Logo printing methods: screen, pad, DTF, sublimation — when to use which

The same logo goes onto a T-shirt, a pen, and a thermos in three different ways, and that’s not the print shop being difficult. The method depends on material, shape, number of colors, and run size. Here’s how six common logo printing methods work, where each one shines, where it falls short, and a quick cheat sheet.

Screen printing

Ink is pushed through a mesh stencil with a squeegee, one screen and one pass per color. Inks are mixed to match Pantone, so brand colors come out solid and bright. It works on fabric (T-shirts, totes, hoodies), paper, and flat or gently curved surfaces; dark fabric usually needs a light underbase. Every extra color means another screen and setup, so multi-color logos and small runs cost more per piece. Photos and smooth gradients are reproduced with halftones and look coarser than digital methods.

Pad printing

The design is etched into a plate, ink fills the recesses, and a soft silicone pad lifts it and presses it onto the product. The pad wraps around curves, which makes it the go-to for small, uneven items: pens, lighters, key rings, caps. It handles fine text well, but the print area is small and each color is a separate plate and pass, so one or two colors is typical. Full-color photos are not its job.

DTF printing

Direct-to-film: the design is printed in color plus a white layer onto a special film, coated with adhesive powder, cured, and heat-pressed onto the garment. It works on cotton, polyester, and blends in almost any color, including dark ones, and handles gradients and photos with no screens — handy for small runs and many design variants. The print sits on top as a thin layer, so large solid areas feel noticeable and breathe less. UV DTF, a transfer sticker for hard surfaces like mugs, is a related but different technology.

Sublimation

Sublimation ink is printed on paper and heat-pressed; the dye turns into gas and bonds with polyester fibers or a special polymer coating. There’s no layer on top, so you can’t feel the print. It suits light, high-polyester fabrics and coated items such as mugs and metal plates. It doesn’t bond to cotton, and with no white ink it only works on white or light bases.

UV printing and laser engraving

UV printing jets ink that cures instantly under ultraviolet light, so it sits on hard materials — plastic, metal, wood, glass, leather — in full color, with a white underlayer for dark surfaces and no setup screens. Durability on smooth surfaces depends on the material and prep, and strongly curved items are tricky.

Laser engraving uses no ink: it removes a coating or marks the material itself. On a powder-coated steel thermos it reveals bare metal; on wood and leather it leaves a dark mark. It’s durable and holds fine detail, but there is only one “color,” set by the material — no Pantone, no gradients. Prepare a one-color logo for it.

Cheat sheet: which logo printing method when

  • Screen printing — apparel and paper; a few solid Pantone colors; better value on larger runs.
  • Pad printing — pens and small curved items; one or two colors, fine text.
  • DTF — garments of any color; full color on small runs; a noticeable layer on big areas.
  • Sublimation — light polyester and coated items; photo prints you can’t feel; not for cotton or dark bases.
  • UV printing — hard materials; full color with a white underlayer; durability depends on the surface.
  • Laser engraving — metal, wood, leather; one tone, very durable.

How confeek picks the method

In the 3D product configurator you decide what goes where: upload the logo, move and scale it on the model, set the quantity. You don’t choose the technology yourself. The printing method is matched to the material after the mockup is approved: the manager looks at the product, the logo, and the run size, then names the method and the timeline in reply to your request. A one-color version of your logo helps if engraving or embossing fits the product.

Frequently asked questions

Which printing method will my order use?
The method is matched to the product’s material after the mockup is approved. The manager names it in reply to your request.
Do I choose the technology in the configurator?
No. You pick the product, upload the logo, place it on the 3D model, and set the quantity; the method is chosen on the production side.
Why can’t sublimation be used on cotton?
Sublimation dye bonds with polyester fibers or a special polymer coating. Cotton doesn’t hold it, so cotton items use other methods.
What logo file works for engraving?
A one-color version without gradients or halftones: the laser produces a single tone set by the material.

Configurators

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