Definitions / Terms

Branding:
A hot die stamp usually burned into wood or leather products.

Deboss:
A die stamp pressed into the surface of leather or other material, resulting in a depressed imprint.

Deboss with Colorfill:
Debossed imprint filled with colors.

Decal:
Logo is silkscreened onto a clear decal and applied to the product.

Die Struck:
A reverse die is made of the imprint logo, and then machine pressed on the metal surface.  Die Struck pieces are metal (lapel pins, divot tools, etc.).

Die Struck with Colorfill:
Die struck impression filled with colors.

Emboss:
A die stamp pressed in the surface of leather or other material, resulting in a depressed area around the imprint.  Imprint appears to be raised above the surface.

Embroidery:
Logo is stitched with thread onto the surface of the product.

Etch and Engraving:
Methods of transferring a logo or design onto the surface of hard, smooth materials such as glass, pewter, metal, etc.

Foil Stamp:
A metal die and heat are used to leave a foil imprint of the design on the surface.  Foils are available in many colors.

Four Color Process:
Photo-quality full color image is created by laying four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) on top of one another.

Laser Engraving:
Logo is lasered into the surface of hard, smooth products such as glass, metal or wood.

Offset Printing:
The process of transferring ink from a metal printing plate to a rubber-covered cylinder that deposits ink onto the product surface.  Used for more complex artwork and for higher quality prints.

Pad Print:
A method of printing used on irregular shaped products and surfaces (golf balls, stress balls, etc.)

Silkscreen:
Ink is squeezed through the openings in a fine screen leaving the logo or design painted on the surface of the material.

Sublimation:
A heat transfer method of imprinting using thermal dyes that soak into the fabric; becoming part of the fabric, not an imprint sitting on the surface.