Which Imprint Method Is Best For Promotional Products?

Which Types of Imprint Methods Are Best For Promotional Products

How are promotional products different from your everyday journals, water bottles, or backpacks? It's the imprint method used during the production process. A professional promotional product company will provide high-quality imprint methods you can choose from for your custom swag. Some items will have more imprint methods available than others.

If you're new to the world of custom swag and promotional products, you may be wondering what types of imprint methods are the best for your upcoming project.
In this article, we'll explore the power of imprint printing and how to choose the best decoration method for your next marketing campaign.

Here's everything you need to know:

What is Imprint Printing?

An imprint is the custom mark you leave on a product. This could be a logo, symbol, or specific marketing message. When investing in promotional products you'll be asked to pick a product, color, and material. Once you've narrowed your search, look at the different decoration methods available. The types of imprint methods available and the imprint size will vary depending on the item.

For example, let's say you want to add your logo to a water bottle. Depending on the material the water bottle is made of, you can likely choose between laser engraving, silkscreen, or heat transfer. The cost for the imprint printing will vary depending on the number of colors, location, and product type.

The Six Types of Imprint Methods

Before you start branding, you'll want to understand the different decoration methods available. Here's a quick breakdown of the six different decoration methods:

The most popular and affordable imprint method available for promotional swag. Silkscreen imprints are made through pressing ink through special screens directly onto the product. Most promotional products come with a one-color, one-location silkscreen imprint included in the price. If you want to add more colors to your design, you may be required to pay an additional set-up fee for each color.

Embroidery leaves a high-quality, professional imprint. It's a top choice for shirts, hats, or backpacks. This imprint method uses digital sewing machines to stitch your logo or creative design.

Light and dark thermal transfer transfers photorealistic creative designs onto fabric. This imprint method is a top choice for multi-color creative designs for backpacks, totes, or t-shirts.

This is a great option to consider if you like the look of metallic foils. This imprint method is commonly used to add a touch of shimmer to your logo or creative design. It's great for bags, apparel, and other items made with fabric.

Sublimation infuses ink into the fabric. The process uses heat to create a vibrant, full-color design. This is an affordable imprint printing method for full-color creative designs.

Professional and sleek. Engraving uses lasers to etch your logo or creative design onto a product. This imprint printing method is ideal for stainless steel items like water bottles, tumblers, and other high-end corporate gifts.

Which Decoration Method is Most Suitable for Promotional Products?

The decoration method used for imprinting will vary. Here's what decoration methods are ideal for which imprint products you choose:

How to Choose the Best Decoration Method

Before you start branding, there are a few things you'll want to consider to ensure you achieve a sleek imprint that complements your branding.

The product you choose will dictate which imprint printing is available. Once you find an item you like, you'll see the different decoration methods and the maximum imprint size. If you have a specific imprint method in mind, you may need to explore a few products to find what can accommodate your creative vision for your promotional product order.

The material is also important to keep in mind when deciding which decoration method is best for your project. For example, you can't laser engrave on a plastic water bottle. Instead, you'd want to explore stainless steel options.

Are you looking for a high-end corporate gift for clients or employees? Do you need the cheapest imprint products you can find for giveaways at an upcoming event? Your goals will help you choose the decoration method and the best products for the marketing campaign.

A budget for your project will dictate the decoration method you can afford for your project. Most promotional products come with a one-color, one-location imprint included in the price. You may need to pay an additional fee per item if you choose to go with a silkscreen imprint for a multi-color logo. However, with sublimation, you only need to pay one flat rate for as many colors as you want.

Lastly, you'll want to consider which imprint printing method will complement your logo or creative design. Silkscreen is typically the best and most affordable method for one-color logos. While sublimation or thermal transfers are better for full-color designs.

Explore High-Quality Imprint Printing With Bagmasters

Ready to explore a wide selection of promotional products for your next project? We're here to help. At Bagmasters, we offer various imprint products at an affordable rate. All of our products are imprinted in our facility in Corona, California. We also provide next-level customer service, quick turnaround times, and fast shipping.

Our team of promo experts is also here to help you pick the best imprint printing method for your project, depending on the product you choose and your creative design.

Explore our best sellers today to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions About Imprint Products