Pad Printing - Screen Printing - Sublimation Printing - Transfer - Vinyl Stickers - Domed Stickers - YAG Engraving - Co2 Engraving - Embroidery - Embossing/Foiling

Pad Printing

Process

1. A logo is exposed on a metal plate with the use of a positive. One plate and one positive are required for every colour that needs to be printed.
2. The plate is then coated in ink which is cleaned by a blade that leaves the ink on the area where the logo is exposed.
3. A rubber cushion or pad is then pressed on to the plate which picks up the ink left on the plate and is pressed on to the medium to be printed leaving the print behind.

Benefits

1. Inexpensive on large runs.
2. Can be used for multi-colour branding.
3. Branding can be done to exact customer colour specifications.
4. Can print on to curved surfaces.

Limitations

• Prints on to glass and metal can scratch off.
• Cannot print large surface areas.
• Cannot print on to textured surfaces.

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Screen Printing
Process

1. A fine gauze material is stretched over a sturdy metal frame to make a screen.
2. The screen is covered in a light sensitive emulsion and exposed to an extremely bright light with a positive between the light and the screen. One screen and one positive are required for every colour that needs to be printed.
3. The emulsion applied to the screen hardens everywhere except where the positive was placed.
4. The screen is now washed and an exposed logo is left behind.
5. The ink is now pressed through the exposed area with a squeegee on to the medium to be printed.

Benefits

1. Can be used for multi-colour branding.
2. Branding can be done to exact customer colour specifications.
3. Can print on to textured surfaces.
4. Can be used to brand large surface areas.

Limitations

• Prints on to glass and metal can scratch off.
• Cannot print on to curved surfaces.
• Areas with very high detail can become unclear.

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Sublimation Printing

Process

1. The logo is printed on to a paper transfer via a digital printer in full colour.
2. This transfer is then placed on to the medium to be printed and both are placed in a heat press.
3. The heat press is then closed over the medium and transfer and then heats the items to such a high temperature that the ink on the paper becomes a gas.
4. This gas is then absorbed by the medium and the logo is left on the medium to be printed.

Benefits

1. Inexpensive for multi-colour and intricate jobs.
2. Can be used to print large surface areas.
3. Can print on to textured surfaces.
4. Printing can be done to exact customer colour specifications.
5. Branding is permanent.

Limitations

• Cannot print on to any plastics including nylon.
• Cannot print on to curved surfaces without specialised machinery.
• Cannot print on to many ready-made items as a flat printing surface is required.
• Prints on to kitchenware such as coffee mugs can fade in the dishwasher.

Formula for costing

1. Divide the sum of the set-up fee over the quantity of items to be printed; this gives you the set-up fee per unit.
2. Add the set-up fee per unit to the print price per unit; this gives you the branding cost per unit.
3. Add the unit cost per item to the branding cost per unit; this gives you the total cost per unit.
4. Apply your mark up to the total cost per unit and this gives you your selling price.

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Transfer Printing

Process

1. A digital image is printed on to a special vinyl surface and cut out.
2. The vinyl cut out is the placed on to the medium in the correct position.
3. The cut out and medium are then placed under a heat press which is then closed over the cut out and medium.
4. The heat press melts the cut out on to the medium merging it with the medium.

Benefits

1. Inexpensive for multi-colour and intricate jobs.
2. Can be used to print large surface areas.
3. Can print on to textured surfaces.
4. Printing can be done to exact customer colour specifications.
5. Branding is permanent.

Limitations

1. Cannot print on to any plastics including nylon.
2. Cannot print on to curved surfaces.
3. Cannot print on to many ready-made items as a flat printing surface is required.

Formula for costing

1. Divide the sum of the set-up fee over the quantity of items to be printed; this gives you the set-up fee per unit.
2. Add the set-up fee per unit to the print price per unit; this gives you the branding cost per unit.
3. Add the unit cost per item to the branding cost per unit; this gives you the total cost per unit.
4. Apply your mark up to the total cost per unit and this gives you your selling price.

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Vinyl Stickers

Process

1. A digital image is printed on to an adhesive vinyl surface and cut out.
2. The vinyl cut out is the placed on to the medium in the correct position.

Benefits

1. Inexpensive for multi-colour and intricate jobs.
2. Can be used to brand large surface areas.
3. Can be applied to curved surfaces
4. Printing can be done to exact customer colour specifications.

Limitations

• Cannot be applied on to any fabric or textured surface.
• Branding can be removed

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Domed Stickers

Process

1. A digital image is printed on to an adhesive vinyl surface and cut out.
2. A polyurethane epoxy coating is then applied to the cut out to give a 3 dimensional effect.
3. The domed sticker is then applied to the medium to be branded in the correct position.

Benefits

1. Inexpensive for multi-colour and intricate jobs.
2. Printing can be done to exact customer colour specifications.
3. Quick turnaround time

Limitations

• Cannot be applied on to any fabric or textured surface.
• Branding can be removed
• Cannot be applied to a curved surface
• Becomes costly on larger applications

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YAG Engraving

Process

1. Extremely high intensity ultra-violet lasers are used to etch the logo on to the surface of the medium to be branded.

Benefits

1. Permanent
2. Extremely precise
3. Upmarket finish

Limitations

1. Branding colour cannot be guaranteed
2. Can only be done on metals
3. Limited size on curved surfaces

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Co2 Engraving

Process

1. Extremely high intensity lasers are used to etch the logo on to the surface of the medium to be branded.

Benefits

1. Permanent
2. Extremely precise
3. Upmarket finish
4. Can be used to cut plaques in IPI or Romark which are special plastics designed to be cut on the Co2 laser

Limitations

1. Branding colour cannot be guaranteed
2. Can only be done on glass, wood, leather and certain plastics
3. Limited size on curved surfaces

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Embroidery

Process

1. Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric or other materials with designs stitched in strands of thread.
2. Industrial Embroidery machines are driven by computers that read digitized embroidery files created by special software.
3. Embroidery machines produce high quality, neatly stitched, multi-colour designs on the medium to be branded.

Benefits

1. Permanent
2. Vivid branding with tangible surface interest
3. Upmarket finish
4. Thread colour can be matched to customer specifications

Limitations

• Thread cannot always be matched exactly to customers’ logo colours
• Can only be done on fabric and certain vinyls
• Limited to space available on medium
• Cannot be used on small pockets of made up items

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Embossing/Foiling

Process

1. The logo of the customer is reversed out and then acid etched into a lead stamp or embossing block.
2. This block is then fitted to the embossing machine which heats up the block to a high temperature.
3. The block is then pressed on to the medium to be branded which leaves an impression of the customers’ logo.
4. When foiling a very thin foil is placed between the block and medium to leave a colour branding usually in silver or gold.

Benefits

1. Creates a subtle and under-stated branding
2. Can print on textured surfaces
3. Branding is permanent

Limitations

• Can only be done in 1 colour
• Can only be done on leather and certain vinyls
• Can only be done on flat surfaces
• Cannot be used on small pockets of made up items

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