1/2" Core Laminating Foil Supplies

Go by your widest job, not by your machine's max capacity. An 8 inch roll covers business cards, invitations, most letter sized accents, that kind of thing. A 12 inch roll makes more sense for wider layouts or full page foil work. There's no upside to buying wider than you need, you're just wasting foil on narrow jobs. If your work varies in width, the 12 inch roll is the more flexible buy since it can still handle the narrower stuff, but an 8 inch roll obviously can't stretch to cover anything wider than itself.

Metallic gives you that classic shiny, reflective foil look, it's the one most people picture when they think of foil stamping. Pigment is flatter and more solid in color, no shine, which works if you want bold color without the mirror effect. Matte metallic sits in between, some depth but not full gloss. Holographic shifts color depending on the angle you're looking from, which looks great for accents but can fight with fine detail or small text if you're not careful. Really it comes down to how much shine and complexity fits what you're making.

Yes, it has to be a toner based laser printer, not inkjet. The whole process relies on heat bonding the foil to toner that's already sitting on the page, and there's no toner layer on an inkjet print for it to grab onto. After printing, the sheet runs back through a laminator or foil fuser with the foil placed over the toner side, and the heat and pressure transfer the foil right onto those areas. If you're setting up a proper foil station, it's worth looking at the foil stamping accessories for holding and aligning dies, it makes repeat runs a lot more consistent.

Flat, laser printed pieces are your best bet, business cards, invitations, certificates, book covers, that sort of thing. A smooth flat surface helps the foil bond evenly across the whole piece. Heavily textured stock tends to give you spotty, incomplete transfer since the foil needs solid contact with the toner. If you're trying this for the first time, start with something simple, bold solid toner areas rather than fine detail, it's a lot more forgiving while you get the feel for it. Once you've got the basics down, the wider laminating foil supplies range has other sizes and finishes worth exploring.