Pad Printing

Pad printing is the workhorse of promotional products. An image is etched into a printing plate, the plate is flooded with ink, and a soft silicone pad lifts the ink and transfers it onto the item. Because the pad flexes, it can print on rounded, recessed and irregular surfaces: the barrel of a pen, the side of a lighter, a curved keyring. If you have ever received a branded ballpoint, it was almost certainly pad printed.

Typical products for pad printing

The method suits small to medium print areas on hard materials, mainly plastics, coated metal and some glass and ceramics. Typical items include:

• pens and pencils;
• keyrings, lighters and stress balls;
• USB flash drives and other small plastic gadgets;
• lids, bottle caps and reusable cups, where the shape allows.

Advantages and limits of pad printing

Pad printing is precise, fast and cost-effective for simple logos across many items. Each colour is printed with its own plate and pass, and inks can be mixed to Pantone references, so brand colours come out consistently. It also copes with textures and curves where screen or flatbed printing would fail.

The print area is limited, typically a few centimetres, and each additional colour means another plate, another pass and careful registration. Large solid areas, photographs and gradients are not its strength; for full-colour artwork on hard items, UV printing is usually better. For a permanent mark on metal, consider laser engraving. The pad printing cost is driven mainly by the number of colours and the plates needed; the plate cost is a one-off per design and colour, and we include it in your quote rather than surprising you later.

The pad printing process, step by step

• We check your logo against the print area of the chosen product.
• You approve a free digital proof showing size, position and colours.
• A plate is made for each colour, inks are mixed, and the logo is printed colour by colour.
• Printed items are dried, checked and packed.

Artwork for pad printing

Send a vector logo (AI, PDF, SVG or EPS) with fonts outlined and Pantone references for each colour. Keep lines and text large enough for the small print area; we will warn you if something is too fine. Our artwork requirements explain the details, and a quote will show the price for your quantity and colours.