Decoration Methods

Some of the terminology used in the Promotional Products Market place can be confusing, here we try to take away some of the mystery.

Screen Printing / Silk-Screening

An image is transferred to the printed surface by squeezing ink through a fine mesh 'screen' using a squeegee. Film positives are put in contact with the screens and exposed to UV light, hardening the emulsion not covered by film and leaving a soft area on the screen for the squeegee to press ink through.

A different screen is required for every colour you are going to print.

This process is often used for garment printing and is effective for volume printing or intricate designs.

Transfer printing

Here the design is created in special inks and bonded to a carrier paper. The design is then applied under heat and pressure to the garment. Many sponsors' logos (on football shirts, for example) are applied using transfer.

Transfers are usually more cost effective than screen printing if you anticipate that the initial order will be supplemented by lots of small repeat orders in the future that will be needed quite quickly (e.g. initial large order for uniforms followed by occasional repeat orders when new staff are taken on).

CAD cut transfers

Simple text and designs are cut from a vinyl type material and applied under heat and pressure. Numbers on the back of football shirts are an example. Highly suitable for small runs where only one or two colours are required. Special effects, e.g. Reflective, glow in dark, sparkle are available as well as solid colours.

Embroidery

Creating a design in fabric using coloured threads through the use of high-speed, computer-controlled sewing machines.

Gives a quality logo finish to garments, but also suitable for other products e.g. conference cases and bags. Positions include front breast, sleeve, collar, baseball caps etc.

Artwork must first be "digitised," which is the specialized process of converting two-dimensional artwork into stitches or thread. The digitiser must actually recreate the artwork using stitches. Then it programs the sewing machine to sew a specific design, in a specific colour, with a specific type of stitch. This process incurs a one - off charge.

Deboss

Achieved by depressing an image into a material's surface so that the image sits below the product surface.

Emboss

An image is impressed in relief to achieve a raised surface.

Hot Stamp

Setting a design on a metal relief die or plate, which is then heated and pressed onto the printing surface to achieve a deboss.

Etching

A process in which an image is first covered with a protective coating that resists acid, then exposed, leaving bare metal and protected metal. The acid attacks only the exposed metal, leaving the image etched onto the surface.

Laser or Foil Stamp

Applying metallic or coloured foil imprints to vinyl, leather or paper surfaces. Usually with a deboss.

Die-casting

Injecting molten metal into the cavity of a carved die (or a mould)

Pad Printing

A recessed surface is covered with ink. The plate is wiped clean, leaving ink in the recessed areas. A silicone pad is then pressed against the plate, transferring the ink onto the product.

4-colour Process

Complex images are separated into 4 different colour values (CMYK) by the use of filters and screens (usually done digitally). When transferred to printing plates and printed with the coloured inks cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow and black (CMYK), reproduces the original colour image. These four colours can be combined to create thousands of colours just as your computer printer does.

Laser (Engraving)

Imprinting method by which art or lettering is cut into a material by a laser beam that vaporizes the portion exposed through openings in a template.

Sublimation

Dye transfer process where the image consists of a coloured dye permanently embedded into the product under heat. Only products manufactured for sublimation can be decorated in this way. Used to imprint messages, graphics and photographs on a variety of items, primarily mouse mats, mugs, T-shirts, caps, and trophy medals.

Decal

Artwork is produced on a transparent decal, and then applied to product.

Pantone Matching System (PMS)

A standardized method used to identify, match and communicate colours in order to produce accurate colour matches in printing. Each colour has a coded number indicating instruction for mixing inks to achieve that colour.