Printing Techniques

This is a guide to help understand the terminology and techniques used to print on the various different material and shapes that make up the variety of promotional items.

Digital Printing

This technique uses four colours, cyan, magenta, yellow and black and the finished item is printed by ink jet print machinery. These four colours are used in different quantities to produce millions of different colours and shades. It is perfect for printing photos, four colour process images and very detailed logos, on flat surfaces such as coasters, vinyl stickers, and keyrings to name just a few.

Transfer Printing

This is when an printed image is applied to thermal paper and then transferred to the item by a heat process. Best used for printing four colour process logos onto material items such as bags and t-shirts for example.

Engraving

Your logo is carved into the item normally using a specialist computer guided laser engraving machine. Typically used on metal or wooden items, like torches, pens, wooden keyrings etc

Rotary Printing

A type of screen printing in which the product is rolled along the screen so that the print covers the circumference of the product resulting in a wrap around print.  Ideally used on mugs, travel mugs, and pens.

Screen Printing or Pad Printing

The most common technique used in printing promotional items. This is the  most cost effective and involves the use of either a pad to apply the ink to the product or screen printing which applies the ink via a stencil placed on a porous material screen. Used for plastic, pu and metal products, such as rucksacks, lunch bags or tech products.

Litho Printing

Litho printing is a method usde to print text or artwork onto paper. the imager is etched onto a metal plate and then transferred to a rubber roller, which is then applied to the item.  This technique is used for paper items such as notebooks and sticky notes.

Debossing and Foil Blocking

This techniques leaves an impression of the logo on the item. A heated metal plate is applied to the surface and then removed leaving an imprint. Used for paper and pu products. Foil blocking is using the same technique but colour is added to the impression, by adding a coloured foil between the dye and product, most common colours are gold or silver.  Popular with leather items like diaries and notebook covers.

Dye Sublimination

A printing technique which starts with films that contain dyes which are placed on the material and heated up by the print head.  This causes the pigments to leave the film and enter into the material where it cools and re-solidifies. This creates a gentle graduation at the edge of each pixel and because the colour infuses it is less vunerable to fading and distortion over time.  A process which is used for lanyard and mug printing too.

Embroidery

Stitches one or multi coloured images such as logos onto material products using a needle and thread, usually machined. Ideal for clothing or caps

Released On 6th Oct 2021