Decoration Techniques for Promotional Products
Choose the Right Branding Method for Your Merch
Deciding which branding technique can be a difficult task. With a wide range of decoration methods available we offer digitally controlled branding methods that will enhance any logo or advertising message. Suitable logo branding techniques include embroidery, laser engraving, screen printing and pad printing. To understand and to get more information about the different decoration styles read more in the details below.
Pad Printing
Pad Printing
Pad printing is a great way to put your business logo or advertising message on all sorts of promotional items. This budget-friendly method uses a silicone pad to transfer your design onto branded merchandise, making it perfect for quality products with curved or uneven surfaces.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It works well on tricky shapes, you get accurate colour matching, and we can print up to six colours.
What to Keep in Mind:
It can't do gradients, isn't used for variable data, and each extra colour adds a setup charge.
Rotary Digital Print
Rotary Digital Print
Rotary digital printing is a high-quality direct-to-product method. It uses UV ink and varnish to create vibrant, glossy artwork. It's ideal for promotional items because it delivers detailed printed designs using both spot colours and full-colour graphics. This is a great way to show off your business logo or advertising message.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It's perfect for large or complex full-colour prints, there’s just one setup charge, and it keeps colours looking bright even on dark merchandise.
What to Keep in Mind:
Production can be a little slower, it doesn't support metallic or neon colours, and it costs more than some other budget options.
Rotary Screen Print
Rotary Screen Print
Rotary screen printing applies printed ink through a mesh screen onto cylindrical promotional items like bottles and mugs. It’s perfect for creating large, vibrant designs that highlight your business logo or advertising message.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It allows for a large print area on curved surfaces, you get accurate PMS colour matching on light surfaces, and metallic gold and silver inks are available for a premium finish.
What to Keep in Mind:
Colour matching is only approximate on dark items, it's not suitable for variable data, and each extra colour adds a setup charge.
Laser Engraving
Screen Print
Rotary digital printing is a high-quality direct-to-product method. It uses UV ink and varnish to create vibrant, glossy artwork. It's ideal for promotional items because it delivers detailed printed designs using both spot colours and full-colour graphics. This is a great way to show off your business logo or advertising message.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It's perfect for large or complex full-colour prints, there’s just one setup charge, and it keeps colours looking bright even on dark merchandise.
What to Keep in Mind:
Production can be a little slower, it doesn't support metallic or neon colours, and it costs more than some other budget options.
Imitation Etch Printing
Imitation Etch Printing
Imitation etch printing gives your promotional items a subtle, high-end look that mimics real etching. This method works well on quality and branded merchandise with curved or uneven surfaces, making it a cost-effective way to get your business logo or advertising message on great business gifts.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It gives a professional, etched look without the high cost, it works on all kinds of shapes, and it's a great budget option for printed items.
What to Keep in Mind:
This method can't reliably reproduce halftones or gradients, the branding area on curved items is a bit smaller, and the ink needs time to cure before we can ship.
Laser Engraving
Laser Engraving
Laser engraving uses a precise laser to etch your business logo or advertising message right into the surface of a product. It’s a quality branding method that’s great for branded items made of metal, wood, or glass.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It creates permanent branding with a premium look, it works well on curved surfaces, we can even engrave individual names, and laser-engraved merchandise has a higher perceived value.
What to Keep in Mind:
Fine details might get lost on small items, the look of the engraving will change depending on the material, and the finished look can be subtle on some surfaces.
Resin Coated Finish
Resin Coated Finish
A Resin Coated Dome Finish uses a CMYK process to print your business logo or advertising message on vinyl. A clear resin is then applied over the print to create a glossy, 3D effect. The decal is permanently applied to your branded items, giving it a quality, premium look.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It allows for stunning full and spot colour designs, the eye-catching 3D effect makes items feel more valuable, it can handle variable data, you can get edge-to-edge printed designs, and there is only one setup charge.
What to Keep in Mind:
Larger printed areas can increase the cost, this method doesn't support white, metallic, or neon colours, and the resin needs about 24 hours to cure.
Sublimation Printing
Sublimation Printing
Sublimation printing uses heat to transfer ink into specially coated promotional items or fabrics. This process embeds your business logo or advertising message directly into the material for a smooth, long-lasting finish.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It creates brilliant, full and spot-colour branding, it allows for edge-to-edge printing, and there's just one setup charge.
What to Keep in Mind:
This method only works on white, sublimation-ready surfaces, it can't reproduce white, metallic, or neon colours, and minor colour bleeding can affect small details or fine text.
Digital Printing
Digital Printing
Digital printing uses CMYK ink to create vibrant, detailed printed designs on materials like paper, vinyl, and magnets. It's a great method for promotional items such as labels, badges, and fridge magnets, so you can easily get your business logo or advertising message out there.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It’s ideal for complex, full-colour images with gradients, there's just one setup charge, and you can get custom shapes and edge-to-edge branding.
What to Keep in Mind:
This method doesn't support metallic, neon, or white ink, and it can't print on dark, kraft, clear, silver, or gold surfaces.
Digital Packaging Printing
Digital Packaging Printing
Digital Packaging Printing uses a single-pass CMYK process to produce vibrant, detailed printed designs on various packaging materials. It's a great choice for branded merchandise like boxes, sleeves, and labels that feature your business logo or advertising message.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It's perfect for complex, full-colour images with gradients, there's only one setup charge, and the dye-based ink gives a smooth finish.
What to Keep in Mind:
It doesn't support PMS, RGB, metallic, or neon colours, it can't print on dark materials, and you can't get edge-to-edge branding or large block colours.
Digital Labels
Digital Labels
Digital adhesive labels are a great way to brand promotional items that can't be decorated with other methods. A digital press prints these labels, giving you vivid designs with your business logo or advertising message. They're perfect for budget-friendly branded items like packaging, tech accessories, and giveaways.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
You get bright, full and spot-colour branding, there's only one setup charge, and you can get edge-to-edge branding and custom shapes.
What to Keep in Mind:
Metallic, neon, and white inks aren't supported on clear, silver, or gold stocks.
Direct Digital Printing
Direct Digital Printing
Direct digital printing uses inkjet print heads to apply ink right onto flat or slightly curved branded merchandise. This method gives you vivid printed designs with your business logo or advertising message. It's perfect for quality promotional items like notebooks, tech accessories, and packaging.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It prints full and spot colour on flat or slightly curved surfaces, it works well on dark products, you can get a large print area and nearly edge-to-edge branding, and there's only one setup charge.
What to Keep in Mind:
You get a more limited branding area on curved surfaces, and larger print areas might increase the cost.
Debossing
Debossing
Debossing, also known as blind debossing, uses a heated metal plate to press your business logo or advertising message into a product. This creates a subtle, permanent impression. It's great for quality branded merchandise like notebooks, leather goods, and packaging where you want an elegant, understated look.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It gives a high-end finish, your branding becomes a permanent part of the product, and you can even achieve a 3D logo effect.
What to Keep in Mind:
The result can be subtle, it doesn't support variable data, and there's a minimum line thickness of 0.4mm.
Embroidery
Embroidery
Embroidery uses rayon thread stitched directly into fabric. This creates a raised, durable finish that adds depth and a quality look to branded items like bags, apparel, and uniforms. It’s perfect for giving your business logo a high-end feel and for budget-conscious businesses that need professional branding on fabric-based merchandise.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It gives a long-lasting finish with a high perceived value, you get up to 12 thread colours with just one setup charge, and it's the perfect method for textile promotional items.
What to Keep in Mind:
PMS colour matches are only approximate, this method doesn't support variable data, and there is special pricing for metallic thread colours.
Silicone Digital Printing
Silicone Digital Printing
Silicone digital printing is a high-quality CMYK+White method designed specifically for silicone promotional items. It's the perfect way to show off your business logo or advertising message on your branded merchandise.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It gives you sharp, full-colour artwork, it's great for dark-coloured items, and it's durable, flexible, and can be hand-washed.
What to Keep in Mind:
This method isn't for metallic, neon, or fluorescent colours, not suitable for variable data, and the minimum detail size for a design is 0.7mm.
Colourflex® Digital Printing
Colourflex® Digital Printing
Colourflex® is a CMYK+White digital printing process for branded apparel and fabric promotional items. It gives you a vibrant, full-colour decoration with a soft-touch finish.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It produces high-definition, full-colour artwork, it works on many different fabrics using eco-friendly, water-based inks, and the design is durable and machine washable.
What to Keep in Mind:
This method can't reproduce metallic, neon, or fluorescent colours, a faint glue outline might appear, and it isn't suitable for variable data printing.
Thermo Debossing
Thermo Debossing
Thermo debossing uses heat and pressure to create a distinct two-tone finish on selected promotional items. This premium branding method gives your branded merchandise a refined, high-end look.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It creates a permanent, eye-catching, two-tone effect, the higher perceived value makes it perfect for quality business gifts, the branding becomes a part of the product, and it's fast.
What to Keep in Mind:
It isn't suitable for variable data, and for the best results, the minimum line thickness should be 0.4mm.
Foil Printing
Foil Printing
Foil printing uses a modern digital foiling process to apply a metallic finish—gold, silver, or copper—onto flat promotional items. This cost-effective method uses heat and pressure, so it prints directly from a digital file without the need for plates or stamps.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
It adds a premium metallic finish, it supports variable data, the flexible foil works well on softcover notebooks, and it offers a fast turnaround.
What to Keep in Mind:
Foil reflects the surface texture, and there is a minimum line thickness.
Hot Stamping
Hot Stamping
Hot stamping uses a heated metal plate to press your business logo or advertising message into the surface of promotional items. This creates a permanent, indented design. It's often used on materials like wood and adds a premium, handcrafted finish to your branded merchandise.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
: It delivers a high-value, permanent impression, it's great for quality business gifts, some products can achieve a contrasting two-tone effect, and it offers a fast turnaround.
What to Keep in Mind:
This method isn't suitable for variable data, and large solid areas might result in inconsistent impressions.
Faux Embroidery Printing
Faux Embroidery Printing
Faux Embroidery uses Colourflex® Transfer technology to digitally mimic the look and texture of traditional embroidery. It's a great choice for branded apparel, bags, and other textile promotional items. This method gives you vibrant, multi-colour decoration with a soft-touch finish.
Why It’s a Top Choice:
: It creates durable, flexible branding that's machine washable, it works well on a wide range of printed items, and it often produces better
What to Keep in Mind:
: It creates durable, flexible branding that's machine washable, it works well on a wide range of printed items, and it often produces better results on small designs.
