Embroidery, Printing & Engraving Options
Decoration Set Up Explained
The purpose of this section is to give you a brief overview of the main decorating options for promotional products and clothing. We have endeavored to explain the reasons for set up fees and generally what factors are taken into account when determining the decoration price component as part of the overall price of the item chosen.
Decoration Pricing
As a general rule the cost of decorating any item is based on the number of colors involved in the image, whether there is more than one position or image to be applied and the number of items to be decorated. The main exception to this rule is embroidery where it is the number of stitches that determines the price not the number of colors involved. All options available have multiple color options.
Set Up Fees
Initial set up fees apply with virtually every form of decoration. 99.8% of these fees are quoted separately to the decoration costs as they generally apply only to the first decoration run. Some decorators will also charge a reduced set up fee for repeat decoration runs.
Set up fees are charged to cover the cost of putting an image onto positive or negative film, making a printing plate for each color and setting up a jig to ensure each item is decorated in exactly the same position. This can be a lengthy process which is why it is usual to have up front fees on the first run rather than amortize these fees into the decoration costs and pay them again and again on repeat runs.
Set up fees will vary from decorator to decorator depending on what is involved in setting up a job for the form of decoration chosen.
Decoration Options
Virtually anything you can think of can be decorated in one or more methods. The decoration options available depending on the product are:
Plastisol Transfers, Rubber Logos, Laser Engraving, Etching, Sublimation, Embroidery and Screen Printing.
Plastisol Transfers
A Plastisol transfer is a process of applying a transfer (sticker) with one or more colors to an item. Transfers are often used on products that have a rough surface i.e. bags or hats where screen printing cannot give you the registration or fine lines that maybe part of the image being reproduced.
Liquid Print
Plastic Bubble Logos are the latest innovation for logo placement. They are stylish, cost effective and excellent for people that are looking for 'subtle' branding. These can be made with a solid or transparent base.
Laser Engraving
Laser engraving is used primarily on metal type objects. Stainless steel items and silver or gold metal objects are often laser engraved with an image as an alternative to pad or screen printing.
Etching
Etching is a similar process to laser engraving and is used as a method of decorating glassware with a permanent image. The image appears to be coarser in comparison to the rest of the glass.
Sublimation
Sublimation is simply a process of transferring a photo or picture and applying it to a ceramic object i.e coffee mugs. Photos can also be sublimated on to other items like t-shirts etc.
Embroidery
Embroidery is a method of stitching a logo onto clothing, hats, bags, towels and many other items. Multiple colors are available and it is the only multiple colored process that does not have a separate charge or separate set up fee for each color. The logo being reproduced is digitized by using a specialized embroidery digitizing software. The cost of embroidery is based on the number of stitches in the design and the number of items being embroidered.
Screen Printing
Screen printing is a process where an art screen in placed over an item, i.e. T-Shirt and ink is then applied over the screen. Each color requires an individual screen.