Whether greeting card, package design, presentation folder, label, or book cover, the ability to get noticed is the eye-catching goal of entries in the Foil & Specialty Effects Association ^[1](FSEA) Annual Gold Leaf Awards ^[2]Competition—a culmination of the most creative, brilliant, and technically difficult works in the industry.

March 29^th and 30^th, three printing experts, pictured above from left to right—Kym Condis, assistant director of FSEA; Sean Hurley, vice president of sales, MCD Inc. ^[3]; and Pam McGuire, Mohawk’s print production manager—came together in the heartland of America (Topeka, KS) to judge the 2011 Gold Leaf Awards.

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“The judging was an explosion of color, dimension and other extraordinary effects,” according to McGuire. “There were entries from Japan and Australia, as well as the U.S. and Canada, each more amazing than the next. The Call for Entries for this competition was a perfect example. It was black metallic foil on Red Mohawk Kromekote with custom refraction dies, double-etched on the top half of the record. Then silver holographic rainbow foil with customer refraction dies on the lower half of the record. It was produced by MCD Inc., and there are many FSEA members who can do these types of processes all over the country. I definitely learned a lot at this judging and have a greater appreciation for the detail and complexity of these special processes.”

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Entries were judged on design, execution and level of difficulty in over 25 different categories with a gold, silver and bronze award presented in each category. A Best of Show was also selected from among all the winners which will be announced May 5^th at the combined IADD ^[6] (International Association of Diecutting and Diemaking), FSEA Odyssey Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Foil stamping, embossing, holography, specialty coatings, laminates, decorative die-cutting, and cold foil add value, shelf presence, brand recognition, individuality, and security—attributes that make a product or promotional brochure stand out from the crowd.

Visit fsea.com ^[1] after May 5^th to see the Gold Leaf Award winners and for more information about FSEA’s commitment to gaining visibility throughout the graphic arts community.