Different Branding Options for Promotional Caps, Hats and Visors
Broadly there are three ways to make sure your logo appears at its best on your promotional headwear selection. The great majority of caps and embroidered as it is the simplest and most cost effective system in addition to giving dimension and texture to a logo. Caps and visors can also be screenprinted and depending on the design you have on mind this can be a very effective method of decoration. It is also possible on certain pieces of headwear, to have a sublimated digital image applied to your choice of product. This system allows you to take a particular photograph or digital image and have it directly printed on the cap or hat. The effectiveness of this branding system depends heavily on the type of artwork you plan to use. Ask us here for our advice if you are looking at a sublimated cap print.

Advantages of Embroidered Promotional Caps, Hats and Visors
Embroidery of promotional headwear is the most effective balance of cost and quality result.

Advantages of Screen Printed Promotional Accessories, Hats and Visors
Screen printing is a cost effective method of branding larger quantities of promotional caps and promotions headwear.

Advantages of Sublimated Transfer Printed Promotional Caps, Hats and Visors
Sublimated prints allow a digital image to be directly applied to the hat you have chosen. Not all styles of head wear can have sublimated printing applied, so ask us if this is of interest to you.

Decals
Decals are normally used to decorate porcelain, glass and ceramic items and other promotional products which are hardworking or require regular exposure to water and cleaning agents. Decals can produced in any number of different colours and are then applied to the promotional item. The best branding method then requires the item to be baked in a specially designed oven for 4-6 hours depending on the design and the colours used. Effectively the image becomes part of the item being branded leaving a decoration which cannot be removed and will stay in place for the life of the item.

Decoration Pricing
In most cases the cost of decorating any item is calculated based on the number of colours involved in the image, the quantity of the order and the number of position the logo is to appear on the promotional product you've chosen.

Set Up Fees
Initial set up fees apply with virtually every form of decoration. This cost is quoted separately to the printing cost.

Set up fees are charged to cover the cost of putting your image or logo onto film, making a printing plate for each colour and creating a jig to ensure each item is decorated in a regular manner. This is a time consuming and costly process and the reason why we choose to to have up front fees.

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: Pad Printing, Screen Printing, Plastisol Transfers, Decals, Offset Printing, Laser Engraving, Etching, Sublimation, Embossing, and Embroidery.

Plastisol Transfers
Plastisol transfers is a process of applying a transfer (sticker) with one or more colours 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.

Rubber Logos
Molded rubber 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. This option is only available on orders of 500 pieces or more and rubber logos can only be done overseas as the machinery required has not yet been introduced to Australia.

Metal Logos (Laser engraved)
Laser engraved logos carry the same image as moulded metal logos, but are more practical for smaller quantities and 'subtle' branding. Available on bags and caps.

Metal Logos (Moulded)
Strong durable moulded metal logos present your brand in the best possible manner. Thius form or branding is available on bags, caps and a range of other corporate gifts.

Laser Engraving
Laser engraving is used primarily on metal type objects though it can be successfully used on a wide range of promotional items. Stainless steel and silver or gold metal promotional premiums are often laser engraved with an image as an alternative to pad printing or less effective methoids of promotional branding.

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 frosted in comparison to the rest of the glass.

Embossing
Leather, PVC and paper items are often embossed or stamped. The process of stamping a promotional item with either an image in silver or gold foil so it is permanently shown on the promotional item is the best explanation possible. A block is made of the logo or image and then stamped onto the object using a hammer or mechanised system. Certain leather promotional items can also be blind embossed leaving an image impressed into the product without metal foiling.

Embroidery
Embroidery is a method of stitching a logo onto clothing, hats, bags and many other promotional products. Multiple colours are available. The logo or embroidered image required is digitised by using specialised software. The cost of embroidery as branding is calculated on the number of stitches in the design and the number of items being embroidered.

Pad Printing
Pad printing is where a silicone pad is used to lift an image from a printing plate after it has been inked and transferring the image to the surface on which you wish to print. Each colour in the design requires an individual printing plate. You are restricted as to how large an image can be reproduced depending on the type of product, the contours of its surface and the overall appearance of the final product. promotional items which are usually pad printed include pens, pencils, keyrings, clocks, radios and a wide range of other promotional products.

Process Printing
When a full colour printed logo is required, process printing provides excellent reproduction quality and is durable and hard wearing. Ideal for back packs, sports bags and t-shirts/apparel.


Brian Smallwood