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When faced with so many decorating options it’s helpful to know what each option is really about. In some cases the products you select will have decoration options and in some cases you will be limited by a single method. The explanations herein are meant to help you determine the best alternative for the product you want. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Embroidery | Silk-Screening (Screen Printing) | Pad Printing | Laser Engraving | Domes | Debossing/Embossing
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EMBROIDERY
This is a traditional method of decorating products, particularly clothing. The price of embroidery is determined based on 1. the number of stitches in your design (the amount of colours in the design is not a price factor - unless you require special thread such as metallic) and, 2. the number of pieces that you have to embroider. The more stitches in your design, the more it will cost per item embroidery, however, the more pieces you have to embroider, the less the cost per item (volume pricing).
Digitizing
If you have not done embroidery previously, before your design can be embroidered, it must first be digitized. This is just a technical term to describe the process involved in programming the embroidery machine to stitch your logo accurately. Once a digitized disk (or embroidery file) has been produced, your design can then be embroidered onto the designated product. As the typical one-time cost for digitizing a design can range from $ 50.00 to $ 400.00, it is better to obtain a copy of the original digitizing disk (or file) if you have done embroidery previously. This will save you the cost of reproducing the digitizing. Charges do apply if you change the look of the logo for future applications.
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SILK SCREENING (SCREEN PRINTING)
This involves pressing ink through a fine mesh screen and onto a product’s surface. Each different colour on a design is set up as its own screen. It is then screened separately onto the product and goes through a quick drying process (called ‘Flashing’) before the next colour screen is applied to it. It’s an economical way to gain high visibility and is used on many products including portfolios, bags, pens, mugs and, most commonly, T-shirts. The price of silk-screening is determined based on 1. the number of colours in your design (the size of the design is not a price factor, unless it is an unusually complicated design or placement on the product) and, 2. the number of pieces that you have to silk-screen. The more colours in your design, the more it will cost per item to silk-screen, however, the more pieces you have to silk-screen, the less the cost per item (volume pricing).
NOTE: We always recommend that you have a base layer of white when screening on any coloured surface (other than white, of course). Even though it costs the extra colour to produce, we are assured that the true colours of your design will show properly on the items.
Silk-screened Transfers
Multi-colour logos are applied to products through the use of transfers. Your logo is first reverse-screened onto a paper-like transfer material and then applied to the material’s surface with heat and pressure. It’s ideal for bold, colourful logos with sharp lines. This method is typically used on apparel such as sports uniforms and school sweatshirts (just take a closer look at NHL and NBA uniforms or the local university sweatshirts).
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PAD PRINTING
A method of imprinting small, unusually-shaped objects when screen printing is not practical. Small watch dials, golf balls, pens and other cylinder shape items are some examples. This method involves creating an etched die template of your design in the correct size that it needs to be to fit onto the product. The template is then filled with the colour of ink required and a soft silicone printing ‘pad’ is then pressed down onto the ink filled etched template to capture the ink image. The ‘pad’ is then moved over the product and pressed directly down onto it, which transfers the ink image to the item. For multi-coloured images, a separate etched die template is made for each colour and done one at a time, curing (or ‘Flashing’) between each colour of pad print. The price of pad printing is determined based on 1. the number of colours in your design, 2. the number of pieces that you have to pad print and, 3. the type of product that you are pad printing on (for example, a golf ball is easier than a screwdriver handle, because golf balls are a standard size and shape). The more colours in your design, and the more unusual the product is, the more it will cost per item pad print. The more pieces you have to pad print, however, the less the cost per item (volume pricing).
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LASER ENGRAVING
Laser engraving gives your logo a clean, smooth, polished appearance. Traditionally, this method is used on pens and other metal items, however, nowadays you can have the same polished look on denim, fleece and various other fabrics. Different metals react differently to the laser engraving process, causing the logo to either look frosted, gold, brown, black or charcoal just to name a few. Please ask us about your particular item to reduce any surprises once the product is complete. Laser engraved logos and/or personalization is available on most metal items. Standard placement of images will be centred, clip top. Imprint sizes vary for each pen style.
There are four basic types of laser engraving available, as well as personalization on select items:
Standard Laser
This method will clearly show off all the details of your logo and give it a clean, smooth, polished appearance.
Laser Outline
Utilizes only an outline of your logo for a distinct, simple look. Usually only available on stainless steel drinkware.
Standard Laser with Outline
A great new take on the standard laser. This method adds an outline around the logo to really enhance its appearance. Usually only available on stainless steel drinkware.
Laser Oxidized
Make a statement with oxidation. Your logo is engraved onto the product with a special process to darken the decoration. This special technique really makes your logo pop. There is usually a small additional fee for this extra process and it can be done on many metal products.
Laser Personalization
Personalizations are available on most products and have a maximum number of characters (including spaces) depending on the product. There typically is a ‘per character’ charge for personalization.
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DOMES
To add dimension and shine to your logo, place it under a clear, high-gloss polyurethane dome. The following domes (actual size examples listed below) offer a high-impact look at a low-impact price. Ask us which products offer this imprint method.
Colours
All colours available except metallic and fluorescent. The background colour for noncontiguous images will always be white unless otherwise specified.
Custom Domes
You can now have domes customized to the shape of your logo, with no restrictions to shape. Add three days to standard lead times.
Logo 3D Rubber Patches
Logo 3D is another great choice for adding dimension to your logo on garments, headwear, sports bags, etc. These molded rubber patches come in a variety of shapes and colours and are best suited for multi-colour logos.
Colours
Up to 4 colours are usually available at one cost. Additional colours are also available for an additional charge per colour.
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DEBOSSING / EMBOSSING
Deboss
Also referred to as a “Blind Deboss”, this classic method allows you to leave an impression - or rather, a depression - of your logo onto a material’s surface. We create a die and then heat-press it into the material. What’s left behind is a clean, crisp logo you can see and feel. It’s ideal on leather, durahyde and vinyl products.
Emboss
This is the same process as Debossing, with one critical difference – whereas, debossing is depressing the image, embossing is depressing around the image so that it looks raised.
Colour Stamping
Add the high-end look of foil to your logo with colour stamping. Simple one-colour designs are enhanced when a die is used to apply coloured foil to a material’s surface. A wide variety of stock colours are available, including metallic gold and silver. This method is typically used on leather, durahyde and vinyl products such as portfolios, business card holders and coasters.
Colour Fill
Colour Fill combines colour stamping and debossing. We create a die and first colour stamp your logo onto the surface, and then use that same die to deboss your logo into the material. This method is only available on select items because it is a complicated process.
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