| Screen Printing / Silk-Screening |
An image is transferred to the printed surface by ink, which is pressed through a stenciled screen and treated with a light-sensitive emulsion. Film positives are put in contact with the screens and exposed to light, hardening the emulsion not covered by film and leaving a soft area on the screen for the squeegee to press ink through. Also, you must create a different screen for every color you are going to print, and then screen each color separately allowing drying time in-between. |
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| Embroidery |
Stitching a design into fabric through the use of high-speed,computer-controlled sewing machines. Artwork must first be "digitized," which is the specialized process of converting two-dimensional artwork into stitches or thread. A particular format of art such as a jpeg, tif, eps, or bmp, cannot be converted into an embroidery tape. The digitizer must actually recreate the artwork using stitches. Then it programs the sewing machine to sew a specific design, in a specific color, with a specific type of stitch. This is the process known as digitizing. |
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| Deboss |
Achieved by depressing an image into a
material’s surface so that the image sits below the product surface. |
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| Emboss |
We Impress an image in relief to achieve a
raised surface. |
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| Hot Stamp |
Setting a design on a metal relief die or
plate, which is then heated and pressed onto the printing surface to achieve a
deboss. |
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| Etching |
Using a process in which an image is first
covered with a protective coating that resists acid, then exposed, leaving bare
metal and protected metal. The acid attacks only the exposed metal, leaving the
image etched onto the surface. |
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| Laser or Foil Stamp |
Applying metallic or colored foil imprints to
vinyl, leather or paper surfaces. Usually with a deboss. |
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| Die-casting |
Injecting molten metal into the cavity of a
carved die (or a mold) |
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| Die-striking |
Producing emblems and other flat promotional
products by striking a blank metal sheet with a hammer that holds the
die. |
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| Colorfill |
Screen printing an image and then debossing it
onto the vinyl’s surface. |
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| Pad Printing |
A recessed surface is covered with ink. The
plate is wiped clean, leaving ink in the recessed areas. A silicone pad is then
pressed against the plate, pulling the ink out of the recesses, and pressing it
directly onto the product. |
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| 4-color Process |
A system where a color image is separated into
4 different color values by the use of filters and screens (usually done
digitally). The result is a color separation of 4 images, that when transferred
to printing plates and printed on a printing press with the colored inks cyan
(blue), magenta (red), yellow and black, reproduces the original color image.
These four colors can be combined to create thousands of colors just as your
computer printer does. |
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| Laser (Engraving) |
Imprinting method by which art or lettering is
cut into a material by a laser beam that vaporizes the portion exposed through
openings in a template. |
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| Sublimation |
Dye transfer process where the image consists
of a colored dye permanently embedded into the material surface of pores. Used
to imprint messages, graphics and photographs on a variety of items, primarily
mouse pads, mugs, T-shirts, caps, and trophy medals. |
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| Decal |
Artwork is produced on a transparent decal,
then applied to product. |
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| Offset Printing |
A process of transferring ink from a metal
printing plate to a rubber-covered cylinder. Used on more complex artwork and
for higher quantity runs. |
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