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Getting your design right first time is key to ensuring the finished promotional items you expect – and the quality you deserve.
Regardless of your needs – even if you’re really not sure what you need – our customer service team will always be pleased to help on 0203 195 7581
Meantime, the following guide provides a useful starting point, helping you to select the style of printing that’s most suitable for you.
Our Preferred file formats are vector files, because they keep their detail when enlarged or reduced. The easiest way we like to describe a vector file is if you can’t open the file easily without a special software then it most likely is the file we need. Vector files which are ideal for sending to us are:
Please send the above files as CMYK with flattened layers and text outlined. If applicable, please have all colours matched to PMS colours from the solid coated swatch palette.
If you don’t have your artwork or logo in a vector format we also accept the following file formats in at least 300dpi (dots per inch) which is a high resolution file:
Fonts / text
Some fonts may need to be supplied as we may not have them on file. Please make sure all vector text is outlined. Call us if you need assistance.
Once you have sent us your artwork, we will try and match a font as closely as possible. This will be confirmed with you before the production stage. If your company has brand guidelines, then your font will most likely be there.
There are a few ways to find Pantones. If you have Photoshop, you can use the colour picker to see the closest matching Pantone. Alternatively, you can find a coated Pantone chart and match the closest one. Finally, there are many websites that allow you to upload a file and then select a part of the image to match a Pantone. We can also do this for you if you are unsure about the exact pantone.
Please send over the artwork that you have available. We will then let you know if further materials or action is required. Please email us your artwork to info@promodirect.co.uk
Some our items can be 100% personalised while others are available in stock in multiple colours. Many of our products can be created in any Pantone colour. The match will always be as close as possible. Our lanyards, wristbands, pens and umbrellas are examples of items that can be manufactured with a chosen background pantone colour, but items like our A5 soft touch notebooks are available in eleven stock colours.
Our products can be printed in any Pantone colour. Unless the item is being engraved, we can brand your items in the exact pantones of your logo or artwork. The match will always be as close as possible. The same A5 soft touch notebook mentioned above can be supplied in royal blue yet printed in your exact artwork pantone colours.
If you have a design and you want it printed on different colours of the same product, we will happy to do this for you. Call us on 0203 195 7581 and we will guide you through the process.
Yes, this can certainly be done if you have 2 designs on many of our products available. Send us your artwork and we can show you a visual with, for example, one side with a photo and the other side with a logo. Most design options are possible.
We always provide a proof and we don’t go ahead with the order unless you have sent us your signed approval of the proof.
Dye sublimation is a method which injects miniscule droplets of ink with CMYK colours. The print on the fabric is then sealed with heat. We also call this method Full Colour printing due to the unlimited range of colours, shades and gradients which can be printed.
The great advantage of digital printing is that all the ink is applied in one go, making it much faster than the traditional screen print method which requires each colour print to dry separately.
Dye sublimation is a special printing technique that uses cutting-edge heat transfer technology. The result? Flawless, detailed logos that are almost picture quality. This technique is perfect for you if your logo is on the complex side, for example if it involves several colours or is very detailed. The heat transfer method makes printing your logo easy, and produces beautiful results, every time.
Our printed items come with a wonderful smooth finish that’s superior quality. This means your logo will never flake, crack or fade. Put simply, your logo looks great and stays put for as long as you need it.
Dye sublimation printing is for you if:
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. These are the four basic or primary colours used for full colour printing. The photographic quality of full colour/digital printing is achieved thanks to the blending of these four colours.
Digital printing and heat transfer printing are other names for the dye sublimation method. The technology lets you create complex patterns, tie-dye prints, gradual fading, etc.
Screen printing or silkscreen printing is a low-cost, durable, UV resistant, and Pantone-matching method. It is one of the most popular printing techniques which basically uses a stencil or screen, for each colour applied to the surface. Screen printing method which uses thicker ink than other methods such as the digital print - meaning you can feel the texture of the print, however it is limited to 4-5 colours and has a slower drying time. It is made of block colours which need to be separately applied and will not be able to blend into each other. It is recommended for printing solid coloured areas.
Screen printing is a UV resistant print, meaning that they won’t fade over time. This makes screen printing an excellent choice for items that will be exposed at outdoor events. They’ll stand the test of time.
Screen Printing is for you if:
Transfer printing is a method that consists on printing a design on a transfer paper which is placed on the surface of the fabric, and heat pressed. It is recommended for complex and colourful logos and designs which would be limited by screen printing.
Embroidery is created by a sowing machine using coloured threads to recreate a design on fabric. It is one of the oldest and most durable branding methods to exist. It is commonly used for stitching multi-colour (but not full colour) logos on items which include polo shirts, fleeces, hoodies, oxford shirts, baseball caps and more. The cost of embroidery depends on the amount of stitches your logo will need and the surface it will cover. You can choose to stitch even on difficult positions like the sides of a polo shirt aside from the front and back of the garment.
The toughest of the tough. Our woven prints are as durable as they come.
Woven logos are made with high quality thread which makes them reliable, tough and super durable.
They can withstand the harshest of conditions, so they’re ideal for outdoor events and exposure to the elements. We also recommend this printing method for use in places like factories and kitchens. These harsher environments demand a print that will stand up against water, chemicals or heat exposure.
Your chosen logo or marketing message will be woven, rather than printed, onto the surface. The good news? This means it will stay put, no matter what. The design itself will never crack, flake, peel or fade. It’s there for if you need it.
These chunkier logos are perfect for simple two-colour designs. With the right expertise, they can also be used for designs of up to five colours if needed.
It may be hard to know just by looking at your logo, so we are here to advise what are the best options for you. If your logo looks simple, then screen printing or embroidery will be the recommended option for you. If your artwork is very colourful and more complex, then Dye Sublimation/Digital printing will do the job.
For polo shirts embroidering works best as a branding method, while for cotton t-shirts we recommend ink printing. Anything which is waterproof or hi-vis should be printed, as the embroidery absorbs water and will conflict with the purpose of the garment. Embroidery is also more durable than print.
If your logo is larger than 150mm, ink printing is highly recommended over embroidery.
Yes, it will depend of the item. Cotton tote bags can be printed on one or both sides, t-shirts can be printed on both sides, on the sleeves and on the sides in some cases.
It is the method of creating raised textures with heat and pressure on a soft or heat-sensitive surface, producing a 3D feel.
It is the method of pressing artwork with a hot engraved metal plate onto a surface, creating sunken or indented textures with pressure on a soft or heat-sensitive surface. It can be colour-filled, filled with metallic paint (foil blocking) or kept unfilled, which is also called blind debossing.
The main difference between both methods is that the indented words with debossing can be filled in with ink or foil stamped. Printed or foil stamped debossing offers the pleasing textural variation of debossed but with the brand impact of a printed wristband.
Soft or heat sensitive products like leather or rubber notebooks, credit cards, bespoke packaging, silicone wristbands, etc.
It is the method of cutting a design with a sharp tool on to a hard, usually flat surface such as metal or wood. Traditionally done by hand, it is now precisely shaped by laser machines.
Steel, silver, gold, glass and wood items are the most common for engraving, including keyrings, bracelets, trophies, and flasks. Engraving is different to etching which is a chemical process for printing on hard surfaces.
A set-up charge is a one-off fee that is charged to the customer to cover the additional costs of creating a new, personalised part. Custom manufacturing is required to mould rubber or metal parts with each client’s branding. We may need to charge a small set-up cost, especially for items with complex production costs.
Most corporate logos are created by a designer and have brand guidelines which state the number of colours and the colour codes/pantone numbers. Your brand guidelines may also describe what colours go best with your logo as a background.
If you are unsure how many colours are in your logo, just call us or send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. A common mistake is not considering the white in the logo as an additional colour. If there are lots of tones and colours in the artwork, then it will be full colour.
Most companies will have 2-3 colours in their brand logo. This works for most printing processes like screen printing, dye sublimation and embroidering techniques.
Facebook’s logo has only 2 colours: Blue and White, meaning it is suitable for any printing technique including screen printing, dye sublimation and embroidery.
HSBC’s logo has 3 colours: Red, black and white, meaning it is also eligible for any printing technique including screen printing, dye sublimation and embroidery.
Instagram’s logo has multiple colours which blend and fade into each other (also called shades and gradients)- making it a full colour logo. This means it can only be printed with our digital printing/dye sublimation process but not screen printed or embroidered.
Choose our Dye Sublimation Lanyards
Digital/CMYK (4 colour process) printing allows for non-vector graphics (photographs such as .jpegs, .png, .tiff filetypes) to be printed in the quality they are supplied.
It’s also a great way to print vector logos, where gradients, tints and a range of colours are required.
[Note: Non-vector graphics which are to be digitally/full colour printed must be supplied at a minimum 300dpi quality.]
Contact us: 020 3195 7581 or info@promodirect.co.uk
When single, two or three colours are to be used, the desired Pantone colours must be specified to ensure the colours you expect are the colours you achieve.
This is particularly important in cases where strict adherence to your brand colours is imperative.
[Please note: where spot colours are concerned, we can only print solid colours; gradients (shading) or tints in a logo will be converted to solid block colours.]
Please note that the online guide is only approximate as the viewing of colours will vary depending on your computer screen colour set up.
Every colour has a Pantone Matching System (PMS) reference number. This is a system used throughout the industry to ensure any printer can match colours specified by any designer.
We use the PMS colour chart with all promotional merchandise, however, we are unable to guarantee a 100% pantone match, as there is such a wide range of materials that are manufactured in metal, plastic, fabric, pvc, etc. We will make every effort to get as close as possible. If you are unsure of the colour(s) your branding needs to be printed in, please use the chart below. Then email your account manager with your selected pantone number(s).
Please remember Pantone colours on computer screens may vary based on the graphics card and monitor used in your system.
Contact us: 020 3195 7581 or info@promodirect.co.uk
PANTONE® and other Pantone, Inc. trademarks are the property of Pantone, Inc. This chart is to assist our customers with colour matching and promote the use of Pantone ® Color Matching. Promo Direct is not connected to Pantone, Inc. in any way. Use this guide to assist your color selection and specification process. Do not rely on it as your only method for final colour selection
Pantone colors on computer screens may vary based on the graphics card and monitor used in your system. Do not rely on this as your only method for final color selection. For true accuracy use the Pantone Formula Guide: Pantone Reference Chart
