“What is the best printing option for our next corporate gifts?” This is a question that we often get. The amount of printing options is insane, and everyone wants to stay on top of what is the latest and greatest to inspire our clients.
A Notebook to Model the Best Printing Options
If there is one corporate gift you can give me over and over again, it is a notebook. In my opinion, a notebook as a corporate gift never gets outdated, and I doubt if you can ever have too many notebooks. So, when it comes to explaining the different print processes for corporate gifts, it goes without saying that a notebook, as a base, would be my number one choice.
Below is a comparison of all the possible printing techniques you can use on a notebook.
SCREEN PRINT
Text must be minimum 2mm high and a minimum 3mm high on textured items. Outlines & fined detail must be minimum 0.5mm thick / 0,75mm on textured items. Avoid fine detail on textured items.
No gradients or shadows. Can do half tones which gives it a semi gradient look.
Limited to 6 colours. Very cost effective if using one colour and/or larger branding. For each colour a screen needs to be made, making multiple colours cost effective only on larger quantities. Ink is applied directly to product and thereafter cured to set.
Screen Print can be done on a wide range of materials. Non-porous, rough or excessively textured surfaces, as well as materials that are heat sensitive, is not suitable for Screen Print.
This print method can print almost the entire notebook.
DIGITAL DIRECT TRANSFER
Outlines & fine details should be at least .75mm thick / 0.75mm on textured materials. Small or fine details are however preferably to be avoided on textured items.
Shading and gradient effects can be applied ‘inside’ the graphic, but not outside the graphic due to the white screenprint under the base.
Printing is done in CMYK as it is a digital process.
No extra cost for full colour print, price increases with size of branding.
The digital print is heat set onto the item.
Digital Direct Transfer can be done on a wide range of materials. Materials that are not light-coloured, have loose threads, or are made of natural fibres like cotton is not suitable for Digital Direct Transfer. Additionally, materials like faux fur and leather may or be ideal due to potential damage or durability issues. Poor quality polyester may also warp or shrink under the heat of the DDT process.
Can print on the largest part of the notebook.
DIRECT TO PRINT
Text must be at least 1mm high, Outlines, fine text or details must be at least 0.25mm thick to ensure clarity and eligibility.
CMYK colours are used as it is a digital process and can therefore not brand white.
Perfect colour matching on products can also not be guaranteed due to the nature of the branding process
No extra cost for full colour print, price increases with size of branding.
The digital print is heat set onto the item. Limited range of journals to print on (1 in Amrod series)
DIGITAL VINYL OR DOME STICKERS
Text Limitations: Stand-alone text minimum 1mm high
Outlines & fine details should be at least .25mm thick. When a dark background is used, outlines & fine details should be at least 0.5mm thick
Printing is done in CMYK as it is a digital process and can therefore not brand white.
No extra cost for full colour print, price increases with size of branding.
The digital print is heat set onto the item.
Suitable for smaller surfaces.
DEBOSSING
Text Limitations: Stand-alone text minimum 3mm high
Outlines & fine details should be at least .75mm thick with minimum space of 1mm between elements. Avoid fine detail for debossing.
Shading, gradients or full colour prints are not suitable for debossing, since the process involves heating the logo onto the product. The process can only accommodate a solid logo. The colour of the branding will be a shade lighter or darker than the item.
ADDING FOILING:
As above. Branding colour is limited to one of 12 predefined foil colours.
LASER ENGRAVING:
Text Limitations: Stand-alone text minimum 1mm high
Outlines & fine details should be at least .25mm thick. Avoid fine details as they may close up during the branding process.
Gradients or shadows are not suitable. The colour of the branding will be an undertone of the item. It the undertone of the material is uneven (as in wood) the engraving will reflect the varying undertones.
Materials like PVC, some plastics as well as materials containing halogens, epoxy or phenolic resins are not suitable for engraving due to the risk of releasing toxic fumes and/or damaging the laser equipment.
The Best Printing Option on a Notebook
It is no secret that there are multiple options when it comes to branding your notebook. My advice to my clients is to look at what your story is that you want to get out to your current and potential clients. Your target market. When you do an audit on their expectations and marry it with what your story entails, you will get the answer to whether you are going for an upmarket debossing or engraving option with a high-quality look & feel or whether you will go for a funky full-colour print that spans over the entire surface of your notebook.
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