Branding Buffet 

Heat Press Branding

What it is

Heat Press branding uses heat and pressure to permanently apply your design onto a product. Your artwork is printed onto a specialised vinyl material, which is then fused to the surface of the item using a heat press machine.

Why it works

This method is highly versatile and works well across a wide range of fabrics and materials. It’s especially effective for designs with multiple colours, fine details, or small text where clarity is key.

Things to know

Because the design is applied using a vinyl layer, it doesn’t stretch in the same way as fabric. On flexible garments, this may result in light creasing over time.

Best suited for

Bags, apparel, headwear, and other fabric-based items.

The Heat Press Process

  • Step 1:  Your artwork is printed onto a premium, heat-activated vinyl with an adhesive backing.
  • Step 2:  The vinyl is carefully positioned onto your product in the correct placement.
  • Step 3:  The product is placed into a heat press machine, where controlled heat and pressure are applied.
  • Step 4:  The heat activates the adhesive, bonding the design directly to the product for a clean, durable finish.

Screen Print Branding

What it is

Screen printing is a traditional and highly reliable branding method where your design is transferred onto a product using ink and a custom-made mesh screen. Each colour is applied individually to ensure strong, consistent results.

Why it’s effective

This method is very cost-efficient for larger order quantities and works exceptionally well for bold logos and solid colour designs. It supports single-colour prints as well as multi-colour designs (up to six colours), delivering excellent colour accuracy and durability.

Good to know

Screen printing is best suited to simpler artwork with clear shapes and strong contrast. Very fine details or gradients may not reproduce as well as with digital methods.

Best suited for

T-shirts, bags, umbrellas, cooler bags, notebooks, folders, and similar promotional items.

The Screen Printing Process

  • Step 1:  Your logo is transferred onto a fine mesh screen, creating a stencil of your design.
  • Step 2: Areas not part of the design are sealed, allowing ink to pass through only where your logo appears.
  • Step 3:The prepared screen is washed and set, ensuring the design is clean and ready for printing.
  • Step 4:  The screen is mounted onto the printing station and aligned with your product.
  • Step 5:  Ink is applied and spread evenly across the screen, pushing it through the open areas of the mesh onto the item.
  • Step 6:  The printed ink is heat cured, permanently setting the design for a long-lasting finish.

Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing

What it is

Direct to Garment printing uses advanced inkjet technology to print your design directly onto fabric. The ink is absorbed into the fibres of the garment, creating a soft, high-detail finish.

Why it’s a great option

DTG is ideal for smaller quantities and designs that include fine detail, gradients, or multiple colours. There’s no setup with screens, making it efficient and flexible. Print quality improves significantly when higher-quality garments are used.

Important to note

Garments are treated before printing to help the ink bond properly to the fabric. This step is especially important for darker materials to ensure vibrant, long-lasting colours.

Best suited for

T-shirts and apparel designed for digital garment printing. This technology can also be adapted for certain bags and drinkware applications.

The DTG Printing Process

  • Step 1:  The garment is pre-treated with a specialised solution to prepare the fibres for ink absorption, particularly on darker fabrics.
  • Step 2:  The pre-treated garment is dried, either naturally or using a heat press.
  • Step 3:  Your artwork is prepared using dedicated software. For dark garments, a white ink base is added to ensure colour accuracy.
  • Step 4:  The garment is carefully positioned on the printer, ensuring it lies completely flat to avoid print defects.
  • Step 5:  The printing process begins, applying the ink directly onto the garment for a detailed, high-quality finish.

Engraving

What it is

Engraving is a precise method of etching your logo or design into a product by removing the top layer of the surface to reveal a secondary layer underneath. This creates a subtle, elegant, and permanent impression.

Why it works

Engraving delivers high accuracy, making it perfect for logos with fine detail. When the second layer is a different colour, it becomes visible, adding a natural contrast and sophisticated look.

Best suited for

Awards, stainless steel accessories, flasks, pens, mugs, and a variety of other products.

Types of Laser Engraving

  1. CO2 Laser Engraving

CO2 lasers burn your design into the product by removing the top layer with incredible precision. This method is ideal for organic materials like glass, wood, and leather.

Why it’s great

  • Highly accurate replication of logos
  • Excellent for detailed designs
  • Permanent and classy branding

The CO2 Engraving Process

  • Step 1:  Your digital artwork is loaded into the laser engraving machine.
  • Step 2:  The product is carefully positioned in the machine at the desired branding location.
  • Step 3:  The CO2 laser precisely etches your design, removing the top layer and revealing the underlying material to create a sharp, permanent impression.

Pad Printing

What it is

Pad printing is an offset printing method where your design is first transferred from an engraved plate onto a soft rubber or silicone pad, and then pressed onto your product. The “offset” process means the design moves from one surface to another before reaching the final item.

Why it works

This method is fast, cost-effective, and highly versatile. It works on almost any shape, and supports single or multi-colour branding (up to 4 colours), making it ideal for detailed logos on small items.

Best suited for

Plastic promotional items such as keyholders, pens, torches, USBs, and other small, irregular surfaces.

The Pad Printing Process

  • Step 1:  Your design is laser-engraved onto a metal plate, which is then coated with ink.
  • Step 2:  A soft silicone or rubber pad presses onto the engraved plate, picking up the ink and replicating your design.
  • Step 3:  The pad transfers the ink directly onto the surface of your product, leaving a precise, clean impression of your logo.

Deboss Branding

What it is

Debossing is a method where your logo or design is pressed into the surface of a product using heat and pressure, creating a permanently sunken impression.

Why it works

Debossing gives your product a subtle, elegant, and professional 3D effect. It’s perfect for adding a touch of sophistication without using ink or colour.

Best suited for

Genuine leather and PU (imitation) leather items such as wallets, journals, bags, and accessories.

Did you know?

  • Debossing creates a sunken logo.
  • Embossing creates a raised logo.

The Debossing Process

  • Step 1:  Your design is carefully engraved onto a metal plate.
  • Step 2:  The metal plate is heated to approximately 100°C to prepare for pressing.
  • Step 3:  The product is positioned in the machine at the desired branding location.
  • Step 4:  The heated metal plate presses into the product, leaving a clean, permanent sunken impression of your logo.

Emboss Branding

What it is

Embossing is a technique that creates a raised 3D design on the surface of a product. This method adds depth and texture, giving your brand a premium, tactile feel.

Why it works

Embossing elevates the look and quality of your items, making your logo or design stand out without using ink or colour.

Best suited for

Fabrics, leather, metal, paper, plastic, and silicone products.

Did you know?

  • Embossing = raised design
  • Debossing = sunken design

The Embossing Process

  • Step 1:  Your logo is engraved onto two metal plates — one raised (die) and one recessed (counter-die).
  • Step 2:  The plates are heated to prepare them for pressing.
  • Step 3:  The product is carefully placed between the two plates in the press machine.
  • Step 4:  The plates are pressed together, forcing the material into the recessed die, creating a precise, raised embossed impression.

Direct to Product (UV Printing)

What it is

Direct to Product (DTP) printing uses UV-cured ink to apply your design directly onto flat or slightly curved surfaces. The ink is instantly cured with UV light, producing vibrant, durable, and long-lasting branding.

Why it works

This method allows for full-colour, permanent branding on a wide range of products. It’s ideal for smaller runs and detailed designs where precision and colour clarity are important.

Important to know

The surface of the product must be smooth and wrinkle-free, as any imperfections can affect the quality of the print.

Best suited for

Bags, drinkware, and garments prepared for digital surface printing.

The Direct to Product Process

  • Step 1:  The product is pre-treated to ensure the ink adheres properly and then left to dry.
  • Step 2:  Your logo is digitally prepared and printed onto a UV-curable medium. For darker surfaces, a white ink base may be added to make the design stand out.
  • Step 3:  The product is carefully positioned flat in the branding machine, with the logo aligned exactly where it should appear.
  • Step 4:  The machine is activated, and the UV printing process begins. The ink is instantly cured, leaving a sharp, colourful, and permanent branding on your product.

Embroidery

What it is

Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric with threads to create a high-quality, textured design. For branding, the process is digitized: your logo is converted into a format that embroidery machines can read, and the design is stitched directly onto your product.

Why it works

Embroidery is a classic, premium branding method that adds a professional, long-lasting look. It works for single or multi-colour designs and can be applied to both flat and curved surfaces.

Best suited for

Clothing and headwear such as shirts, jackets, and caps, as well as textile gifts like bags and accessories.

The Embroidery Process

  • Step 1:  Your logo is uploaded to the computer in a digital embroidery format.
  • Step 2:  The embroidery machine reads the digitized file and prepares to recreate your design with thread.
  • Step 3:  The product is carefully positioned in the machine at the desired branding location.
  • Step 4:  The machine stitches your design, one colour at a time, creating a clean, textured pattern.
  • Step 5:  Once stitching is complete, the product is removed from the machine.
  • Step 6:  Any loose threads are trimmed, leaving your product neatly branded and ready for use.