Decorating Types

Decorating Types

Debossing: depressing an image into a material’s surface so that the image sits below the product surface

Embossing: impressing an image in relief to achieve a raised surface

Hot Stamp: setting a design which is then heated and pressed onto the printing surface

Laser or Foil Stamp: applying metallic or colored foil imprints to vinyl, leather or paper surfaces

Personalization: imprinting an item with a person's name using one of several methods.

Die-casting: injecting molten metal into the cavity of a mold

Die-striking: producing emblems and other flat promotional products by striking a blank metal sheet with a hammer that holds the die

Etching: a process in which an image is first covered with a protective coating that resists acid, leaving bare metal and protected metal. The acid attacks only the exposed metal, leaving the image etched onto the surface of the metal.

Engraving: cutting an image into metal, wood or glass by one of three methods--computerized engraving, hand tracing, or hand engraving.

Colorfill: screen printing an image and then debossing it onto the material’s surface.

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. The digitizer must actually recreate the artwork using stitches. Then it programs the sewing machine to sew a specific design, in a spec specific color, with a specific type of stitch

Screen Printing: an image is transferred to the printed surface by ink, which is pressed through a stenciled screen and treated with a light-sensitive emulsion. (Also called silk screening)

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

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. You must create a different screen for every color you are going to print and screen each color separately allowing drying time in between.

Embroidery: A design is stitched into fabric through the use of high-speed, computer-controlled sewing machines. Artwork must first be "digitized;" the specialized process of converting two-dimensional artwork into stitches or thread. Certain formats 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. It then 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.

Deboss: The depression of an image into a material's surface so causing the image to sit below the product surface is a deboss. Emboss We Impress an image in relief to achieve a raised surface. 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.

Etching: A process in which an item is covered with a protective coating that resists acid to create the artwork. This leaves a bare surface and a protected surface. It is then exposed to acid. The acid attacks only the exposed surface leaving the image etched onto the surface. Laser or Foil Stamp Applying metallic or colored foil imprints to vinyl, leather or paper surfaces. Usually used on a deboss. Die-casting Injecting molten metal into the cavity of a carved die (or a mold). Die-striking Production of emblems and other flat promotional products by striking a blank metal sheet with a hammer that holds the die.