Advertising Applications: Print Types, Costs, Possibilities and Info!
On this information page you will learn everything important about customization: From the various types of printing and cost structures to the diverse options for customizing your promotional gifts.
At Werbegeschenk.eu you can choose from over 13 different branding techniques – to suit your budget and design. Whether it is a single-color logo print or a photorealistic full-color print, single-sided or double-sided: we make it possible. To help you navigate the industry jargon with confidence, we have put together a short overview of the most important terms for you here.
What do the specifications regarding printing colors mean?
In the printing industry, the abbreviation "C" stands for "Color". This specification tells you how many different colors your print motif consists of.
- 1C (Single-color): Your motif is printed using only one single color (e.g., only black or only your specific company blue). This is usually the most cost-effective variant and ideal for clean logos or text.
- 2C / 3C (Multi-color): Here, the motif is composed of two or three separate solid colors (spot colors). This is necessary if your logo consists of, for example, black lettering and a red symbol.
- 4C (Full-color / CMYK): This stands for classic four-color printing (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black). Virtually all other colors can be mixed using these four basic colors. This is the standard for photos, color gradients or colorful images.
What do number combinations like 4/0 or 4/4 mean?
This notation describes whether a product (e.g., a flyer or a card) is printed on the front and back. The first digit stands for the front side, the second digit for the back side.
- 4/0-color: The front side is printed in full color, the back side remains unprinted (blank).
- 4/4-color: Both the front and the back side are printed in full color.
- 1/0-color: The front side is printed only in black (or a single color), the back side remains blank.
- 1/1-color: Both sides are printed in a single color each.
On this information page you will learn everything important about customization: From the various types of printing and cost structures to the diverse options for customizing your promotional gifts.
Read more about print types & colors
At Werbegeschenk.eu you can choose from over 13 different branding techniques – to suit your budget and design. Whether it is a single-color logo print or a photorealistic full-color print, single-sided or double-sided: we make it possible. To help you navigate the industry jargon with confidence, we have put together a short overview of the most important terms for you here.
What do the specifications regarding printing colors mean?
In the printing industry, the abbreviation "C" stands for "Color". This specification tells you how many different colors your print motif consists of.
- 1C (Single-color): Your motif is printed using only one single color (e.g., only black or only your specific company blue). This is usually the most cost-effective variant and ideal for clean logos or text.
- 2C / 3C (Multi-color): Here, the motif is composed of two or three separate solid colors (spot colors). This is necessary if your logo consists of, for example, black lettering and a red symbol.
- 4C (Full-color / CMYK): This stands for classic four-color printing (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black). Virtually all other colors can be mixed using these four basic colors. This is the standard for photos, color gradients or colorful images.
What do number combinations like 4/0 or 4/4 mean?
This notation describes whether a product (e.g., a flyer or a card) is printed on the front and back. The first digit stands for the front side, the second digit for the back side.
- 4/0-color: The front side is printed in full color, the back side remains unprinted (blank).
- 4/4-color: Both the front and the back side are printed in full color.
- 1/0-color: The front side is printed only in black (or a single color), the back side remains blank.
- 1/1-color: Both sides are printed in a single color each.
Printing Prices & Techniques
UV Digital Printing
UV digital printing is the most modern solution for colorful promotional items with photorealistic motifs. The ink is printed directly onto the object and instantly cured with UV light, enabling outstanding results on almost all solid materials.
- Advantage: Perfect for color gradients, photos, and complex logos; economical even for small quantities, as there are no setup costs (such as screens or clichés).
- Disadvantage: Spot colors (Pantone) are only simulated in CMYK mode; the printing area on round objects is often technically limited.
Embroidery
For high-quality promotional items, embroidery is the undisputed premier class. Motifs are worked directly into the fabric, which provides a particularly elegant look and feel.
- Advantage: Extremely durable, wash-resistant, and looks very professional on caps or polo shirts.
- Disadvantage: Less suitable for very fine details or color gradients; higher costs for large motifs.
Screen Printing
For textile promotional items such as T-shirts or cotton bags in medium to high volumes, screen printing is the global standard. Ink is pressed directly onto the fabric through a fine-mesh screen, which ensures particularly rich and opaque colors.
- Advantage: Unbeatable price-performance ratio for large quantities; offers extremely high wash resistance and color brilliance.
- Disadvantage: Ineconomical for small runs due to fixed setup costs (screen creation); photo prints are technically barely feasible. Ideal for major customers!
Pad Printing
Especially for classic promotional items made of plastic or metal, pad printing (Pad Printing) is indispensable. Thanks to the elastic printing pad made of silicone, this process adapts to any shape and prints perfectly even on uneven, round, or curved surfaces.
- Advantage: Ideal for difficult shapes (e.g., ballpoint pens, lighters, USB sticks); enables very fine details and small fonts cost-effectively.
- Disadvantage: The print size is limited (usually full-surface printing is not possible) and color gradients are technically difficult to implement.
Laser Engraving
For exclusive promotional items made of metal, wood, or glass, laser engraving is the most elegant and durable form of customization. A laser beam precisely removes the material surface, immortalizing the logo in a subtle and tactually perceptible way within the material.
- Advantage: The motif is absolutely indestructible, scratch-resistant, and dishwasher-safe; the look is particularly high-quality and elegant ("Understatement").
- Disadvantage: No colors are possible (the logo appears in the color of the base material) and the contrast varies depending on the material.
Flock Printing
Especially for sporty promotional items and team kits, flock printing is a popular classic. Millions of short fibers give the motif a velvety, raised surface that feels soft and stands out clearly from the fabric.
- Advantage: Extremely high opacity, which is why logos glow perfectly even on dark fabrics; the velvety feel creates a unique and long-lasting 3D effect.
- Disadvantage: Color gradients are not possible; furthermore, lint can easily get caught on the rough surface over time ("lint magnet").
Sandblasting
For exclusive promotional items made of glass, porcelain, or ceramics, sandblasting creates a particularly deep and elegant effect. A fine abrasive medium roughens the surface at the desired positions, creating a matte, tangible indentation.
- Advantage: The result is 100% dishwasher-safe and, thanks to the matte contrast ("ice effect"), looks significantly more premium than regular printing.
- Disadvantage: Colored logos are not possible (the motif always appears matte white/gray); for extremely filigree details, the process is slightly coarser than laser engraving.
Hot Foil Stamping
Anyone who wants to turn their promotional items made of paper or cardboard into a real eye-catcher relies on hot foil stamping. The use of metallic foils creates an intense shine that visually contrasts the logo sharply with the matte background and reflects light.
- Advantage: Creates a true mirror effect and high attention; the product immediately looks more premium and stands out significantly from standard prints.
- Disadvantage: No color gradients possible; due to the one-off tooling costs (stamping die), it is more economical for medium to high volumes.
Firing Print
If promotional items made of porcelain or ceramics are to survive the tough everyday office life for years, there is no way around firing print. The motif is burned into the glaze at extremely high temperatures (often over 800 °C) and thus merges permanently with the surface.
- Advantage: Maximum durability (scratch-resistant and dishwasher-safe); unlike direct printing, it also allows motifs in difficult places, such as on the handle or the inside of the mug.
- Disadvantage: The process is more complex and expensive than simple direct printing; colors can change slightly due to the heat, which means 100% exact Pantone values cannot always be guaranteed.
Sublimation Printing
Sublimation printing is the first choice for functional promotional items and photorealistic motifs on light backgrounds. The ink becomes gaseous through heat and evaporates directly into the polyester fiber or coating instead of just lying on top.
- Advantage: The print is absolutely imperceptible and fully maintains the breathability of sports textiles; furthermore, it is extremely resistant to washing out and cracking.
- Disadvantage: Due to technical reasons, it works almost exclusively on light (usually white) materials made of polyester or with a special polymer coating; not suitable for cotton.
Blind Debossing
Anyone who wants to avoid loud colors chooses blind debossing for their promotional items made of leather or cardboard. Here, the logo is pressed deep into the material with a stamp under heat and pressure, creating a permanent, tactile relief.
- Advantage: The brand becomes a tactile experience ("fingertip feel"); the look is very subtle and, unlike color prints, never wears off.
- Disadvantage: The contrast is lower since no ink is used (tone-on-tone effect); very fine details can get lost in the material structure.
Doming
For promotional items that are literally meant to stand out, doming is the perfect solution. A high-quality digital print is covered with a transparent resin layer, which provides a fascinating 3D magnifying glass effect.
- Advantage: The curved layer intensifies color brilliance and makes the sticker robust, scratch-resistant, and UV-resistant (does not yellow).
- Disadvantage: Due to the gel layer, the logo adds some thickness (it is not flat); production is more complex and therefore more expensive than with a standard sticker.
Printing Costs
As stated in our Terms and Conditions, all prices in the shop are indicated without the application of the customer's logo. You will receive accurate and binding prices including printing or laser engraving after your inquiry by e-mail. The following rough guidelines serve as an orientation for the costs of printing and laser engraving on the promotional items (for printing in Europe):
Pad Printing
from 500 pcs. at 0.24 EUR per color and print position
from 1,000 pcs. at 0.19 EUR per color and print position
from 2,000 pcs. at 0.17 EUR per color and print position
from 5,000 pcs. at 0.15 EUR per color and print position
from 10,000 pcs. at 0.12 EUR per color and print position
plus one-off setup costs (films, pad, setting up)
at 98.00 EUR per color and motif
Screen Printing
from 500 pcs. at 0.32 EUR per color and print position
from 1,000 pcs. at 0.27 EUR per color and print position
from 2,000 pcs. at 0.23 EUR per color and print position
from 5,000 pcs. at 0.20 EUR per color and print position
from 10,000 pcs. at 0.17 EUR per color and print position
plus one-off setup costs (films, screen, setting up)
at 98.00 EUR per color and motif
Laser Engraving
from 500 pcs. at 0.55 EUR per logo in standard size
from 1,000 pcs. at 0.48 EUR per logo in standard size
from 2,000 pcs. at 0.42 EUR per logo in standard size
from 5,000 pcs. at 0.37 EUR per logo in standard size
from 10,000 pcs. at 0.33 EUR per logo in standard size
plus one-off laser setup costs (program, setting up)
at 98.00 EUR per motif
Other Branding Methods
Due to constantly fluctuating market prices, we cannot list flat-rate costs for all types of customization. For individual volume prices, please simply contact our sales team – we will gladly calculate the latest daily guideline prices for your desired print. You can reach us flexibly at any time via chat, e-mail, form, phone, or WhatsApp. We look forward to hearing from you!
Prices plus item price and VAT. Good to know: Those who bring time save money. For longer delivery times, we draw on our global network. Especially with direct imports from Asia, printing and laser costs are often only a fraction of the standard price.
Secure this price advantage: Request a quote now, non-binding and free of charge!
Asia Direct Import & Custom-Made Production
Would you like to significantly reduce your printing costs or do you dream of a promotional item that has exactly the 3D shape of your logo? Then you have come to the right place. At Werbegeschenk.eu, direct import from the Far East allows us to offer you conditions and opportunities that are often not feasible in standard trade. Whether it is a matter of unbeatably low customization prices or completely individual special designs – the key lies in direct production at the source.
Here you will learn:
- How to save massive printing costs through Asia direct import.
- How your logo becomes a 3D custom-made product.
- How easily you can start your custom production with us.
Would you like to significantly reduce your printing costs or do you dream of a promotional item that has exactly the 3D shape of your logo? Then you have come to the right place.
More on Import & Custom-Made Production
At Werbegeschenk.eu, direct import from the Far East allows us to offer you conditions and opportunities that are often not feasible in standard trade. Whether it is a matter of unbeatably low customization prices or completely individual special designs – the key lies in direct production at the source.
Here you will learn:
- How to save massive printing costs through Asia direct import.
- How your logo becomes a 3D custom-made product.
- How easily you can start your custom production with us.
Asia Direct Import
Take advantage of the massive price benefit of ex-works customization. As our graphic comparing promotional item printing costs shows, you save a large part of the branding costs through direct import, since the production process takes place in our Asian factories - ideal for large editions and complex motifs. Save now!
3D Logo instead of Print?
Make your brand touchable: With this special custom production, your logo is not simply printed on, but cast as a complete 3D product (e.g., made of soft PVC). This turns your 2D graphic into a unique, tactile promotional gift. Find out more now!
Custom-Made Production
Maximum freedom for your corporate design: Break free from standard print areas. With a special custom production, you determine the material, Pantone colors of the product, and you can have your design applied over the entire surface (all-over). Information on custom-made production.
Need help with printing? Enjoy free consultation.
Vector graphics, Pantone values, or choosing between screen and digital printing – technical details can quickly become overwhelming. But they don't have to be! Our expert team is happy to take a free look at your print data in advance. We check whether the quality is sufficient for a perfect result and recommend the customization method that best showcases your logo on the chosen promotional item. 100% free and non-binding. We look forward to hearing from you!
