A method of transferring a foil from a polyester carrier to paper or other substrate through the combination of heat and pressure. Hot foil stamping can be used to support holographic anda other optically variable images which can be transferred, using heat and pressure, onto another substrate such as paper or plastic. The layers containing the image are extremely thin, typically 5-6 microns. Therefore, they need to be supported on a thicker material such as 19-micron thick polyester. The action of stamping the foil with a heated die causes a ‘release’ layer between the image and polyester support to melt, while simultaneously softening an adhesive ‘size’ coating. These combined effects allow the image to leave the polyester support and adhere to its new location.