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Print Techniques

 

Pad printing

Pad printing is an indirect printing method. On a metal plate (Die plate or Cliché) that contains a photo sensitive layer, the logo is exposed by use of UV light. This will cause the logo to “sink” into the top layer.This deeper part will be filled with ink. A smooth stamp made of silicon rubber takes the ink of the cliché and transfers it onto the item. Due to the chemicals in the ink, the ink will bite itself into the material
(Except for glass, metal and ceramic).

Which items can be printed?
Almost any kind of shape/item in the world can be printed by use of pad printing. That is why this is the most used printing technique in our business. Pens, desk clocks, business card holders, USB sticks, ceramic mugs, memo clips, key chains…you name it. Round or flat, everything is possible, however the material of the item or the limited printing size can cause
having to switch to a different printing technique.

 

Screen printing

In screen printing the ink will be printed directly onto the item by use of a “screen”. The screen contains a mesh (maze) with small openings. A photo sensitive layer will be applied on which the artwork or logo is exposed under UV light. On the part where the logo is the openings in the mesh will remain open.The screen will be put into a carousel; ink is put onto the screen and by use of a squeegee pressed onto the item. After each print run, the item needs to be put through a drying tunnel, or dried by hand by use of a paint stripper or hair dryer (much more time consuming!)

Which Items can be printed?
• Bags • T-shirts
• Wine boxes • Inflatables
• Caps • Umbrella’s etc.

 

Laser engraving

A digital logo will be sent to the laser machine. With a light beam (YAG laser) or a gas beam (CO2 laser) the top layer of the material will be “burned” away. And the logo becomes visible. The more complex the logoor the bigger the surface we need to engrave, the longer the production time. A simple line of text may take 5 seconds but a square of 10x10 cm may take a minute or more per piece.

Which items can be printed?
• Business card holders • Key chains
• Pens • Wine boxes
• Desk clocks • Glassware • Metal items

 

Embroidery

A digital logo is “redrawn” to determine how many stitches are needed. (Therefore there are higher set up costs for embroidery). Once the logo is redrawn, a ring is put on two sides of the item than needs to be embroidered.Then the item is put under a large sowing machine which sowing heads can contain up to 15 needles. (So 15 different threads (colours) can be embroidered in one run).

Which items can be printed?
• Hats and caps
• Back packs
• Laptop bags
• T-shirts
• Body warmers

 

Doming

The term doming comes from the rounding that is reminiscent of a dome. On a plotter the logo is printed on a roll of adhesive paper, a cutter will cut out the desired shape and then a 2 component resin layer (epoxy) is applied. This layer is crystal clear, this means not only will the logo be protected against colouring also it looks slightly enlarged and is protected against scratching.

Which items can be printed?
• Key chains • Pens
• Folders • Wine boxes
• Kitchen appliances • Etc.
Any item of which the surface is flat suitable to put a sticker on.

 

UV Digital printing

On a special UV digital printer the imprint is printed directly onto the item. Print heads move above the item and create images. At the same time an UV lamp dries the ink. The printer can print CMYK color mode but also white. The printer heads can be adjusted in height so even high items (150 mm e.g Beer cradles) can be printed by use of this technique as long as the surface that needs to be printed is even and flat.

Which items can be printed?
• Wine boxes
• Sliding games
• Lids, etc.
• Notebook
As long as the surface is even and flat.

 

Digital printing textile

For this printing technique we are using a special digital printer in CMYK color mode. The printer can print directly on garment. It is a digital printing technique so we can print full-colour images also with white ink. We put white garment into the printer, then print the image and strengthen the image by using a heat press. For colored garment, we need to use a special pre-treatment liquid for better adhesion. We can perform the printing on fabric with min. 90% cotton.

Which items can be printed?
• T-shirts
• Hoodies
• Polo shirts
• Bags

 

Sublimation

Sublimation is a digital print technique. First on special paper, digital plotter prints the image and then the paper template is applied on polyester surface by use of heat press. A sublimation template can be transferred on almost every item but the template must be covered by a polyester layer. We can also apply sublimation transfer on polyester fabric. Very important is that the heat press temperature must be 200°C so the item must be resistant to high temperatures.

Which items can be printed?
• T-shirts
• Mug
• Bags
• Umbrellas
• Mug pads
• Tablet bags • Flags & Banners

 

Blind Embossing

The logo is engraved into a metal stamp, the logo is then pressed into the material of the item. The material has to be thick enough to withstand the pressure of the machine and the surface has to be even and flat.

Which items can be printed?
• Document folders
• Wallets
• Business card folders
• Notebooks • Diaries

 

Gold & Silver Foil Printing

This is the same process as Embossing with the addition of a Gold or Silver Foil that is embossed into the product. The logo is engraved into a metal stamp, the logo is then pressed into the material of the item. The material has to be thick enough to withstand the pressure of the machine and the surface has to be even and flat.

Which items can be printed?
• Document folders
• Wallets
• Business card folders
• Notebooks • Diaries