BRANDING

Everything we sell can be branded, some items are brandable in only one way whilst other have a range of options. Depending on the product this might be printed, digitally, transfer printing, screen, tamp or pad printing, embroidered, embossed or engraved. Below are the most common methods and some of the pros and cons of each. If there’s a specific product you’re interested in and would like to know what the options are, or want to get a specific design onto a product and want to know what’s suitable then please get in touch and we’ll get you the info you need.

Digital Printing (Full Colour)

This is similar to how you’d normally print in the office or at home, the range of colours are made up of a CMYK process allowing a large gamut of colours to be reproduced. This allows a for gradients and tints of the same colour, photographic images or anything in-between to be reproduced on the product providing the texture and substrate of the product will allow it.

Pros: Allows just about image to be added to a product, including photos, for images it produces the best available print quality.

Cons: Colours aren’t as accurate as screen printing and certain colours such as neon and metallic colours can’t be reproduced. Usually a flat surface is needed to apply a digital print, but advancements do mean that it can be applied to new products like mugs.

Transfer Printing (Full Colour)

Transfer printing can be used to apply for a full colour print to a curved surface, the print is first made to a transfer sheet in reverse which is then applied to the product. This is then treated to make it adhere to the surface of the product.

Pros: Allows a full colour image to be applied to most surfaces, allows image reproduction.

Cons: Image quality isn’t as good as digital and isn’t as hard wearing as digital or screen printing.

Screen Printing (Spot Colour)

Screen printing is a technique that has been around for over a thousand years but with the advent of modern technology has been improved and offers some great. Each colour is applied as an individual spot colour which allows it to be matched exactly to the Pantone® colour required, colours also have very defined edges and it produces a very high-quality print.

Pros: Colour reproduction is Pantone® matched print is of exceptional quality

Cons: Only suitable for block colours and cost is per colour.

Embroidery

Embroidery is a great method of getting branding onto clothing and uses different colour threads to reproduce the logo on the garment. It produces a hard-wearing logo and the colours tend to fade less when washed than screen printed logos on garments. Colours are usually very accurate but can’t be 100% Pantone® matched due to the nature of fabric.

Pros: Good colour and logo reproduction, hard wearing.

Cons: Not suitable for large areas, colour reproduction is not 100% accurate.

Embossing

This was originally used to produce logos on items such as leather folders and provides a subtle indented logo in the surface of the product but is now available on a range of products, recently becoming very popular on notebooks. If desired embossing can also be foil blocked, where a metallic foil or special colour ink is pressed between the block and the material to colour the indentation.

Pros: Provides subtle branding with a high-quality look.

Cons: Limited to a small range of products, foil blocking is limited to one colour per block.

Engraving

Engraving is probably the oldest method known, originally used on glass and metal products, with the advent of laser engraving equipment many plastics can now be engraved, with some tech items designed with engraving in mind so that the logo appears backlit once engraved.

Pros: Looks clean, sharp and incredibly hard wearing.