{"id":78,"date":"2015-10-20T04:02:41","date_gmt":"2015-10-20T04:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pinkimono.com\/?p=78"},"modified":"2017-07-23T14:43:33","modified_gmt":"2017-07-23T14:43:33","slug":"3-tips-for-using-your-minc-foil-applicator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.pinkimono.com\/2015\/10\/20\/3-tips-for-using-your-minc-foil-applicator\/","title":{"rendered":"The Foil Factory: 3 Tips For Using Your MINC Foil Applicator"},"content":{"rendered":"

I love my Heidi Swapp MINC foil applicator<\/a>. If you follow my Instagram accounts @PinkimonoGirl<\/a> and @pinkimonopapers<\/a>, you will see the evolution of my infatuation with my MINC foil applicator.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

After reading this post from\u00a0DamaskLove.com<\/span><\/a> about foiling, I wanted to give it a try. At the time I\u00a0only had the option of a laminator to foil my work which worked\u00a0okay. Then a few days later\u00a0(as if it were destined to be for me) the announcement of the MINC Foil Applicator popped up in one of my social media feeds. SWEET! I ordered my MINC as soon as I could from JoAnn<\/a>, ripped open the box upon delivery and got to foiling. And then sadness hit me – I couldn\u2019t get consistent coverage with my foiling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

*This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click on some of the product links, I may receive commissions for purchases made through them, but at no cost to you.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Frustrated MINC Foilers Like Me<\/h1>\n

In doing my research about the inconsistency of my foil output I came across several complaints or frustrated posts about the tool. <\/span><\/p>\n

I purchased the machine about a week ago and I am having trouble with it. The pre-printed cards that came with the machine turn out great, but anything from my printer is very spotty. I have a very nice laser printer and I can’t get anything to turn out half way decent. I have tried a new black ink thinking it might be the problem, but no luck. I am going to try another brand of ink and see if that helps.\u00a0sarajeancarro<\/a>\u00a0(Make The Cut Forum on April 4, 2015)<\/em><\/p>\n

I bought this to make foil prints. I also bought Minc foil \u2013 silver and blue. My prints are awful! The coverage is very spotty with the black toner showing through everywhere. I did very simple black prints and tried all of the different settings and even tried a different brand of foil and different paper stock. None of my results were good. All of them turned out with black specs showing through, and not just a little, but a lot! There isn’t much help in the manual to give you tips on how to fix this problem. I just wasted my money.\u201d 1 out f 5 stars Very Disappointed<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon Customer Review on April 25, 2015)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

After reading more posts like these and trying it out on my own, I found myself in that same camp – foil frustration! But I’m a gal who likes a challenge. I figured there must be a few different issues that had to be tweaked. And I was right. After a long journey, I finally have beautiful, consistent, foiled designs. It was a long process, but I came away from it\u00a0with 3 Key MINC Foil Takeaways:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You must use a Monochrome laser printer<\/li>\n
  2. Print on\u00a0high-quality smooth cardstock<\/li>\n
  3. Use a heavy and high-quality brand of foil<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What’s In A Printer?<\/h1>\n

    This all started with the search for the perfect printer to make my foil dreams happen. Little did I know this process would take me through 5\u00a0printers.\u00a0<\/span>Yes, I said \u00a0FIVE! I purchased and returned\u00a0the following laser printers:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Samsung<\/a>

    Samsung Xpress M2020W<\/a> Monochrome Printer (Office Depot)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"Samsung<\/a>

    Samsung Xpress C1810W<\/a> Color Printer (Office Depot)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"HP<\/a>

    HP LaserJet Pro M252dw <\/a> Color Printer (Office Depot)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"Canon<\/a>

    Canon imageCLASS LBP7110Cw<\/a> Color Printer (Staples)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"The<\/a>

    THE WINNER:<\/strong> Canon imageCLASS LBP6030w <\/a> Monochrome Printer (Best Buy)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

    Here’s what I learned after buying and returning the above printers in the listed order.\u00a0In order to get the best coverage and consistent foil application, you need a laser printer that deposits toner evenly. I found that monochrome printers worked the best. When I was testing the printers above, a representative at Office Depot told me that the black toner in a color\u00a0printer is formulated differently than in a monochrome. The black in the color printer is designed to mix with t<\/span>he other colors whereas the monochrome cartridge has only one job – deposit all black toner. <\/span><\/p>\n

    I\u2019ll be honest, initially, I thought that was the dumbest thing ever. Why wouldn\u2019t HP or Samsung just use the same black for everything? Well, I was wrong. The black ink in the color printers produced the shoddiest performance hands down. No matter which brand I used, I always had speckled foiling. If this is the effect you\u2019re going for cool, but it wasn\u2019t for me. So takeaway #1: Use a MONOCHROME laser printer.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Paper! Get Your Paper!<\/h1>\n

    Second, check the paper you\u2019re using. SO like other posters, the applicator worked beautifully with the Heidi Swapp MINC Prints<\/a> or the MINC Toner Sheets<\/a>. But let\u2019s be real, nobody spent $200 on this machine to ONLY foil pre-printed designs. Most likely if you have this tool, you\u2019re 1) probably a creative like myself and want to create original pieces or do your own things and 2) realize it gets\u00a0hella expensive buying her items all the time. Don\u2019t get me wrong, I purchased some of the pre-printed pieces and they look really cute in my house. <\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Living<\/a>

    My living room gallery wall with Heidi Swapp Minc Foil Prints<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

    It was a nice way to add simple sweetness to my gallery wall in my living room, but I have designs of my own<\/a>. I use my applicator to create custom cards, inserts for Limelife planners and wall art<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    So again after being frustrated, I took a minute to dry my crafting tears (you know what I\u2019m talking about) and just sat and thought. (Well between changing my son’s diapers, feeding the cats and cleaning up, I got to think.) And I started thinking about the paper quality. All of the Heidi Swapp pre-printed items came on a high-quality paper. Well, I\u2019m a Paper Source girl who is seriously loyal almost to a fault to them. All of my wedding and baby shower paper goods were printed on Paper Source paper<\/a> at home. I have so much of their paper I could probably start to sell it and turn a profit.<\/p>\n

    I am sad to say that I had to seek foil bliss elsewhere. See, the Heidi Swapp pre-printed items came on not just high-quality paper but on a very smooth\/semi-gloss coated paper. The paper at the Paper Source regardless of color isn\u2019t smooth enough to achieve a \u00a0 CONSISTENT finish with the applicator. I\u2019m not saying it can\u2019t be done, but I don\u2019t like to waste paper nor money.<\/p>\n

    So I started to check out cardstock from Office Depot, Michaels, Wal-Mart, and Staples. What I found that worked the best was the Georgia Pacific Bright Cardstoc<\/a>k from Wal-Mart. It is a little lighter in weight, but I got the most consistent foil with it. So takeaway #2: Use a HIGH-QUALITY SMOOTH\u00a0cardstock.<\/p>\n

    \"I<\/a>

    I sampled different papers with the Samsung Monochrome printer. Here’s the before.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"And<\/a>

    And here’s the after!<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

    \"BEST<\/a>

    BEST PAPER: These holiday cards are from my shop<\/a>. I made them with the Georgia Pacific Cardstock and you can see I got full coverage!<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

    Quality Matters!<\/h1>\n

    Third, the quality of the foil. Here\u2019s where I have to break up with Heidi Swapp. I am definitely a fangirl. I do love her colors. Her foil colors are gorgeous.<\/p>\n

    \"Minc<\/a>

    Photo Credit: Artsy Fartsy Mama<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

    But I think the iCraft DECO\u00a0Foil<\/a> from Therm O Web delivers a better and consistent finish without leaving traces of foil. (I’m finding when my MINC applicator gets too hot, it will leave traces of Heidi Swapp foil on parts of my card that I don’t want foiled.) I have tried both brands in different colors and every single time I use the iCraft foil I get a consist finish. <\/span><\/p>\n

    \"iCraft<\/a>

    Photo Credit: Audrey Pettit Designs<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

    I think the thickness of the iCraft foil allows for the smoother finish. So takeaway #3:\u00a0Use a HEAVY AND HIGH-QUALITY\u00a0brand of foil.<\/span><\/p>\n

    MINC Foil Takeaways<\/h1>\n

    So that\u2019s it. To ensure a consistent output with your MINC foil applicator (1) use a monochrome laser printer, preferably Canon, (2) use a smooth paper, preferably coated, and (3) use a high-quality foil, preferably iCraft.<\/span><\/p>\n

    And last, the bonus takeaway is this: this is not a professional grade machine so chill out. If you\u2019re an OCD creative like me you have to calm down when the output isn\u2019t perfect. It\u2019s handmade and should look like love and personal creativity went into it, and that makes it beautiful.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Let me know if this post helps you. Please share your thoughts and any other tips that have worked for you. Let\u2019s help each other make classy, pretty things.<\/span><\/p>\n

    *** December 30, 2016 UPDATE***<\/h3>\n

    So I’ve received a\u00a0few comments about my notes about using coated paper. I apologize for any confusion.\u00a0The coated paper that comes with the HS MINC Kit is like a glossy paper. So I should say “glossy” and not coated when referring to that type of paper. It’s similar to laser jet paper<\/a> you can buy in-store. The paper that seems to get the best consistency that I like isn’t so much “coated” but is ACID-FREE. I find that acid-free paper works the best. Now I know I talk about The Paper Source paper being my favorite paper, but it doesn’t give allow for consistent coverage with the MINC. On their site<\/a>, they say their\u00a0paper is Acid-Free as well so I’m not sure why it doesn’t work, but I will keep digging into this and will share what paper works the best. Stay tuned and thanks for your questions. I hope this clears a few things up!<\/p>\n

    Get The Goods & Get Crafting!<\/h1>\n\n\t\t