Heat Stamping at IBEX

The Physical Mark

Heat stamping uses controlled heat and pressure to press lettering or simple forms into the leather surface. It can be applied as a blind impression, where no colour is added, or with foil for a metallic or contrasting finish.

Because leather varies in grain, firmness and surface finish, the depth and appearance of each impression may differ slightly from piece to piece.

Availability
Heat stamping is available by request on selected IBEX pieces, subject to available typefaces, characters, placement and material suitability. Please contact us before ordering if you would like to discuss a particular placement or treatment.

Typefaces

Three typefaces are currently available. Each has a different weight and character — selection depends on the piece, available space and intended composition.

T-1 · Helvetica (6mm)
Clean and direct. Well suited to initials, short names, dates and minimal compositions.

T-2 · Plantin (6mm)
A classic serif with a more traditional character. Well suited to names, dates and understated personal details.

T-3 · Niconne (6mm)
A fluid script with a softer character. Best suited to names and short text in title case; all-capital settings are generally not recommended.

Supported characters: A–Z · a–z · 0–9 · . • / # & @ ♥

Finish

Blind Emboss — Heat and pressure only, with no foil added. The result is a recessed impression that changes subtly with the light and becomes part of the leather surface.

Shiny Gold / Matte Gold — Metallic foil in either a reflective or softer satin finish.

Shiny Silver / Matte Silver — Silver-toned foil in either a reflective or softer satin finish.

Matte Black / White — High-contrast foil for a clean, graphic result.

In Practice

Real results across different hides and compositions — names, initials, dates, and short phrases.

A Note on Natural Variation

Heat stamping responds differently to each leather. Grain, firmness, surface coating and natural oils can affect impression depth and foil adhesion. Minor variation is expected and forms part of the finished piece. Foil finishes may gradually soften or show wear with friction and use, particularly on high-contact areas.

Looking for artwork or detailed imagery instead?

Custom logos, illustrations, photographs and detailed artwork may be better suited to laser engraving. See Laser Engraving at IBEX for examples and details.