DSF

This is the kind of hot foiling laser machine you'll want. Have a look at this video and you'll get a glimpse of it:


https://www.facebook.com/etsysuccess/vi ... obid=15040

If it's for foiling into diaries, notebooks etc you need to be looking at traditional hot foiling machines not the laser type as these won't be up to the job. Checkout Hot Foil UK and VIP Print on youtube for all you need to know about foiling. I sometimes use this company, as they're not to far from me to gold or silver hard back thesis books which I print from time to time.

I may have a Blockmaster hot foil machine for sale soon so if you do decide to go down that route, and are considering one, let me know. (I think its an 8 x 5).

Just had a thought here..

A hot foil blocking machine simply uses a heated die to emboss the foil under pressure. Could the same effect not be achieved by heating and pressing a die with a standard flat heat press?

For those who are interested, I found a couple of handy guides relating to foil stamping and embossing which give a general idea of what's involved and how to design for it. They're American but the principles are the same.
The Graphic Designer's Guide to Foil
The Graphic Designer's Guide to Embossing