Printing Techniques & Tips

With digital printing, the print image is transferred directly from the computer to the printer. No printing form is required for production. The big advantage: Really any motif can be realised. There are no limits to your creativity for the design of your advertising material. This is especially useful if your logo is multicoloured and rich in detail. Nevertheless, it must be noted that surfaces may be smooth or only slightly curved so that the printing systems, such as the laser beam or the laser printer, can easily print your advertising material.

Doming is a new form of advertising material coating. Here, a curved surface coating made of resin is applied to a sticker, which is then attached to the promotional item. The glass optics create a three-dimensional effect in the motif. This means that the opposite effect of the embossing is achieved - the advertising message is raised outwards through a coating and thus attracts maximum attention. The doming of promotional items is characterised by a very high quality. The 3D stickers are waterproof, so that they are sustainably protected from all external circumstances. Here, too, it should be noted that the printing process can only be used on smooth surfaces.

The embossing is characterised by the fact that the print pattern is stamped directly into the promotional item and sticks out inwards. Special machines are responsible for this, consisting of several heated steel rollers. The advertising material is placed between the rollers while the steel rollers are pressed against each other. This process gives the product its pattern. The advertising message has a long shelf life due to the embossing. Embossing is not possible on all promotional items. The embossing of promotional items such as textiles, fabrics and leather, as well as plastic products, is common.

The embroidery designates a high-quality textile finishing, with which company logos or advertising texts are largely produced as advertising imprint. As the name suggests, motifs are applied to a fabric with the help of computer-controlled needles and threads. Since there are different stitch techniques and threads, very individual print motifs are possible. As can already be assumed, this printing process can be used for all textiles. Surfaces can be flat as well as uneven. Due to the large selection of thread colours, several colours can be used per stick.

Flexographic printing is a letterpress process. In flexographic printing, the areas coloured with printing ink are higher than the non-printing areas. The printing unit consists of several rollers. Flexible printing plates are attached to the printing cylinder. These are made of rubber or photopolymer. An ink roller picks up ink from an ink tray and transfers it to an anilox roller. The anilox roller inks the printing plate. An impression cylinder guides the printing object against the impression cylinder. The colour is transferred from the printing plate to the print object with the help of high pressure. This process is mainly used on plastic surfaces, such as on packaging for confectionery.

Flock printing is a transfer printing process. The print motif is cut out of a special film and transferred to the surface with the help of a carrier medium and a lot of heat. Flock printing is best for promotional items with a high percentage of cotton, but also for textiles made from synthetic fibres and polyester. Texts in particular are particularly effective. Differences to flex printing can be found in the feel of the print. While flex feels rather smooth, flock feels velvety.

Laser engraving is the modern standard in the field of engraving and permanently refines a wide variety of materials with a laser beam. The extremely hot laser beam burns or vaporizes the material. The laser engraving creates structures that are different from the rest of the surface. In the case of organic materials such as paper or wood, colour is created through chemical conversion processes of the material. In the case of coated materials, the uppermost coating is removed as part of a paint removal process, so that the colour underneath comes to light.

Just like transfer printing, offset printing is an indirect planographic printing process. This means that the colour is not printed directly on the promotional item, but is transferred to a printing plate via a rubber blanket cylinder. Only then does it reach a rubber blanket, and finally it is legible again on the surface of the printing material. The standard process colours CMYK are used here. This means that all colour nuances can be mixed accordingly.

The special feature about pad printing is that the design is applied to the advertising material with a stamp. In addition, the pad printing process is currently the cheapest and perhaps the most functional printing process for your personal advertising. In contrast to transfer or screen printing, the advantage of this printing technique is that round and curved surfaces, such as cups or ballpoint pens, can also be printed. Pad printing is therefore a cost-effective alternative for surfaces of all kinds.

Relief printing is a very modern printing method and is derived from offset printing. This means that classic offset printing is mixed with a special resin powder. The mixture is then heated strongly and a tangible, smooth elevation is created, in glossy or matt. This special printing process gives the advertising message or company logo a specific 3D effect on the advertising medium. This printing process is particularly common on paper.

Screen printing is the process during which the printing pattern is lightly printed on the surface of the promotional item. With the help of a rubber squeegee, the colour is printed onto the base material through a sieve. The advantage is that the colours appear particularly bright because the colour application is strong. However, it should be noted that the surfaces of the advertising material must be particularly flat and straight. For this reason, screen printing is the standard printing method for lanyards and textiles.

With transfer printing, colours are steamed onto the surface of the advertising material using heat. This makes it possible to provide your promotional items with precise patterns and photos that make your personal promotional gifts even more vivid. On the positive side, it should be emphasised that the print is resistant to UV radiation and other environmental factors, such as rain. Transfer printing is only possible on smooth surfaces. It is mostly applied to polyester. Thanks to the special process, there are numerous colours to choose from.