Silkscreen printing and Dye-sublimated printing is the most common printing technology for producing awesome lanyards. The former is a traditional printing technology while the other is an advanced printing technology. Besides this, they also have many other differences included advantages and disadvantages. In order to let all customers know more about the lanyard’s craftsmanship, we write this article to introduce them individually. The understanding for these two printing technologies can help us choose the good lanyards suit us.
Silkscreen Printing Technology
1.Technical principle:
The silkscreen technology is originated in China more than two thousand years ago. It is a stenciling method that mainly about pressing ink through stencils that are on top of the screen.
Firstly, we use the screen printing forme with mesh as the supporting screen. Then we make stencil for each color according to the lanyard design, and add printing ink. Next we press it with strong pressure. In this way, you will see that the mesh part of the forme have ink penetration. According to the process, the infiltrating ink will form the text and graphics of the design
2.Advantages:
A). Versatility: silkscreen printing has no limitations for the substrate. It can print on plane or on a curved, spherical and concave substrate. Additionally, it also allows printing on hard or soft object. Multiple color printing is also achievable, which are what we called multicolor lanyards. The feature of strong adaptability enables silkscreen was widely used in different industry, such as clothing and textile industry.
B). Long Lasting Effect: silkscreen printing lanyards have thick ink layer and strong coverage: The ink layer of silk printing reaches 30 microns thick, with rich texture and strong three-dimensional sense. Designs printed with this method can endure greater stress than other printing methods due to its thickness.
The silkscreen printing lanyards were often used in factory and company because of its durable quality.
C). Strong light resistance: A variety of ink can be used in silkscreen printing, such as oil-based ink, water-based ink, synthetic resin ink and powder ink. You also can mix good light-resistant pigment with ink, which can make the printed logo and picture remain shiny without the effects of temperature and sunlight. It even can glow at night.
D). Simple equipment and large printing area: The printing equipment is easy to use. Nowadays, silkscreen printing products can be as large as three meters by four meters, or even larger. You design for the surface of lanyards can be achieved by using the silkscreen printing technology.
E) High volume order: Silkscreen printing process is suitable for high volume production. Compared with dye-sublimated printing, silkscreen printing is practical and cheaper. The larger order you have, the lower you will cost. Smaller order is impractical for the product used by silkscreen printing.
3.Disadvantages:
A). Not eco-friendly: From environmental aspects, silkscreen printing wastes a lot of water. Its plate-making process can produce developing liquid, and then the Ink barrels we used will send out the smell of ink. There are some cleaning wastewater and waste cloth produced when cleaning. These pollutants should be cleaned up by professionals.
B). Long production period: applying one color to the lanyards at a time is the obviously and biggest limitation for silkscreen printing. Hence, designing multicolor lanyards is a complicated and difficult thing.
Besides, in the printing of the complex graphic, it requires a lot of manpower and multiple overprinting. Higher rejection rate also exist in silkscreen printing. Therefore, making high quality lanyards is not an easy process.
Dye-sublimated Printing Technology
1.Technical principle:
Dye-sublimated Printing Technology is a new and advanced printing process introduced from abroad more than 10 years ago.
Firstly, the digital images transferred to the transfer paper through printer by using the transfer printing ink. Secondly, the pattern is accurately transferred to the surface of the customize lanyards by using the transfer printer with higher temperature and pressure. The lanyards finished at the end.
2.Advantages:
A) High quality image: dye-sublimated printing heats up the ink and turn it into vapors which make their way into the surface. In this way, the design image is much more lifelike and visually appealing. .
B). Green printing: In recent years, green environment and green printing is the main theme in printing fields. The dye-sublimated printing technology doesn’t produce the poison and pollution, and it conforms to the International Non-toxic Standards. It is a very good form to protect environment.
C). Simple printing process and accurate printing location: The dye-sublimated printing technology doesn’t have the process of platemaking, printing down and repeated chromatic printing. Besides, there is no need for various types of tools and materials. The printing pattern takes shape once and it avoids the defects of chromatic printing. The production time has been reduced.
D). Diversified colors and UV resistance: The dye-sublimated printing technology can print colorful pictures. The problem of the monochrome silkscreen printing was avoided efficiently. The lanyards are not easy to lose the color. The UV resistance is strong. No need for air drying.
3.Disadvantages:
A). Hard feel and poor air permeability: The dye-sublimated printing technology can make the lanyards harder. But it can become softer after washing. The air permeability is not good.
B). Cracks appeared when pulling: There have cracks appeared on the dye-sublimated lanyards when the lanyards were pulled horizontally. It is unavoidable because it depends on the dye-sublimated printing technology.
C) Don’t use it on the dark substrates
One biggest limitation for dye-sublimated printing is that it only the substrates needs to be white or light backgrounds, because the printings are not visible on dark substrates.
Both of these two technologies have common features like good adaptability. The graphic can be printed on plane, or curved, spherical and concave surface. Complicated graphic on the lanyards can use the dye-sublimated printing; simple graphic on the low price lanyards can use silkscreen printing process.
After the introduction, you must have know more about the process of making high quality lanyards and you will know which lanyards you need most.
Quality Custom Lanyards produces the best custom lanyards you can find. We have professional team of designers that are ready to help make your idea a reality. We have a variety of custom lanyard types so please visit our STYLES page to learn more. When you are ready to get started just fill out a free quote or call us at 1-800-952-0305