When Transparent Holographic Cold Transfer Lets the Artwork Stay in Front

A gin label has to do two things at once: catch the eye on a crowded shelf, and keep the brand recognizable at a glance.

For this sample label, a deep navy design and a gold lion are paired with UNIVACCO Transparent Holographic Narrow-Web Cold Transfer in our Drops pattern, adding light and movement without covering the artwork.

Gin label with transparent holographic cold transfer in Drops pattern.

01 — Start with the Artwork

The design is built around a deep navy base, a central lion, fine surrounding linework and a ribbon below.

The challenge was to add light and movement across these key elements without hiding the details that define the brand.

02 — Designing with Transparent Holographic Cold Transfer

Transparent holographic cold transfer is a clear film carrying a holographic pattern. Because it is transparent, it works over the printed design: the navy base and the lion artwork remain clearly visible underneath.

The Drops pattern appears as scattered points of rainbow light, applied across the lion's face, the surrounding linework and the ribbon.

Rainbow flashes of light appear across the lion, linework and ribbon.

03 — Print First, Foil Second

The narrow-web cold transfer unit can be positioned before or after the printing units, giving designers two different looks from the same foil.

• Applied after printing: the holographic pattern sits on top of the artwork and stays bright and crisp on selected details, helping guide the eye to key elements.

• Applied before printing: the holographic pattern becomes a softer background shimmer beneath the ink.

For this label, the foil was applied after printing, so the Drops remain clear and noticeable, drawing attention to the lion, linework and ribbon.

04 — Bright and Visible on the Shelf

UNIVACCO’s transparent holographic cold transfer delivers a high-brightness holographic effect that remains vivid even at sharp viewing angles. Whether shoppers approach the shelf from the side or look directly at the bottle, the holographic details remain bright and clearly visible.

The result is a label that stands out across a wider range of viewing angles, catching shoppers’ attention as they walk past the shelf.

05 — The Design Takeaway

With transparent holographic cold transfer, the artwork stays in front while the light moves across it.

For a category where brands have the freedom to define their own visual language, the holographic effect can be placed exactly where it supports the design, whether as a bright highlight on key details or as a soft shimmer beneath the ink.

06 — Recommended Material

Explore More Foil Possibilities

Curious to see how transparent holographic cold transfer could work with your design? Request a color card or samples, or explore our holographic narrow-web cold transfer range.

Explore Holographic Narrow-Web Cold Transfer →