Using Pad Printing

With so many ways to print, the entire concept of transferring your logo onto another object has become far more complex than in earlier years. Instead of only taking to flat surfaces, anything and everything can now sport your design. That means it’s up to you to decide how and what gets printed on a decision that is far more involved than it would initially appear.

How to Print

As a rule of thumb, if you’re not going to print on a flat surface, you will have to go with pad printing. This specialty form of printing is when an image is transferred onto a silicon pad then pressed onto the item being branded. Because of how it conforms to a variety of shapes, this is the main method used for everything that isn’t paper, from basketballs to mugs. In addition, its ability to adapt the ink and pressure means that it can create a perfect print on any type of surface, no matter how rough, with ink crafted to last as long as possible.

Going this method means you’ll need to supply the printer with a logo design that can be resized but still maintain clarity. If, for instance, your current logo uses small words, it would be better to come up with a more simplified logo without said text so that the image still comes through without any kind of odd distortion. Truth be told, once certain parts of a logo become too small, they simply can’t be pad printed with any kind of clarity. On top of this, you’ll need to make sure your image is of a high enough resolution that if it needs to be blown up, it still retains the sharpness it has at its current size.

What to Print

As stated before, pad printing allows you to print on everything. No matter the shape, surface or material, inks and pads are available to make it work. Luckily, there are many printing companies that already offer items to be printed on and are happy to help you come up with an idea. However, if you’re out to do something absolutely unique, the process will take a bit longer. With the stock a printing company already has, they already know what kind of inks to use on what for the best results. Introduce a foreign object, and they’ll more than likely need to run a few test prints for you so that you can see which option would work the best. Once that’s done, the printing can begin in earnest.

Though not a long process with specialty items, it is longer than simply ordering out of a catalogue, so be sure to give yourself enough time to work with the pad printing company’s timelines so that both of you come out with a great product that makes your brand happy.