Silk Screen / Screen Printing
This is a process used for apparel imprinting and for imprinting on other types of products. Basically a woven mesh screen is used to support an ink-blocking stencil to receive a desired image. Open areas of mesh (your artwork) is where the ink is transferred; a fill blade or a squeegee is moved across the screen, pumping ink through the open areas. Polyester mesh is used more commonly nowadays; silk was used before synthetic materials came about (hence silk screen). This method of printing has been around since 960-1279 AD ... so, a long time.
When screen printing apparel, an underbase of white is needed on a colored product (no underbase needed if the product is white) in order for art to be imprinted on top of that white layer. This ensures color-matching. We could always print without the underbase to create a vintage look and feel, but keep in mind that the colors being imprinted will be laying on a colored surface, so that colored surface will manipulate the colors being imprinted directly on it.
When screen printing apparel, an underbase of white is needed on a colored product (no underbase needed if the product is white) in order for art to be imprinted on top of that white layer. This ensures color-matching. We could always print without the underbase to create a vintage look and feel, but keep in mind that the colors being imprinted will be laying on a colored surface, so that colored surface will manipulate the colors being imprinted directly on it.
Embroidery
The good ol' needle and thread method. This is of course another way to get your logo on an apparel item, towel, blanket, bag, etc. Your artwork is converted into a digitizing file (dst), which is what's needed in order for the embroidery machines to embroider your logo. Pricing is based on stitch count and it's always good to run the logo by me to be sure it will embroider well - fine lines and details may/may not embroider well, depending on its intricacy and size of the logo.
Pad Printing
Pad Printing is extremely effective on rounded, uneven, or slanted product shapes. It is also perfect for small and intricate logos. A silicone pad is used to transfer the ink onto the product; using an "indirect offset gravure" printing process, an image is transferred from the cliche (printing plate) via a silicone pad and onto an item. The pad can hit various levels on a product at one time.
Laser Engraving/Etching
As you'd expect, a laser is used to mark a surface of an item without cutting into the surface. A beam is emitted from the laser engraving machine and the controller traces patterns onto the surface. The engraving color will be what the material's color is below the surface. Oxidation can be used to create more of a contrast of the engraving color. When something is laser etched, a diamond tip is used to engrave the logo. Laser engraving is great use on wood and metal products. There's also a laser-like/satin etch technique that can be used on drinkware, for that frosty-imprint look (sandblasting may also be used). This method also ensures your logo to be on the item forever - there's no way it could rub-off.
Dye-sublimation
I love dye-sublimated products. Art is printed using CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black - the four colors used to print all the colors of the rainbow and then some, also known as four color process) where a film is placed on the product and heat is applied to turn the image into vapor and then back onto the product. So the ink goes from being solid, then a gas, then back to a solid again. This process creates gorgeous images. An example of this would be a dye-sublimated lanyard - you get to create a fully printed lanyard, vs taking a stock lanyard and imprinting on top of the material -- the image basically becomes a part of the lanyard. Dye sublimation is also great for apparel, custom bags, ribbons, etc. PMS color matching isn't guaranteed since we're printing this using CMYK, but we will always do our best to match them as best as possible.
Transfers
A transfer is created in a very similar method to screen printing, however, the ink is applied to a sheet of transfer paper instead of directly onto the material. The transfer is then pressed onto the product using a combination of heat and pressure. This method allows for unlimited color separations (CMYK) that always require an underlay (we'd need to print a layer of white below the image in order to capture the correct colors).
