For jobs outside the square, think pad printing

Have you ever wondered how they get logos on golf balls, delicate facial features on toys, or even letters on keyboards? Well, wonder no more, because the answer is pad printing.

Borrowing techniques from gravure printing, screen printing and rubber stamping, pad printing is a method of printing 2D images onto 3D surfaces. Suitable for a multitude of shapes and materials, pad printing opens up a whole new world of marketing potential that extends far beyond the flat sheet of paper.

How does pad printing work?

Pad printing uses a silicone pad to transfer ink from an etched plastic or steel printing plate (often called a 'cliche') to a substrate (the final printed surface).

The etched plate is covered and filled with ink, which becomes tacky once it's exposed to air. The silicon transfer pad presses down onto the printing plate, where it lifts the ink from the plate. The transfer pad then presses down onto the substrate, depositing the ink it picked up from the plate. Simple!

What is it used for?

Pad printing is perfect for those seemingly impossible jobs on curved and recessed surfaces. Typical applications include:

• Logos and graphics on golf balls
• Decoration and graphics on toys
• Designs and labelling on homewares
• Labelling on pens and pencils
• Letters and numbers on keyboards
• Marking on electronic components

What are the pros of pad printing?

Pad printing gives product designers a much broader range of shapes and designs to work with. And as a business owner or marketer, it allows you to be much more creative with the kinds of promotional material you use.

For example, if you're planning a golf day with clients, why not add that special touch by handing out golf balls printed with your company logo? You'll not only impress your fellow players, but also generate all-important brand recognition in the process.

Other advantages of pad printing include:

• Suitable for a wide variety of substrates, including glass, ceramics and metal – the possibilities are endless.
• Can handle fine details, with resolution superior to screen printing.
• Allows you to print 'wet on wet', meaning you can apply multiple colours and layers without intermediate drying, saving time and money.
• Minimal preparation time – plates and inks can be set up in a few minutes.
• Set-up costs are also lower than for many other methods of printing, as are the drying costs – in most cases air-drying at room temperature is sufficient.
• With the successful integration of pad printing into injection-moulding assembly lines, products can be made and printed at the one location, saving you time and money

Look good on more than just paper

With pad printing, the possibilities for out-of-the-box promotional materials are endless. So think beyond the standard flyer and dazzle potential clients with promotional products that demand attention.

Talk to a pad-printing professional today about how you can take advantage of this amazingly flexible technology.