The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) has revealed the honorees in its 32^nd Annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Competition. The competition recognizes the best in print decorating and enhancements, evaluating print and packaging submissions that utilize a wide range of finishing techniques. Submissions come in formats that include greeting cards, folding cartons, labels, book covers, posters and more.

The FSEA Gold Leaf Awards program has grown as entries are submitted from around the world by printers, finishers and designers that want to compete against the best in the industry with foil, coatings, diecuts, folds, embossed images and more. New technologies have fueled growth, with expanded award categories in areas such as digital foil and specialty UV coatings. Entries are judged on design, execution and level of difficulty.

“The variety of work and the complexity of the embellishments continue to amaze me, and the judges were awed by the design detail of pieces in each category,” says Jeff Peterson, FSEA executive director. “There certainly is no shortage of creativity and ingenuity within the print embellishment industry.”

Gold, Silver and Bronze winners were honored during a reception held on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at AMPLIFY Print in Rosemont (Chicago), Illinois. This year, more than 350 entries were received from countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, China, Copenhagen, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA.

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 Dreyer Kliche for The Little Mermaid Cosmetic Box. A Gold Award Winner in the category of Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Folding Carton (Creative), the white cosmetic boxes were designed to illustrate the versatility of embossing and hot foil stamping in creating rich visuals and haptics. The cartons incorporate four different foils, including foil-on-foil application, and multi-level embossing to showcase a broad range of Dreyer Kliche’s capabilities.

Best of Show: Best Use of Digital Embellishments was awarded to Shenzhen Jujin Paper Packaging for Sunflower Poster. A Gold Award Winner in the category of Best Use of Digital Inkjet Coating (Raised, Textured or Glitter), this wall-sized image combined technology from Scodix and HP to create a layered print on a matte silver foil cardstock sheet. Shiny, raised embellishments and rich textures enhance the color-saturated design for a sensory experience that combines print and embellishment.

Award winners in the 32^nd 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

The winners are:

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Hardback Book Cover

Gold: Destinations 2024, Jostens

Silver: The Wonderful Door, Lamplighter Ministries International

Bronze: Imagine, Lakeside Book Company

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Softback Book Cover

Gold: Bloodruth, Jostens

Silver: Perkins & Will – Current Magazine Volume 3, Sundance

Bronze: Yaira, Jostens

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Greeting Card (Creative)

Gold: Prince of Peace, Hallmark Cards

Silver: Gietz New Year Greeting Card 2025, Gietz AG

Bronze: Kurz Holiday Card, Subtle Impressions, Inc.

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Greeting Card (Difficult)

Gold: Brothers Birthday, Hallmark Cards

Silver: Loving Sister, Hallmark Cards

Bronze: Arctic Ice, The Occasions Group

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Greeting Card (Self Promotion)

Gold: PDP Holiday Card, Precise Digital Printing

Silver: Gravure Choquet Christmas Card, Gravure Choquet

Bronze: The Little Mermaid Christmas Card, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Client Promotion/Brochure

Gold: Ross Ellis Presentation Vinyl Promotion 75th Anniversary, Gravure Choquet

Silver: The Touch Advantage, Sappi North America

Bronze: KAMA Brochure, Absolute Printing Equipment Service, Inc.

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Folding Carton (Creative)

Gold: The Little Mermaid Cosmetic Box, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen

Silver: JSM Gingerbread Candle Box, J.S. McCarthy Packaging + Print

Bronze: StriVectin Glow & Protect, Diamond Packaging

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Folding Carton (Difficult)

Gold: Game of Thrones, Franklin Press Inc.

Silver: Batman, Franklin Press Inc.

Bronze: Scodix Champagne Box, Ha’omanim

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Folding Carton (Self Promotion)

Gold: GREEN Box, ANS Packaging

Silver: 73 Vin Rouge Box, ANS Packaging

Bronze: Kiwara Packaging Series, LPF Groupe

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Rigid Box

Gold: Remus Repeal Reserve, TPC Packaging

Silver: Emmeci boxes (Drupa 2024), Carlo Gasperini & C. s.a.s.

Bronze: BBW Into the Night, TPC Packaging

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Rigid Box (Self Promotion)

Gold: Annual gift box for customers, Enaf Sp. Z o.o

Silver: PDP Promo Box, Precise Digital Printing

Bronze: KC Jersey Box, Post Press Specialties

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Self-Promotion

Gold: 2025 Dreamworks Print Capabilities Calendar, Dreamworks Graphic Communication LLC

Silver: Imagine, Lakeside Book Company

Bronze: DATAGRAPHIC Stipple Stamp Sketchbook, DATAGRAPHIC

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Self-Promotion (Industry Supplier)

Gold: Girl with a Star, Grawer Polska Andreze Wloch

Silver: 60° – creative boxes to inspire, Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG

Bronze: The Little Mermaid Panorama Posters, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Self-Promotion (Holiday)

Gold: SPC Snow Scape Holiday Promotion, Spectrum Packaging Corporation

Silver: Paper Machines Christmas Promotion, Indigo Ink Digital Printing

Bronze: Holiday Greeting Card, Cereus Graphics

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Presentation Folder

Gold: DATAGRAPHIC Pocket Sleeve Promo, DATAGRAPHIC

Silver: Branded Bills Presentation Folder, Cereus Graphics

Bronze: SAIC Admissions Recruitment Folder, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Presentation Folder (Self Promotion)

Gold: Feed Me Folders, Admore, Inc.

Silver: On Line Bindery Eagle Folder, On Line Bindery

Bronze: UEI Tiger Folder, Baugh Graphic Finishing House

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Creative)

Gold: Hideout National Parks Vodka, Paragon Label (Resource Label)

Silver: Stephen Gould Corporation, RLG Paragon Label

Bronze: American Metal 90 Proof Whiskey, Brook + Whittle

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Difficult)

Gold: Goodman Family Wines, RLG Paragon Label

Silver: Classic Chase, Multi-Color Corporation North American Wine & Spirits

Bronze: Feather, Multi-Color Corporation – Americas Wine

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Self Promotion)

Gold: PDP Promo Labels, Precise Digital Printing

Silver: Kurz HotTrio, Kurz

Bronze: Valpolicella Wine & Olive Oil Labels for Cantina Salgari, Gietz AG

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Digitally Printed)

Gold: Ruthless, Multi-Color Corporation North American Wine & Spirits

Silver: Prohibition Spirits, Paragon Label (Resource Label)

Bronze: Driftwood Distillery Contact Gin, Great Little Box Company/Ideon Packaging

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Label (Digital Foil/Coating)

Gold: Tucano, Prismart srl/CARTES

Silver: CLOSURE, Info Label

Bronze: Scorfiattolo, Multistampa/CARTES

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Business Card

Gold: Two Part Flip Business Card, Harry Otto Printing Co/Exclusive Bordering

Silver: Marc Friedland Couture Communications Business Card, Marc Friedland Couture Communications

Bronze: PAC Global, Print Panther Direct

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Announcement/Invitation (Creative)

Gold: F1/Wynn After Party, Marc Friedland Couture Communications

Silver: Vitale, Bella Figura

Bronze: Evan 11/11 Bar Mitzvah, Marc Friedland Couture Communications

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Announcement/Invitation (Difficult)

Gold: 2025 Golden Globes, Marc Friedland Couture Communications

Silver: M + O’s Wedding Celebration, Marc Friedland Couture Communications

Bronze: Thea, Bella Figura

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Calendar

Gold: Diamond Packaging 2025 Calendar, Diamond Packaging

Silver: Calendar Gravure Choquet, Gravure Choquet

Bronze: PDP Calendar, Precise Digital Printing

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Calendar (Industry Supplier)

Gold: Calendar Kurz, Gravure Choquet

Silver: 2025 Hazen 100 Years “The Hazen 100 – Time Traveler™” Calendar, Hazen Paper Co.

Bronze: Sakurai 2025 Calendar, Sakurai USA, Inc.

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Direct Mailer

Gold: Dragon Post Card, Absolute Printing Equipment Service, Inc.

Silver: Parkland Direct – Bunny with Shades Envelope, Parkland Direct

Bronze: On Line Bindery Event/Invitation, On Line Bindery

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Miscellaneous Product

Gold: CCM/Auston Matthews, Gravure Choquet

Silver: LPG Greeting Cards – 3 versions, Meridian

Bronze: Dancing Butterflies, K Laser Technology

Best Use of Holographics

Gold: Retro Disco Ball Box, DMS Color/ Gold Leaf Print & Packaging

Silver: Hazen 2025 Super Bowl Stadium Edition Program, Hazen Paper Company

Bronze: Formes de Luxe Brochure, Unifoil Corporation

Best Use of Holographics (Self Promotion)

Gold: Paris 2024 Olympic Cold Transfer Trading Cards, Univacco Technology Inc.

Silver: Indigo Child Makeup, GPI

Bronze: Radiant Freshness: Elevating Toothpaste Packaging with Cold Transfer, Univacco Technology Inc.

Best Use of Embossing (Creative)

Gold: Safari Book & Clamshell Box, highresolution

Silver: Diamond Packaging 2025 Calendar, Diamond Packaging

Bronze: Perkins & Will – Current Magazine Volume 3, SunDance

Best Use of Embossing (Registered)

Gold: Elevate, Carlo Gasperini & C. s.a.s.

Silver: Dragon, H+M USA

Bronze: Moonlight Horse e Sunrise Phoenix, Carlo Gasperini & C. s.a.s.

Best Use of Embossing (Blind)

Gold: The Little Mermaid and The Octopus, Dreyer Kliche, Copenhagen

Silver: On Line Bindery Eagle Folder, On Line Bindery

Bronze: Mr. Elegator, H+M USA

Best Use of Overprinting Foil

Gold: Insects Reimagined, Univacco Technology

Silver: Advent Season, Post Press Specialties

Bronze: Foil Fantasy, CE Printed Products

Best Use of Refractive Foil

Gold: Embossed in Gold the Bloom, Univacco Technology

Silver: Marc Friedland Collection Agent of Love, Marc Friedland Couture Communications

Bronze: Through the Eyes of a Cougar, Jostens

Best Use of Cold Foiling (Label)

Gold: Lion, LP2i étiquettes / CARTES

Silver: Barefoot Beachwood, Premium Label & Packaging Solutions (PLPS)

Bronze: Reserve Spanish Cowboy Wine Label, Myka Estates

Best Use of Cold Foiling (Self Promotion)

Gold: Imagine, Lakeside Book Company

Silver: Justice League Unlimited #3 Cover, Carlson Print Group

Bronze: Cyberfrog Heartsick Horror, Carlson Print Group

Best Use of Cold Foiling (Folding Carton)

Gold: Scent & Shine: Cold Transfer Brilliance in Fragrance Packaging, Univacco Technology Inc.

Silver: Oral B Toothpaste folding carton, Edelmann Packaging Mexico S.A. de C.V.

Bronze: StriVectin Glow & Protect, Diamond Packaging

Best Use of Digital Foil (Carton)

Gold: Bruno Cellars Wine Box, Harris & Bruno International

Silver: JC Newman, Elite Print Finishing

Bronze: Savoir Chocolate box, Hudson Printing

Best Use of Digital Foil (Varnish Adhesive)

Gold: Imagine. Play. Experience. Brochure, American Printing Company

Silver: Konica Minolta, Print Panther Direct

Bronze: “Timeless”, H+M USA

Best Use of Digital Foil (Self Promotion)

Gold: 2025 Calendar Planner, American Printing Company

Silver: Meridian Power Bank Wrap, Meridian

Bronze: 12 Days of Christmas, Elite Print Finishing

Best Use of Digital Inkjet Coating

Gold: Sunflower Poster, Shenzhen Jujin Paper Packaging

Silver: Citicom Notebook, Citicom

Bronze: Tennessee Whiskey, Hudson Printing

Best Use of Specialty UV Coating

Gold: Central’s Year in the Stars, Jostens

Silver: Trek Kids, Resource Label Group Franklin

Bronze: Sylvamo Catalog of Brands Cover, Harris & Bruno International

Best Use of Laminating Film

Gold: Meridian Capabilities Booklet, Meridian

Silver: Limitless 2024, Jostens

Bronze: Pharma Brands, Print Panther Direct

Best Use of Laser Cutting

Gold: Charbay, Paragon Label (Resource Label)

Silver: Winter Calm, The Occasions Group

Bronze: Blooming Pastels Invitation with Pocket and Laser Cut Layer, The Occasions Group

Best Use of Special Diecut

Gold: Snowflake Awe, The Occasions Group

Silver: JSM Gingerbread Candle Box, J.S. McCarthy Packaging + Print

Bronze: Paradise Awaits (Southeast Toyota) Save The Date, Blue Ocean Press

Best Use of Letterpress/Thermography

Gold: Forsythe, Bella Figura

Silver: With Great Pride & Pleasure, Harry Otto Printing/Exclusive Bordering Co.

Bronze: Delicate Enclosure Invitation, The Occasions Group

Best Use of Unique Fold

Gold: Retro Disco Ball Box, DMS Color/ Gold Leaf Print & Packaging

Silver: Holiday Greeting Card, Cereus Graphics

Bronze: 3D Star, K Laser Technology

Best Use of Unique Binding

Gold: Topo A Topographical Design, Hudson Printing

Silver: The Lucky Bag, Jostens

Bronze: Hear The Year Foothill High School, Jostens

Best Use of Film Casting (Cast & Cure)

Gold: Sports Card, Carlson Print Group

Silver: 1st Phorm – Sherbert Smash, FS Label Manufacturing

Bronze: Gothem City Sirens – 4 issues, Carlson Print Group

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Sustainable Design

Gold: Formes de Luxe Brochure, Unifoil Corporation

Silver: GUESS Iconic Men, Diamond Packaging

Bronze: Widian Harrods Box and Mouilettes, Carlo Gasperini & C. s.a.s.

Best Use of Transfer Metallization

Gold: Hazen Paper 2025 Calendar, Hazen Paper Co.

Silver: Hazen 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Booklet, Hazen Paper Co.

Bronze: Parkland Direct – Northern Lights “Soft Metal Envelope”, Parkland Direct

Best Use of Foil/Embossing – Posters

Gold: Humming Bird Poster, Shenzhen Jujin Paper Packaging Co.

Silver: Scodix Futurists posters, Scodix

Bronze: Monaco, H+M USA

Best Use of Embellishments – Sample/Education Guide

Gold: Extreme Digital Guides, Print Panther Direct

Silver: Scodix Sample Box, Scodix

Bronze: The Touch Advantage, Sappi North America