The LEONHARD KURZ Wall Calendar 2026 is a great example of why we’re proud to represent KURZ in South Africa. It’s not just a calendar, it’s a compact “finishing demo” that shows how metallic effects, embossing and texture can transform print into something people keep, display, and talk about.
Designed as an A1 collector piece, the calendar celebrates Austria through cultural icons and landscapes, from the Vienna Ferris wheel to Alpine panoramas and Hallstatt, and then elevates those visuals with a layered combination of cold transfer, hot stamping and blind embossing on Algro Design Duo 250 g/m². The outcome is rich, tactile and unmistakably premium.
For local printers, packaging converters, label producers and graphic designers, this is the real takeaway: excellent design + the right KURZ foils and processes = promotional print that feels like a luxury brand touchpoint.
The “making-of”: how KURZ built depth, shine and texture
Step 1: Metallic brilliance as the foundation
A metallic base is created first using cold transfer with KPS Slim 2.0. This gives the entire design a vibrant, reflective undertone, which is then enhanced inline with 4-colour process printing (4c) to build contrast and mood.
Why it matters: cold transfer is ideal when you want high-impact metallic colour at scale – perfect for promotional print, wine labels, POS, and brand campaigns.
Step 2: Silver highlights + refined embossing
Next, fine accents are applied with SILVER LINE® Sails via hot stamping. Details like the edelweiss, coats of arms and the Hallstatt image are blind embossed, adding understated lift and a premium tactile feel.
Why it matters: subtle shine + quiet texture makes a printed piece feel “crafted,” not mass-produced.
Step 3: Floating metallic accents
The Vienna Ferris wheel cabins are emphasized with hot stamping using LUXOR® 392 MTS, followed by a two-stage embossing process that creates a floating, dimensional effect.
Why it matters: this is a classic technique for drawing attention to key brand elements – logos, seals, product names, limited-edition markers.
Step 4: Defining the key message
Using LUXOR® 385 MTS, KURZ adds crisp structural detailing and gives the 2026 numerals extra authority through contour edges and micro-embossing. The KURZ logo is finished as a raised relief element for a clean, confident signature.
Why it matters: metallic definition plus micro-structure is what makes the difference between a “nice print” and a “premium, shelf-stopping print.”
Step 5: Texture you can feel
Finally, deep blind embossing is used to shape selected background and motif areas, building a surface of visible highs and lows – a finish that invites touch.
Why it matters: for high-value printed goods (labels, premium POS, corporate gifts, prestige packaging), haptics are what create memorability.
Icons in the Typographic Block
Terms and names that characterize Austria appear
Hallstatt & Symbols
The round photo motif, the edelweiss, and the coat of arms are emotional anchors - authentic, familiar, Austrian.
Architecture & Culture
The delicate city skyline with its landmarks stands for history and tradition.
Nature & the Alps
Powerful red and brown tones in the mountains combine with finely embossed structures to create a panorama full of depth.
What this means for South African printers and designers
This calendar is a practical reminder of what KURZ finishing can do for everyday commercial applications:
- Advertising & POS: create standout metallic focal points and tactile depth that pulls customers closer.
- Wine, spirits & FMCG labels: elevate brand perception with refined foil highlights, seals, and embossed texture.
- Premium promotional items: turn a functional print into a collectible brand asset.
- Designer-led print projects: give creatives a wider palette of effects to deliver something genuinely distinctive.
When you combine strong design with the right KURZ foils and embellishment processes, even small runs can look exceptional – and larger runs gain real shelf and display power.
Want to achieve this kind of finish locally?
As the official LEONHARD KURZ representative in South Africa, Synchron can help you choose the right foil range and process – whether you’re working on labels, packaging, POS, or promotional print. If you want your next project to shine (literally), chat to us about LUXOR®, SILVER LINE®, and KPS Slim 2.0 options for your application. You can contact us on cs@synchron.co.za.
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