Product Decorations

At Arctic Blue we are promotional product experts and we can help you bring your products to life with a range of modern and classic branding technologies.

View some of our printing options below or call our team on +61 02 8296 8888 to discuss which will work best for you.

Screen Print

Screen Print

Screen printing is excellent for large print areas on flat or cylindrical objects

Pad Print

Pad Print

A practical & popular way of branding due to its ability to brand uneven & curved surfaces.

Laser Engraving

Laser Engraving

A permanent finish ideal for metal & glass. Creates a higher perceived value than direct print.

Resin

Resin

Produces a stunning 3 dimensional effect. Used effectively to brand a large variety of products.

Full Colour Label

Full Colour Label

Used for products with substrates that are difficult to print successfully with any other method.

Full Colour Heat Transfer

Full Colour Heat Transfer

Heat transfers are commonly used to brand textile surfaces & bags.

Sublimation

Sublimation

Can reproduce stunning, vivid, full colour graphics but only certain surfaces & materials can be branded.

Digital Media

Digital Media

Used for printing media such as paper, vinyl & magnetic material like labels, badges & fridge magnets.

Direct Digital

Direct Digital

Can be used to produce full colour printing on flat or slightly curved surfaces & ideal for dark coloured products.

Kiln Fired Decal

Kiln Fired Decal

The print becomes part of the surface and is permanent. Good for decorating mug handles and the inside lip.

Embroidery

Embroidery

The finished image has a slightly raised effect excellent for branding bags & apparel.

Imitation Etch

Imitation Etch

A special pad printing ink used for producing an etch like effect on glass products.

Debossing

Debossing

A hot engraved metal plate produces a permanent image below the product’s surface.

Flocking

Flocking

A durable heat transfer that provides a lasting smooth effect on fabric.

Foil Stamped

Foil Stamped

Metallic colours are stamped onto leather and vinyl with a glossy high quality finish.

Full Descriptions

Screen Print

Screen printing involves forcing ink through a mesh screen with a squeegee onto the product or substrate and is excellent for large print areas on flat or cylindrical objects. Close PMS matches can be achieved on white surfaces but as the colour of the product gets darker the ability to match PMS colours diminishes. Screen printing is best suited for spot colour reproduction and is not recommended for logos with half tones in them.

Advantages
Large print areas are possible on both flat and cylindrical products.
Close PMS matches are possible on white or light coloured products.
Ideal for large solid areas of colour.
Most screen print inks are quick drying and can be shipped immediately after printing.
Metallic gold and silver is available.

Limitations
Halftones and very fine lines are not recommended.
Close PMS matches are more difficult on darker products and will only be approximate.
Unable to print variable data.
A set up charge is required for each colour to be printed.

Artwork Requirements
Artwork should be supplied in vector format.

Pad Print

Pad printing uses a silicone pad to transfer an image to a product from a laser etched printing plate. Pad printing is one of the most practical and popular ways of branding promotional products due to its ability to reproduce images on uneven or curved surfaces and print multiple colours in a single pass. Close PMS matches can be achieved on white surfaces but as the colour of the product gets darker the ability to match PMS colours diminishes.

Advantages
Ideal for printing on curved or uneven products.
Close PMS matches are possible on white or light coloured products.
Metallic gold and silver is available.

Limitations
Halftones cannot be consistently reproduced.
The size of branding areas is limited on curved surfaces.
Unable to print variable data.
Close PMS matches are more difficult on darker products and will only be approximate.
Minor print distortion may occur on uneven or curved surfaces.
Pad print inks require a curing period before the product can be shipped.
A set up charge is required for each colour to be printed.

Artwork Requirements
Artwork should be supplied in vector format.

Laser Engraving

Laser engraving gives a permanent finish and creates a higher perceived value than direct printing. It is ideal for metal and glass items and because it is a digital process can be used for personalising products with individual names. Different materials produce different effects when engraved and if you are uncertain about the engraved finish please ask for a pre production sample.

Advantages
Higher perceived value than other forms of branding.
The branding becomes part of the surface and is permanent.
Gives a similar finish to etching on glassware at a much lower cost.
Can mark curved or uneven products.
Can produce variable data including individual names.
The product can be shipped as soon as marking is finished

Limitations
The size of branding areas is limited on curved surfaces.
Fine detail can be lost on smaller products like pens.

Artwork Requirements
The artwork should be supplied in vector format.

Resin Coated Finish

Resin coating an image produces a stunning 3 dimensional effect and elevates the perceived value of any product. Vinyl labels are resin coated which produces a very durable weather proof label that is almost indestructible. Resin labels can be printed in full colour and used very effectively to brand a large variety of products. As they are digitally printed, only approximate PMS colour matches are possible.

Full Colour Label

Full colour labels are used for products with substrates that are difficult to print successfully with any other method. Full colour labels are either printed with a digital inkjet printer if they are vinyl or a digital printing press for paper labels. Only approximate PMS colour matches are possible with digital printing.

Advantages
Ideal for producing vivid full colour images as well as spot colour branding.
Can print variable data including individual names.
Only one set up charge is required irrespective of the number of print colours.
The branding can bleed off the edges of the label.

Limitations
Only approximate PMS colours can be reproduced.
Metallic gold and silver colours are not available.

Artwork Requirements
Artwork can be supplied in either vector or bitmap format.
A 3mm bleed should be added to the artwork if it bleeds off the product.

Full Colour Heat Transfer

There are several methods of producing heat transfers. They can be printed and cut to shape on a digital inkjet printer. The disadvantage of this method is that the transfer can look like a label when heat pressed onto the product. Other methods are screen print, offset or full colour digital printing onto a release media. These methods give a finished print very similar to direct printing but the image is often much sharper and can reproduce finer detail. Heat transfers are commonly used to brand textile surfaces and bags. They are heat pressed onto the product and produce a permanent bond. Only approximate PMS colour matches are possible with digital printing.

Advantages
Cost effective method for producing spot colour or full colour transfers.
Crisp, clear artwork reproduction is possible even on textured fabrics.
Has a matt finish and will not crack or fade under normal circumstances.
Can print variable data including individual names.
Only one set up charge is required irrespective of the number of print colours.

Limitations
Only approximate PMS colours can be reproduced.
Some colours cannot be reproduced including metallic silver and gold.
A thin, clear line of glue can sometimes be seen around the edges of the image.

Artwork Requirements
Artwork can be supplied in either vector or bitmap format.

Sublimation

Sublimation is achieved by heat transferring a digitally printed full colour image from a paper transfer to the product. This process can reproduce stunning, vivid, full colour graphics but there is limited control over the colour outcomes which makes reproducing PMS colours very difficult and in some cases impossible. Only certain surfaces and materials can be branded with sublimation printing.

Advantages
Sublimation ink is actually a dye so there is no ink build-up on the finished print and it looks like part of the product.
Ideal for producing vivid full colour images as well as spot colour branding.
Can print variable data including individual names.
Only one set up charge is required irrespective of the number of print colours.
The branding can bleed off some products.

Limitations
Can only be used for suitable products with white surfaces.
Only approximate PMS colours can be reproduced.
Some colours cannot be reproduced including metallic silver and gold.
When printing large images some minor imperfections may appear in the print or around the edges of it. These are unavoidable.

Artwork Requirements
Artwork can be supplied in either vector or bitmap format.
A 3mm bleed should be added to the artwork if it bleeds off the product.

Digital Media

This production method is used for printing media such as paper, vinyl and magnetic material used in the manufacture of labels, badges and fridge magnets etc. Both digital inkjet and digital printing presses are used in the production of digital media. It is difficult to reproduce PMS colour matches with digital printing.

Advantages
Ideal for producing vivid full colour images as well as spot colour branding.
Can print variable data including individual names.
Only one set up charge is required irrespective of the number of print colours.
Can be cut to special shapes.
The branding can bleed off the edges of the product.

Limitations
Only approximate PMS colours can be reproduced.
Metallic gold and silver colours are not available.

Artwork Requirements
Artwork can be supplied in either vector or bitmap format.
A 3mm bleed should be added to the artwork if it bleeds off the product.

Direct Digital

Direct to product digital printing involves the transfer of ink directly from the print head of a special inkjet machine to the product and can be used to produce full colour printing on flat or slightly curved surfaces. It is difficult to reproduce PMS colour matches and some colours including metallic gold and silver are not possible to achieve. One big advantage of direct digital is that these machines can print a layer of white ink under the copy making them ideal for branding dark coloured products.

Advantages
Ideal for printing dark coloured products as a layer of white ink can be printed under the artwork.
Can print variable data including individual names.
Only one set up charge is required irrespective of the number of print colours.
Instant drying so products can be shipped immediately.
Offers larger print areas on many products and can print very close to the edge of flat products.

Limitations
Only approximate PMS colours can be reproduced.
Some colours cannot be reproduced including metallic silver and gold.
The size of branding areas is limited on curved surfaces.
Larger print areas tend to be more expensive.

Artwork Requirements
Artwork can be supplied in either vector or bitmap format.
A 3mm bleed should be added to the artwork if it bleeds off the product.

Kiln Fired Decal

Kiln fired decals are transfers printed with a ceramic ink that are applied to coffee mugs and glassware which are then fired at high temperatures in a kiln. The advantage of kiln fired decals is that the print becomes part of the surface and is permanent. They are also good for decorating mug handles and the inside lip as well as producing larger print areas on irregular shaped mugs or glasses. It is possible to obtain approximate PMS colour matches.

Embroidery

Embroidery is an excellent way of branding bags, apparel and other textile products. It offers higher perceived value and a depth of branding quality which other processes can’t match and the finished image has a slightly raised effect. Embroidery uses rayon thread which is stitched into the product.

Advantages
Only one setup charge applies per position for up to 12 thread colours.

Limitations
Only approximate PMS colour matches are possible – the threads to be used are chosen from those available to give the closest possible match. See our thread colour chart for the colours available.
It is best to avoid both fine detail and font sizes which are less than 4 mm high in the artwork.
Individual naming not available.

Artwork Requirements
Vector artwork is preferred.

Imitation Etch

Imitation etch is a special pad printing ink used for producing an etch like effect on glass products.

Advantages
Much lower cost than real etching.
Can brand curved or uneven products.
Produces a subtle, high perceived value finish that looks like etching.

Limitations
Halftones cannot be consistently reproduced.
The size of branding areas is limited on curved surfaces.
Minor print distortion may occur on uneven or curved surfaces.
Requires a curing period before the product can be shipped.
Unable to print variable data.

Artwork Requirements
The artwork should be supplied in vector format.

Debossing

Debossing is produced by pressing a hot engraved metal plate into the surface of a product with a lot of pressure. This produces a permanent image below the products surface.

Advantages
Higher perceived value than other forms of branding.
The branding becomes part of the product and is permanent.
The product can be shipped as soon as heat pressing is finished.

Limitations
Has a higher initial setup cost than other forms of branding as an engraved metal plate must be made. This is a one off cost and is not applicable to repeat orders if the artwork remains unchanged.

Artwork Requirements
The artwork should be supplied in vector format.

Flocking

A durable heat transfer that provides a smooth lasting effect on fabric. It works well for apparel such as uniforms and workwear. Can be printed in any PMS colour or combination of colours.

Foil Stamping

Images are foil stamped in metallic colours onto leather and vinyl materials. It produces a glossy finish that offers a high quality appearance.

Call our friendly team on +61 02 8296 8888 to discuss which option will work best for you.