Medusa - Overprinted Holographic Label, Univacco Technology, Inc.
Best Use of Digital Foil (Varnish Adhesive)
Gold: Holiday Corporate Favor Boxes with variable, bigDAWGS®
Silver: Trading Card Variety Samples, ProPrint
Bronze: “TAYA-SHIKKITEN” PET Bottle Tag, Kenbunsya Co. Ltd.
Best Use of Digital Foil (Toner Adhesive)
Gold: Corvus Corax, Indigo Ink Digital Printing
Silver: Monarchy, Indigo Ink Digital Printing
Bronze: Salesforce Rainbow Rivalry Pit Passes, Tactive
Best Use of Cold Foil - Self Promotion
Gold: Paris Collection Box, Erredue 1973 SRL
Silver: Phoenix Color 2026 Monthly Planner, Phoenix Color
Bronze: Botanicals Reimagined: The Art of Cold Transfer Poster, Univacco Technology, Inc.
Best Use of Cold Foil - Folding Carton
Gold: Patrón Canister, TPC Packaging
Silver: Paris Hilton Pink Rush, Diamond Packaging
Bronze: Abercrombie & Fitch 100% Passion, Diamond Packaging
Best Use of Cold Foil - Label
Gold: Uncorked Cosmopolitan, Multi-Color Corporation - Americas Wine & Spirits
Silver: Linen Textured Cold Transfer Beer Label, Univacco Technology, Inc.
Bronze: Monte Alban Reposado, Multi-Color Corporation - Americas Wine & Spirits
Best Use of Refractive (micro-etched) Foil
Gold: Gietz New Year Greeting Card 2026, Gietz AG
Silver: Houston Museum Annual Pass Card Carriers, Seidl Bindery LLC
Bronze: Anova, Carlo Gasperini & C. s.a.s.
Best Use of a Special Diecut
Gold: Tomlin, Bella Figura
Silver: Re/Max Premiere Pop-up Business Card Set, bigDAWGS®
Bronze: Truist Bank SnowGlobe, Elite Print Finishing
Best Use of Specialty UV Coating
Gold: Album Glimmer of God, Gravure Choquet
Silver: Parkland Direct – Peacock, Parkland Direct
Bronze: Scrapped, Jostens
Best Use of Laser Cutting
Gold: Chiacchierino, SOVEMEC/CARTES
Silver: Pristine Snowflakes, The Occasions Group
Bronze: Cervo London Gin, CARTES/FE Group srl
Best Use of Laminating Film
Gold: Mighty Fine Tins for Edibles (4 SKUs), Treeform Packaging
Silver: PAC Global 2026 Awards Future’s Edge Summit, Print Panther Direct
Bronze: Now That’s What I Call Tactive, Tactive
Best Use of Letterpress
Gold: Stout Design - Holiday Candy Promo, Franklin Press, Inc.
Silver: Valerie, Bella Figura
Bronze: Moon & Paper Poster, Franklin Press, Inc.
Best Use of Unique Binding
Gold: Outlander, BindTech
Silver: The Lucky Bag, Jostens
Bronze: Real Estate Presentation – La Rua Pensacola, SunDance
Best Use of Unique Fold
Gold: Packaging Options USA Self Promotion Gift Box, Treeform Packaging
Silver: Happy New Year 2026!, Molly McCoy Graphic Design
Bronze: Unbox Your Beauty, Autajon Thoro Packaging
Film Casting - Cast & Cure®
Gold: The Simulation Series 4, Card #93 - Octopus/ #27 - Common Sense (Orange Parallel), RR Donnelley & Sons, Based Trading Cards
Silver: OBI-TRON-KENOBI Unmapped Brewing Co, Commerce Label, Inc.
Bronze: Monarchy, Indigo Ink Digital Printing
Best Use of Embellishments (Sustainable Design)
Gold: Desktop Postcard Charity Calendar, Kenbunsya Co. Ltd.
Silver: Prima 6oz Body Oil Bottle and Box, Treeform Packaging
Bronze: DSCOOP Field Guide, Harris & Bruno
Best Use of Digital Embellishments - Selection Guide
Gold: Hatteras Digital Embellishment Kit, Harris & Bruno
Silver: Out of This World Sample Kit, Harris & Bruno
Bronze: Wedding Suite Embellishment Kit, Duplo USA Corporation
Best Use of Transfer Metallized Substrate
Gold: Hazen 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Booklet, Hazen Paper Company
Silver: Kosas Beauty Holiday Collection, Unifoil Corporation
Bronze: Parkland Direct – Jellyfish, Parkland Direct
Best Use of Transfer Metallized Substrate (Industry Supplier)
Gold: Marvel Comic - Greg Horn Collection, Unifoil Corporation/Color-Logic
Silver: Spiderman Risen Puzzle, Hampden Press
Bronze: Easter Counter Card, Color-Logic, Inc.
Best Use of Digital Embellishments - Calendar
Gold: Jostens 2026, Jostens
Silver: Dreamworks 2026 Print Capabilities Calendar, Dreamworks Graphic Communications LLC
Bronze: SunDance 2026 Shine Bright Calendar, SunDance
Best Use of Digital Embellishments - Folding Carton
Gold: Mediterranean Box Series, Hampden Press
Silver: Holiday Corporate Gift Boxes, with variable, bigDAWGS®
Bronze: Black Diamond Premium Box, Silver Point The Print House
Best Use of Digital Embellishments – Miscellaneous
Gold: bigDAWGS® Yoga Banner, bigDAWGS®
Silver: Toren Family Siddur Case and Book Cover, highresolution
Bronze: PDP Fantasy Football Belt, Precise Digital Printing
Best Use of Digital Embellishments – Client/Self Promotion
Gold: Toronto Metropolitan University; Konica Minolta - created by students in the Graphic Arts Program, Print Panther Direct
Silver: The ARC Augumented Reality Center, Harris & Bruno
Bronze: NFL DRAFT videoFolder, bigDAWGS®
Best Use of Digital Raised Coating
Gold: Harbert, Elite Print Finishing
Silver: Galaxy Girl, Harris & Bruno
Bronze: Edgemark Folder, Elite Print Finishing
Best Use of Embellished Poster (Client Promotion)
Gold: Dave Matthews Band Tour Poster, Hazen Paper Company
Silver: Adidas 90 Year Anniversary, Print Panther Direct
Bronze: Stevie Van Zandt’s Teachrock Fundraising Poster, highresolution
Best Use of Embellished Poster (Creative)
Gold: Iron Man Poster, Shenzhen Jujin Paper Packaging Co., Ltd
Silver: Golden Lady, Silver Point The Print House
Bronze: Laser Fight, Harris & Bruno
Best Use of Embellished Poster (Difficult)
Gold: Ornate Vase Poster, Shenzhen Jujin Paper Packaging Co., Ltd
Silver: Frame of Sustainability, Silver Point The Print House
Bronze: Queen of Hearts, Graphic Packaging International
Best Use of Embellishments with Technology
Gold: BFD!, Marc Friedland Couture Communications
Silver: Savy’s 16th, Marc Friedland Couture Communications
Bronze: Gideon Portfolio videoBOOK (Hardcover), bigDAWGS®
Best Use of Foil/Embossing - Selection Guide
Gold: Create Impact, Neenah
Silver: Kurz Selection Guide, Gravure Choquet
Bronze: Almaden Self-Promotional Folder, On Line Bindery
