Which logo printing method should you choose?
Start with the product, not the method. The surface decides what can be done to it, and the quantity and number of colours decide what is sensible. The table compares the five methods we use on the same criteria.
| Method | How it works | Best on | Colours | Durability | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen printing | Ink is pushed through a mesh stencil, one stencil per colour | Flat or gently curved plastic, paper, board, canvas, jute, non-woven | Solid spot colours, usually 1 to 3 | Good once cured; can wear on items rubbed daily | Fine gradients and photographs do not reproduce |
| Pad printing | A soft pad lifts ink from an etched plate and presses it onto the item | Curved or irregular plastic: pen barrels, keyrings, small objects | Solid spot colours, one pass per colour | Good on plastic; wears faster on frequently handled edges | Small print area only |
| UV printing | UV-cured ink is printed directly from a digital file and set instantly | Acrylic, glass, wood, plastic, metal and board where full colour is needed | Full colour, gradients, photographs | Good, but a raised ink layer can scratch on rough use | Costs more than one-colour screen printing at large volumes |
| Laser engraving | A laser removes the surface to leave a mark in the material | Metal (pens, bottles, keychains), wood, crystal and glass, leather | One tone; no ink colour, though enamel fill can add colour to some keychains | Permanent; does not rub or wash off | Mark colour depends on the material and finish |
| Embroidery | Thread is stitched into the fabric from a digitised file | Canvas and executive bags, caps and fabric items | Limited by thread colours; fine detail is simplified | Permanent and washable | Small text and thin lines can fill in |
Two other finishes appear on specific products: foil stamping or heat debossing on diary and notebook covers, and printed inserts sealed under clear resin on some keyrings. Neither is a general method, so they are covered below with the products that use them.
Which method does each product use?
| Product | Usual method | Why | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium metal pens | Laser engraving | Permanent mark that will not rub off a pen that is handled daily | Premium Metal Pen MPI 3227 |
| Plastic pens | Screen or pad printing | Solid colours on a curved barrel; UV is rarely economical at pen quantities | Pen 23005 |
| Steel bottles | Laser engraving | Survives daily washing; printed marks on steel can wear | SS Bottle MPJN 0015 |
| Wall and table clocks | Screen or UV printing on the dial | Dial is printed before assembly; UV for full colour | Wall Clock PC 0506 |
| Canvas, jute and non-woven bags | Screen printing | One to three colours at volume | Canvas Bags SB-10001 |
| Executive bags | Embroidery | Reads more premium than a print | Executive Bag MP-7005 |
| Diaries and notebooks | Foil stamping or debossing; screen print on board | Gold, silver or blind finish on PU covers | Diary Notebook MPAP 010 |
| Wooden desk items and coasters | Laser engraving | Burns into the wood permanently | Wooden MDF Tea Coaster |
| Crystal, glass and metal awards | Laser engraving | Surface or internal mark; UV print where colour is essential | Acrylic Trophy MPI 3623 |
| ABS keyrings | Printed insert under clear resin; UV print on the body | Full colour that resists scratching in a pocket | ABS Printing Keyring |
Each of these links to a product page with the method confirmed: the Premium Metal Pen, MPI 3227, the SS Bottle, MPJN 0015, the Wall Clock, PC 0506 and the Canvas Bags, SB-10001. For the engraving category, see premium metal pens and bottles and sippers.
How big can the logo be?
Every product has a print area, and the supplier spec on the product image states it for many items. Steel bottles list 90 by 25 mm on some models and only 30 by 25 mm on others. Kettles, casseroles and jugs list 50 by 50 mm. Wall clock images show print areas from an 84 mm round mark to a 229 mm round area. A long horizontal logo that fits 90 by 25 mm has to shrink to a third of the width on a 30 by 25 mm bottle. Ask for the proof at actual size and check the logo is still legible.
What file should you send?
Prepare your logo file for printing
- 01
Find the vector original
Ask your design team or agency for the logo as AI, CDR, EPS, PDF or SVG. A vector file scales to any size with no loss of sharpness.
- 02
Convert fonts to outlines
In the design file, convert all text to outlines or curves, so the logo does not change if our system lacks your font.
- 03
Use a raster file only as a fallback
If you only have a PNG, send it at 300 dpi at the size it will print, with a transparent background. A logo saved from a website is almost always too small.
- 04
Note the brand colours
Send Pantone or CMYK references if the shade is critical. Printed and engraved colours vary slightly between materials, so we match as closely as the material allows.
- 05
Upload it with the order
Files up to 20 MB can be uploaded at checkout. Larger files can be sent on WhatsApp or by email with your order number.
How do you read a proof before you approve it?
We place your logo on the product and send a digital proof showing size and position. Approval starts the production run, so this is the moment to check. Look at five things: the spelling of any text, the version of the logo, the position on the product, the size against the print area, and the colours. Nothing is printed until you approve in writing, and once printing has started the goods are customised and cannot be cancelled or changed. Branded goods are not returnable unless there is a manufacturing defect or an error on our part, so approve only when you are sure.
What costs extra?
Standard single-position logo branding is confirmed with your order and, at normal quantities, is generally included in the per-unit price we quote. Multi-colour printing, several print positions and individual names or dates are quoted separately, because they change the cost per piece. Names need the final list before production starts, so build a few extra days into your timeline. For how timelines and prices work, see how to order corporate gifts in bulk online.
One product for each main method
Premium Metal Pen
100+ pcs:₹22₹17 eachsave 23%
SKU MPI 3227
Executive Bag Blue Premium MP-7005
100+ pcs:₹450₹350 eachsave 22%
Code on request
Diary Notebook
100+ pcs:₹84₹66 eachsave 21%
SKU MPAP 010
Written by
Nitin Mittal
Founder, MyPublicity by Brandskool
Nitin Mittal runs MyPublicity by Brandskool, the company behind GiftBulk, supplying branded corporate gifts, promotional products and printing to businesses across India from Delhi and Punjab. He writes these guides from the questions corporate buyers ask before they place a bulk order.