LarryPOST

Field Notes’ 59th Quarterly Edition, “Foiled Again,” revisits one of our favorite printing processes. Many past Field Notes editions have featured hot-foil stamping, in which metallic or pigmented foils are applied to paper with heat and pressure. The process was originally patented in 1892 by Ernst Oeser of Germany, replacing the manual application of gold leaf in the book industry. By the 1950s, plastics improved the foils and provided new surfaces, resulting in many new applications across printing, packaging, and other industries. What sets “Foiled Again” apart from earlier Field Notes is our foil-stamping partner: Studio on Fire of St. Paul, Minn. They’re famous for foil-stamping and die-cutting with a level of detail and accuracy that other printers consider impossible. They’ve won numerous awards for cannabis, alcohol, and playing card packaging featuring multiple foils, inks, embossing, and diecuts all in perfect alignment. We visited Studio on Fire to film the process and marveled at their fusion of old and new technologies, and the skilled and enthusiastic people who run the shop. We supplied intricate artwork by our own Aaron Draplin, illustrating our manufacturing process. Studio on Fire hot-stamped the illustration with silver foil on shimmering Neenah Pearl “Indigo” 110# cover stock, a paper that’s just become available on the market. Inside you’ll find 48 pages of 60# Finch Opaque text stock, ruled with silver ink, bound with three staples. Also new to this edition is a matching tuck box, featuring the cover art in reversed colors: blue foil on Neenah Pearl “Sterling” stock. The box contains and protects three Field Notes until you’re ready to use ’em, and provides a safe home for completed books. Take note: owing to the complexity and logistics of this edition, the print run is smaller than usual. We expect these to sell out pretty quickly.