How To Get a SHARP Foil Preview with Silver Foil Cards and Invitations - Design Tips

[CreativeLeahG]

Have you noticed with your silver foil cards ( rose gold also) that the preview text is somewhat indistinct?

What I do to remedy this is I duplicate the text I want foil on the underlayer (front) and make it 'white'. This gives me a more vibrant 'foil' re the preview (see examples below) which I hope that reflects in the actual product. 

Give it a try and you may see some improvement.

Preview WITH the duplicate 'white' text fields on the 'front' layer.

Preview MINUS the duplicate text on the front layer

Preview MINUS the white duplicate text and design unedrneath the 'foil' layer.

[Connie]

Thank you for this great tip! Have you ordered any samples to see how it looks in real life?

[CreativeLeahG]

I haven't but now they offer the option to order 1 I will do.

[Cat]

I agree. This looks about a million times better than the standard previews. My only concern would be if the printing doesn't align perfectly you might get a weird shadow effect. 

Just to add a tiny bit of snark here - we really shouldn't have to do this. Zazzle's preview should look better on its own. I don't mean to be a complainer, it just seems like they put soooo much time and effort into developing this amazing new product, and then the previews are soooo horrible that we're forced to come up with a crazy workaround just so our products look presentable. I just don't understand it. Why would you put so much time, money, and effort into designing a product and then allow the presentation to be so bad? How do they expect to sell these when the previews look like crap? It's like they're shooting themselves in the foot or something. 

Sorry to rant. Your workaround is brilliant, it just really bothers me that it's necessary.

[CreativeLeahG]

I agree, I will order one of each version and see if there is a detectable issue when printed.

[chefcateringbiz]

I made some gold foil Christmas cards and posted how terrible the previews looked (not just blurry, but you can't even tell what the images are unless you're viewing the "animated" view), and I was told I was crazy or something. So, yeah, good luck with your issue!

[Cat]

Well ultimately, I figure it's more Zazzle's problem than it is mine because designers won't want to publish things that look terrible, and customers won't want to buy them. I'm grateful to have this workaround because maybe now I can create some designs on dark backgrounds that I wouldn't do before - but most designers aren't going to know this trick, and I don't think most customers are going to be willing to take a chance on something that looks so bad in the previews. 

I mean who knows, maybe they paid somebody a pile of money to create those previews and now they're stuck with them. It just seems like such a shame because the products themselves are so wonderful, it's too bad they can't be showcased better. Sigh. 

[CreativeLeahG]

I agree, hopefully improved previews is on their To-Do-List. 

[Fiorenzo]

DON'T!

You are doing a very risky move if you put the text (or any other content) both on the foil AND the regular print layer to make previews look better, especially on smaller fonts and thin lines. I highly suggest NOT to do such things - you (well, your customer) may end up with cards showing white halos around small text and thin lines underneath the foil print. And if the print is not 1000 %o accurate, the result can be even worse, with slight but noticeable off-centered foil and underneath duplicate (foil is applicated in a separate process). Also be careful with small texts and thin lines or decor with fine contours and details when using foil.  

This issue has to be solved by Zazzle by enhancing the previews. In no way the duplicate hack is a viable option.

[CreativeLeahG]

YES you are absolutely correct, Zazzle need to fix this issue!! I so far have NO complaints about foil card sales meanwhile.

@Scott @Emma are you able to ask for a fix re this (the preview issue) or advise and if as Fiorenzo above states, my fix is a bad idea please remove thread. Thank you

[Fiorenzo]

Proofs/test runs are always a wise choice, when doable. The results may be OK, but it's still risky, and it depends if the foil is applicated on the same run with the same printer or with a separate device. I personally wouldn't do it. That being said, there are many ways to improve the previews, starting with less compression and not using sub-sampling. Small white/light text and thin lines on dark backgrounds are always tricky, especially on some colors like red and blue, not only on compressed previews but even in professional offset printing, and not restricted to foil. Glad, the customers seem to be happy, this means the cards are well done (overall).