How to print on 3-dimensional surfaces
If you need to find a way to print a 2-dimensional image onto a 3-dimensional surface, then pad printing is the best way to go. Unless you want to dramatically change your product, pad printing can reliably be used to print images onto 3-dimensional surfaces. The process is much like screen printing, but instead of using a mesh screen to block out the ink from other areas of your product, you use a silicone pad that accepts the ink and transfers it to wherever you apply pressure with it. If you’re looking for Pad Printing in Plymouth MN, then look no further then Golden Valley Products.
What is Pad Printing
Pad printing is a versatile process used in a variety of different industries. Pad printing, otherwise known as tampography, is a printing technique that can be used to transfer a 2-D image onto 3-D objects like ceramic pottery. This is accomplished using an indirect offset printing process (gravure) in which a silicone pad transfers the image from the cliché onto a substrate. Pad printing is usually used to print on otherwise difficult-to-print products in many different industries, including medical, automotive, promotional and apparel—but also appliances, sports equipment and toys. It can be used to deposit functional materials, such as conductive inks and adhesives, or dyes and lubricants.
The History of Pad Printing
Until the twentieth century, pad printing was a crude process that could not produce clear or clean images en mass. The printing method first gained a foothold in the watch-making industry following World War II. Developments that took place in the late 1960s and early 1970s, such as silicone pads and more advanced equipment—allowing for increased precision—made this process far more practical than it had been previously. The ability to print on formerly unprintable surfaces led engineers and designers to think up new uses for the technique, spurring its adoption in mass production. In today’s market, there are a variety of industries and applications that use pad printing. Most commonly, pad printing is used to print a 2-D image onto a 3-D object, often in ways that other printing techniques would fail to do.
Key Benefits of Pad Printing
Pad printing is used in a variety of industries, including electronics, aerospace and automotive. In each of these sectors, pad printing has several key benefits that make it a popular choice for manufacturers. The first advantage of pad printing is that it can be used to print an image onto a 3-D object. This allows manufacturers to create custom packaging, labels and other consumer goods that show off the brand or logo. In electronics, this is especially useful for creating logos on circuit boards and other parts that would otherwise be difficult or impossible for other methods of printing.
Ability to print on a variety of surfaces
Pad printing allows users to print on flat, curved and even irregularly shaped surfaces. While this feature is often limited by the material being printed on (for example, the curvature of a glass surface), pad printing remains a flexible option for manufacturers.
Low cost
Pad printing is one of the least expensive methods of applying ink to products. This is because only small amounts are used at once, decreasing waste and making it easy for companies to invest in equipment that produces high volumes with little effort.
Long lasting
Pad printing can produce durable prints that last longer than other types of decoration methods. Pad printing is often used to apply logos or designs that are printed on the inside of glass products, such as wine glasses or mirrors. This makes it a popular option for high-end products that require long-lasting and durable decorations. In addition to glass and mirrors, pad printing can be used on plastic, metal and other materials. Its versatility makes it an ideal method of decoration for a wide range of products.
Consider the surface of your product
If you carefully consider your product, you may find that there are flat areas on its surface that would be suitable for printing methods such as digital or screen printing. However, not all products are made equal. If your is completely rounded, like a bowl, or is in some other way irregular enough that you know pad printing is the only solution, then pad printing is the perfect solution. It allows you to print on flat or curved surfaces, but it also allows you to place ink where other techniques would fail.
At Golden Valley Products, we offer a wide range of services including: Digital printing, Screen printing, Pad printing, Laser cutting, Steel rule die cutting, Waterjet cutting, Laminating, Embossing, Membrane switches, Medical sensors (pressure sensors), Graphic overlays, and more! We’d be happy to support you on your next product project.