• Customization Guide

EMBOSS

DEBOSS

Material

  • Leather
  • Leather & Paper

Pros

  • Permanent Imprint
  • Enhances the look of simple designs
  • Permanent imprint
  • Allows for detailed image

Cons

  • Cannot be performed on pens, ceramics, USB drives power banks or other small objects.
  • Typically more expensive due to custom die cost.
  • Cannot be performed on pens, ceramics, USB drives power banks or other small objects.
  • Typically more expensive due to custom die cost.

Process

  • Seen as high end, embossing uses two custom dies to press an image into a material, subsequently raising the imprint off of its surface which creates a tactile 3D effect.
  • Since the dies, labelled male & female, must be positioned on either side of the desired printing surface, the material must be pliable, yet capable, of holding a rigid form.
  • Using a custom die, an image is pressed into a material’s surface rendering a depressed area in the shape of the die. Since only one die is used in debossing, the impression does not affect the reverse side of material.
  • Recipient material is assessed to determine die depth, pressure & heat.

Fun Facts

  • Many subtypes of embossing & debossing exist. The most common subtype, the Blind Deboss, does not use additional ink or materials to decorate or emphasize the embossed area.
  • Myron has inline printing die capabilities allowing for two colors within the deboss process; one color for background and another for headings.
  • Dies are typically made from copper or brass – hard materials that can withstand the constant pressure and pounding that occurs in the emboss/deboss process.

Embroidery

Designs are stitched into fabric using computer-controlled machines. Color matching is done as closely as possible although colors depend on available thread coatings and suppliers.

Suitable for

  • Fabric

Pros

  • Precise
  • Finished product has handmade look
  • Multi-colored capabilities available with multiple thread colors – usually without additional color charges
  • Does not wash or fade
  • Fast process
  • Quick turnaround since logo files can be digitized for embroidery programs

Cons

  • Limited design detail – no shading or intricate details
  • Can be more expensive than other imprinting methods
  • No Pantone thread matching capabilities

Fun Fact

Typical imprints are 10,000 stitches.

Hot Stamp

Also known as foil stamp, hot stamping refers to the process of pre-dried ink/foil being transferred to a product using high temperatures. Typically completed using an up and down press, a hot stamp is accomplished by placing ink or foil between a heated metal or silicone die mounted on the ‘arm’ of a hot stamping machine. This arm is then pressed down into a product below with extremely high pressure.

Suitable for

  • Plastic
  • Paper
  • Metal

Pros

  • Non-polluting
  • Provides high contrast image
  • Creates sharp outlines
  • Long lasting and durable – even if ink or foil rubs away, the embossed area remains
  • Considered high-end
  • Eye-catching
  • Can be highly detailed
  • Dies may be reused, so re-orders (as long as they are the same size) require no additional set-up fee

Cons

  • Multiple color designs can be labor intensive
  • Each color must be run through the press which takes more time
  • More expensive than some imprint options

Fun Fact

Hot stamping has been popular since the 1800s.

Full Color

The most familiar of the imprinting methods, full color is the best way to achieve a multicolor design. Through the use of a digital printer, ink is applied to an object in the same way that a printer in your home applies ink to paper. Also known as full-color prints, color burst, 4-color process printing or CMYK (Cyan, magenta, yellow, key/black) transparent inks are mixed to create all the colors of the rainbow.

Suitable for

  • Plastic
  • Paper
  • Fabric
  • Natural Materials
  • Metal

Pros

  • Can produce intricate designs as long as image file is high quality (higher DPIs result in higher quality images)
  • Fast
  • Less expensive than other imprinting methods
  • No creation, or maintenance, of dies or clichés
  • Lower cost for short-run prints
  • Can use full range of available colors
  • CMYK provides true to tone color for accurate logo representations

Cons

  • Pantone colors aren’t supported
  • Can fade over time
  • Less durable than other imprinting methods

Fun Fact

CMYK, used in print design, is different than RGB color mode. RGB, used in web design, equals the colors of light emitting from a computer screen. Usually software will default to RGB and printers will translate into CMYK. However, color precision can get lost in that translation. You can avoid this by designing in CMYK mode.

Laser Engraved

An engraving is created by removing or scratching off the coating on a surface. This is achieved using the controller arm of a laser engraving machine which guides the laser along a product affixed to a horizontal surface. Extremely precise, this laser can move at a fraction of a millimeter without retracing previously engraved portions, thereby creating consistent engraving depths. The controller’s direction, speed, spread and intensity affect the look of an imprint and each category can be adjusted for optimum effect.

Suitable for

  • Metal
  • Glass
  • Plastic
  • Stone
  • Natural Materials

Pros

  • No ink, bits, clichés or special tools required
  • Low cost
  • Extremely precise
  • Detailed designs possible

Cons

  • No color choices

Fun Fact

Myron has a CO2 laser that can also engrave acrylic and wood.

Pad Print

Also called tampography, pad printing is accomplished when an image is photo-chemically etched into a metal cliché and used as a type of stamp. Ink is applied to the cliché, then picked up by a silicone pad which transfers the image to an object.

Suitable for

  • Hard Metrials such as Drinkware and Pens
  • Cotton

Pros

  • Great for irregularly-shaped or difficult to imprint objects
  • Can print on 3D surfaces of all shapes, sizes and textures
  • Good for delicate items
  • Better resolution than screen printing
  • Silicone pad makes it easy to transfer image to curved or rounded surfaces

Cons

  • Only one color per process
  • Additional colors must be applied separately. This can cause issues with color overlap potentially affecting the tone
  • Requires a die or cliché
  • Not as durable as some imprinting processes

Fun Fact

  • Pad printing is how newspapers were originally made
  • It was also used in the post WWII watch-making industry
  • Designers during the 1960s and 70s revitalized its popularity.

Screen Print

Also known as silk-screening or serigraphy, screen printing uses screens to transfer an image onto a substrate or object. The screen, acting as a stencil remains impermeable in areas where ink is unwanted. Blades or squeegees move across the screen pushing ink into the mesh apertures of the screen. A reverse stroke then pushes the screen to make contact with the substrate to create an image.

Suitable for

  • Cotton
  • Canvas

Pros

  • Fast
  • Cost-effective
  • Efficient
  • Great for larger designs with few colors
  • Heat-dried to withstand rough washing machines

Cons

  • Not good for designs with intricate details
  • More difficult for multi-color designs as each color must be applied separately. If the alignment is off, the finished image will look blurred or ‘out of register’.
  • Can’t be used on coated fabrics
  • Needs separate screens for each individual color

Fun Fact

  • Silk was used as main screen material before the invention of polyester.
  • Andy Warhol is credited for popularizing screen printing as an artistic technique.
  • Myron can mix our own colors to screen print Pantone color requests

Sublimation

Sublimation uses a computer-controlled printer to transfer dye onto materials using heat. Also called dye-diffusion, the process requires a particular combo of time, pressure and temperature depending on the imprinting surface. Dye is infused on the object at a molecular level.

Suitable for

  • Polyester shirts or any product treated or coated with polymers

Pros

  • Won’t crack, fade or peel
  • Can create full-coverage prints
  • Many color options
  • Supports lots of detail
  • Heat-dried to withstand rough washing machines
  • Has a great feel in shirts since dye is embedded and doesn’t sit on top of the material
  • Doesn’t impede wicking process in exercise material

Cons

  • Not appropriate for many materials such as cotton, nylon, vinyl, wood or leather

Fun Fact

  • Named sublimation because early users thought the dye transitioned from solid to gas without going through the liquid stage. This turned out to be false, but the namepersisted.
  • You can coat materials with polymers to make them suitable for sublimation

Why Buy Myron

The Myron Difference

We understand that the internet is your oyster and you could purchase your promotional products anywhere. Here’s why you should buy with us:

Sourcing Difference

We choose to partner only with companies that offer fair wages and safe working conditions to their employees.

Longevity Difference

Our products are designed to last. From the refills in our favorite pens to the power behind our chargers, we make promotional products that will leave a lasting impression on your customers.

Customization Difference

Our in-house designers can personalize your custom products quickly and professionally using a range of imprinting processes. Using our online design tool simply upload and fine-tune your message or request assistance, and our artists will work with you to develop a logo that represents your voice and vision.

Pricing Difference

As our QA Director says, Myron offers ‘high quality at every budget’. Our selection anticipates a variety of needs and budgets, but every one of our promotional products is put through a rigorous QA process.

100% Guarantee

We understand that the internet is your oyster and you could purchase your promotional products anywhere. Here’s why you should buy with us:

How about that for a pearl in the internet oyster? We look forward to working with you