Screen printing is one of the most commonly used techniques for decorating custom giveaways. A wide variety of products, from t-shirts to flying discs, rely on this process to receive a logo or advertising message. Screen printing works by forcing ink onto a surface through a prepared screen of fine material so as to create a picture or pattern. Every time a new color is used, the manufacturer pushes the ink through a different screen. At the end, the product goes through a dryer and the ink is permanently cured onto the item.
In the movie Cinderella, the fairy godmother waves a wand and makes everyday objects a bit more special. It would be awesome if promos worked the same way, but they don't become advertising magic until the logo or custom message is added. It takes modern technology and hard work to print a logo onto your promotional giveaways.
Curious to learn more? Let's dive into all the ways your logo is added to a promo item.
1: Screen Printing
Examples of Screen Printed Items
T-Shirts
Tote Bags
Flying Discs
Stress Balls
Lanyards
2: Pad Printing
Do you remember using stamps during arts and crafts as a kid? Think of pad printing as the grown up, mechanized version. This is an offset printing process that involves an image being transferred onto a product via a silicone pad. The first step is using an inset plate that is shaped like the custom design. From there, the ink is lifted from the plate and moved directly onto your promotional products.
Examples of Pad Printed Items
Coffee Mugs
Tumblers
Pens
Water Bottles
Flash Drives
3: Digital printing
Also known as the four color process or CMYK printing, digital printing is the method of moving a digital-based image directly to an item with a laser or Inkjet. It's like enlarging your printer at home and loading it with promotional products instead of paper. This process allows for a wide range of colors to be printed onto your item, without any extra costs or time in production.
Examples of Digitally Printed Items
Calendars
License Plate Frames
Lunch Bags
Keychains
Magnets
4: Embroidery
Contrary to popular belief, embroidery isn't an old-fashioned decoration process reserved for grandmothers. Modern technology has made this customization technique faster and easier than ever before! At its basic level, embroidery is the art of raising a design with a needle into any woven material. Your custom design is loaded into computerized software and transferred through mechanized needles onto the imprint area of a product. Each thread color is stitched individually to create your logo or advertising message.
Examples of Embroidered Items
Jackets
Backpacks
Duffle Bags
Tote Bags
Baseball Hats
5: Emboss and Deboss
There are a variety of techniques for printing your logo or advertising message on a custom design. One of the lesser known is embossing, which involves stamping a raised design on a product. The other option is debossing, which is when the design looks more indented or engraved. During both processes, the logo is molded onto a metal plate and sealed in temperatures as high as 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Think of it like branding a cow with a hot iron, only significantly less painful.
Examples of Embossed Items
Coasters
Leather Bags
Padfolios
Portfolios
Edible Products
6: Heat press/Transfer
Did you go through a punk phase in high school when you ironed patches onto a denim vest? If so, then you're familiar with the basic concept of heat transfer! The heat press works by imprinting a design onto an item through heat and pressure. The image is printed on special Teflon paper, pressed with a large flat iron at 300°F, and cured onto your promotional products.
Examples of Heat Pressed Items
T-Shirts
Jackets
Puzzles
Baseball Hats
Kitchenware
7: Laser Engraving
You might think of sci-fi movies when you think of lasers, but they are actually used for a variety of purposes. For instance, laser engraving is used to customize your promo items. The process works by creating depth patterns in a surface by direct incisions from a laser. The artwork is programmed into specialized software and the product is placed under the laser. The light energy is converted into heat and then engraved directly into the item.
Examples of Laser Engraving
Awards
Keychains
Ballpoint Pens
Webcam Covers
Lighters
You're Looking Good
Whether you go with screen-printing or embroidery, you're never going to leave with a dud! Our sales team is rounded out by promo pros who will make sure your items turn out amazing. Plus, you'll receive free digital proofs on every order. At the end of the day, it's about making sure your products look incredible, every time!
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