There are a number of print processes available to overprint our products. Here is a guide to these processes:
Foil Stamping
The roll of foil is made from pigment and a releasing agent on a mylar backing. When a heated die is stamped onto the roll of foil, the impression is transferred to the surface beneath.
Blind Embossing
The blind embossing process involves embossing without foil. The design is stamped on either plain paper or printed areas and gives a bas-relief effect. If embossing over a printed area, heat resistant ink must be used.
Foil Embossing
Foil embossing is a combination of the above processes. Foil is combined with embossing to give a new dimension to your business forms
Screen Printing
Artwork is first separated into the various colours - either the mix of spot colours, or CYMK, then each individually printed as a positive image onto clear film. The film is then placed into a frame together with the screen a fine mesh of fabric, which has been coated with the light sensitive gel. The area of gel exposed to ultraviolet light hardens, whereas the unexposed area can be washed away forming a template for printing. For low quality printing a lightweight, stencil cut film is sometimes used to provide the template for the screen. Screen printing is almost wholly restricted to windsocks and kites, or where medium/large volumes are required. Spot colours and half tones can be accommodated easily but four colour screen printing, though not impossible is an expensive option for most of our products
Sublimation Printing
Sublimation Printing is a procedure for transferring full colour graphics or even photographs onto certain products that have a polymer based surface.
First, a design or artwork/photo is created. It is then printed with sublimation inks/dyes, in a mirror image, onto a standard, photo-quality 720-dpi paper. The print is then transferred to the sublimation receptive item by means of a Heat Transfer Press.
Pressing times and temperatures vary according to the substrate used but, in general, the process is very quick. During pressing, the sublimation ink evaporates and penetrates into the chemically treated product, so the image is sealed under, as opposed to sitting on, the surface of the finished item.
We can use a selection of products that are suitable for sublimation. The full colour images can be applied to coated mugs, tiles, and plates. Metal*, for signs, awards, badges, trophy discs, key-tags and so forth, plastics including trophy plaques, bag-tags, coasters, tablemats and more.
End results are vibrant, photo-realistic images, or text, onto a range of personal or promotional items. With sublimation you can produce a unique ‘one of’ a short run or multiples, this type of process works well for both T-shirts & Mugs.