Screen Printing:Is the process for smaller quantities and the best quality image. Screened images are very sharp and crisp with good ink opacity, and even the ability to over print multiple colors to solve registration issues in some art. One disadvantage is that multiple colors must be printed and re-registered one at a time making it more costly than offset printing, and is limited to one side only on cups. Multi-color
registration may have a variation of approximately 1/8".
4 Color Process: Best for Photo or special effect reproduction. Process printing allows for less than full saturation of the primary colors; tiny dots (halftones) of each primary color are printed in a pattern small enough that it is perceived as a solid color. With half toning, a full continuous range of colors can be produced. Colors may not match exactly if you attempt to print spot color artwork as a CMYK job. We will simply change the colors to a CMYK equivalent in your original files. Keep in mind that spot colors will not convert exactly and may not match
material that you've previously printed as spot color. It should be noted that the color created by 4 color process printing are not solid colors at all, but rather a series of dots. This is most noticeable in the photographs reproduced in your local newspaper. Four color reproduction can utilize either vector based or pixel based versions of your artwork (as long as the image has adequate resolution). It's recommended that your digital files are no lower than 300 DPI (absolutely not from the internet). Pros of 4 Color Process: Unlimited colors & color choices, special effect friendly (drop shadows glows and gradients) Cons of 4 Color Process: Degraded color matching ability, loss of solid color integrity, gradients & tints only fade to 20%, loss of sharpness of photo or illustration quality.
Offset Printing: Provides an economical way of printing larger quantities. Offset printing handles multi-color
and tight registration artwork as it lays all of the colors down in one pass. Paper cups and Napkins are available
in up to 4 colors and all other items are available in up to 6 colors @ 25,000 qty. or greater, otherwise limited
to 4 colors. Multi-color imprints are available as one side, two sided, and wrap. Registration may have a variation
of approximately 1/16”. Quality of offset printing is sometimes less than screen printing due to the high printing speeds, resulting in slurring at the top and blurring towards the bottom of the imprint area. Ink coverage is
thinner than screen printing resulting in an imprint which may look transparent, especially on clear items.
Dot gain in halftones is often up to 20%. Butt registration is allowed, however trapping is not. Do not expect the same clarity and opacity of print as screen printing. Please request random samples or product proofs if this
is a concern.
Emboss & Deboss: Is a printing method which uses heat and pressure to create a raised or recessed image
into napkins. This printing method is best suited for bold imprints with out fine detail, halftones, or reversed images. These imprint methods are available on all napkins. However please be aware that the image is not
as crisp on the Almost Linen Napkins due to the thickness of the product.
Hot Stamping: Is a printing method which uses heat and pressure to transfer a metallic foil to the item being imprinted. Due to the softness of the napkins/coaster, a certain amount of bleeding and fill-in will occur with
fine detail/reverse images. Logos with fine detail/reverse images are recommended to be screen printed.
Please note that since foil is stamped on the napkin/coaster, large solid areas may flake during use.
Halftone images are not able to be hot stamped.
Pad Printing: Is a printing method which uses a silicon pad to pick up ink from a plate and transfers the ink
directly onto the item being printed. This printing method is best suited for unusual shaped items, imprints
with fine detail, and halftones. Disadvantages of this printing method are the limited imprint area, ink opacity,
and subtle tonal changes in the imprint on large solid areas. Due to the thin ink transfer and limited ink
opacity, it is not recommended to print on dark substrates without first putting a white base down.
This adds an additional color charge to the cost of the item being printed. On most of our items we are
limited to 5 colors of imprint.
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