Printing techniques

Customization is a fundamental trend in promotional items: nothing better to leave its mark than having your logo and colors on a corporate gift. Indeed, the printing makes it possible to extend the visibility of the company and to give cachet to the object. With technical progress, printing solutions are multiplying. Asap Marketing presents the different techniques for personalizing promotional materials to help you find the solution that suits you best.

PAD PRINTING

Pad printing is an indirect marking method in which the ink is transferred by means of a silicone pad. The advantage of this printing technique is that the stamp is flexible and adapts to the object to be printed. Thus, it is possible, among other things, to print on convex, concave and other curved surfaces. Ideal technique for small objects and rounded shapes. Recommended for materials such as cork, glass, metal, PU, PP/ABS/Acrylic, paper, silicone or wood.

SCREEN PRINTING

Screen printing is a technique used for graphic purposes, as well as for industrial uses. In screen printing, a large piece of netting with a photo-emulsion layer is stretched over a frame. The logo you want to print is attached to the frame during exposure so that dark surfaces can be rinsed off afterwards. These surfaces are washed onto the frame through which the ink is pushed. When the ink is applied to the frame, it is brushed with a squeegee. The ink then passes through the mesh in the washed areas and the printing is done. Applied to many advertising media, it is the preferred technique to print on textile. Recommended for materials such as cork, synthetic leather, recycled leather, fabrics, paper, PU, glass, metal, silicone, wood, PP, ABS, PVC, Acrylic.

Specificities for rounded objects: 360° Screen printing

360° screen printing or screenround is inspired by the screen printing process but directed towards rounded products such as pens. This technique works well on materials similar to screen printing.

LASER ENGRAVING

Laser engraving is a popular technique for providing promotional items and corporate gifts with a logo or company name or even individual names (personalization). The laser engraving machine is controlled by a computer on which the logo or text must be programmed beforehand. This computer-controlled laser works very precisely so that the engraving of small, delicate designs is possible. The advantage of a laser engraving on your business gift is that it is scratch resistant and looks very classy. Laser engraving allows for subtle personalization and among the most durable of promotional materials, but cannot be done in color. There is also a circular laser technique for rounded surfaces. This technique is suitable for metal, steel while CO² laser engraving is more used on natural materials such as stone, glass, leather, wood, cork.

THERMAL ENGRAVING

Thermal engraving allows embossed printing on leather, PU or cardboard materials that do not fade. Color films can be used or dry giving an unrivaled feeling of quality and exclusivity.

SUBLIMATION

Sublimation is a technique by which a digitally printed image is gasified into the material by means of a heat press. Special sublimation inks have the property of passing from the solid state to the gaseous state at a certain temperature, without going through the liquid state. This technique is recommended for metal, porcelain, ceramic, and for textiles only in polyester.

DIGITAL PRINTING

Digital quadricolore printing makes it possible to mark a logo in several colors directly on an article. With digital printing, the colors of the digital image are transformed into CMYK color values. The advantage of digital printing is that you can mark the product in color very quickly, even for small quantities. However, it is not always possible to print the exact colors of the PMS as it is possible with screen printing or pad printing. This technique is recommended for printing on paper.

HOT STAMPING

Hot stamping is a printing technique in which ink is not used, which is why it is also called dry stamping. Hot stamping creates a relief on the product, which gives it an elegant look.

TRANSFER

Transfer is the ideal method for prints that include different colors. With this technique, the printing of the first image is carried out in mirror effect on transfer paper. By using a printer, the article and the paper are pressed together at a very high temperature. The heat releases the ink from the transfer paper and attaches to the item. In general, there are two types of transfers: silkscreen transfer and digital transfer. During screen printing, the copy is applied to the transfer paper, color by color. With digital transfer, the printing is applied all at once to the transfer paper using a color printer. Ideal for materials like cork, paper, PU, synthetic leather and recycled leather, fabric.

CERAMIC TRANSFER

Ceramic transfer is a particular derivative of transfer printing. Sheets are used to print your logo or text with special ceramic ink. The printing is made using the screen printing technique on the transfer paper. The transfer sheets are then cut to the desired size and applied to ceramic, porclain or glass items. The articles are then placed in an oven and heated to a temperature between 500 and 1,300°C. The result? A label that goes in the dishwasher.

DOMING

Doming is a quadricolore printing technique that consists in applying a layer of resin (epoxy) to printed paper. An adhesive is printed and cut to the desired shape. A transparent epoxy resin is then applied over it which ensures optimal resistance and shine of the print. Doming is suitable for rigid and flat media exclusively (usb, key rings) and creates a magnifying effect on the visual. This technique is used on materials such as glass, metal, paper, PP, ABS, PVC, Acrylic.

EMBOSSING

Embossing or debossing is a relief or debossed printing technique using a heat press on leather or synthetic leather products. A metallic material (gold or silver) can also be applied to the matrix. This technique is ideal for items such as wallets or notebooks with leather/faux leather covers.

EMBROIDERY

Embroidery is a technique carried out on fabric using multi-head embroidery machines. It is often used for advertising textiles such as polo shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps. It is a textile customization solution appreciated for its resistance to time and repetitive washing. The embroidery also gives a top-of-the-range rendering and a guarantee of quality.