Hot stamping foil is a thin film used to permanently transfer aluminium or pigmented colour designs to a substrate via a stamping process. Heat and pressure is applied to the foil over a substrate using a stamping die (plate) in order to melt the adhesive layer of the foil to permanently transfer to the substrate. Hot stamping foil, although thin itself, is made up of 3 layers; a waste carrier layer, the metallic aluminium or pigmented colour layer and finally the adhesive layer.