Which methods are used on rigid merch like tumblers and electronics?

Screen printing makes a screen for each color and pushes ink through it, and screen printing suits one- or two-color logos in large quantities.

How it works

Screen printing makes a logo-shaped stencil in a mesh screen, and a squeegee pushes ink through the screen onto the product surface. Screen printing makes one screen per color and prints the colors in order.

Color

Screen printing prints spot colors (mixed inks) one at a time, so one-color logos come out crisp, and the ink can be mixed to match a brand color. More colors mean more screens and more steps.

Good for

Screen printing is good for flat or gently curved plastic and metal products, everyday goods such as multi adapters and tumblers, and fabric (for apparel, see garment screen printing).

Avoid when

Avoid screen printing for designs with photos or gradients, many-color designs in small runs, and sharply curved or very small areas.

Durability

Screen printing lays a thick ink layer on the surface, so bold colors tend to last. Actual durability depends on the material and ink type.

Watch out for

Screen printing needs a screen for each color, so cost and steps rise with the number of colors. Very fine lines may not print, so keep line weights generous. Gradients must be converted to halftones or simplified to solid colors.

Cost pattern

Screen printing has a fixed setup cost for screens and ink mixing, so the unit price falls as quantity rises. Small runs or many-color designs cost more per piece.

O-SEAN items

O-SEAN items that use screen printing are the multi adapter and tumblers (offered alongside laser engraving and UV film).

Heat transfer printing prints the design on transfer paper or film first and moves the design onto the product surface with heat and pressure, and heat transfer printing is used to apply multi-color logos to products.

How it works

Heat transfer printing outputs the design on transfer paper or film, places the transfer on the product and applies heat and pressure to move the design. Heat transfer printing is used for shapes or materials that are hard to print on directly.

Color

Heat transfer printing can produce anything from one color to full color, depending on how the transfer paper is printed.

Good for

Heat transfer printing is good for small electronic merch such as power banks and toothbrush sterilizers, and for multi-color logos.

Avoid when

Avoid heat transfer printing on heat-sensitive materials and sharply curved surfaces (the transfer paper may not sit flat).

Durability

Heat transfer printing leaves the design attached to the surface, so prolonged rubbing or scratching can wear the design down. How much heat transfer printing wears depends on the transfer paper type and product material.

Watch out for

In heat transfer printing, the possible materials and effects depend on the transfer paper type (heat transfer, water transfer and others). The print area is limited to the size of the product's flat surface.

Cost pattern

Heat transfer printing needs transfer paper to be made, which adds a fixed setup cost, and after setup the cost scales with quantity. The exact pricing structure varies by item and supplier.

O-SEAN items

Items listed with transfer printing in O-SEAN product specs are the power bank, USB-C 2-in-1 fast power bank, MagSafe wireless fast-charging power bank and toothbrush sterilizer. The transfer method for each item is confirmed at the quote stage.

UV printing is a digital method that jets ink directly onto the product and cures the ink instantly with ultraviolet light, and UV printing can print full-color designs without plates.

How it works

In UV printing, a digital printer jets ink onto the product surface and immediately cures the ink with ultraviolet light. UV printing makes no plates, so many colors and fine images print in one pass.

Color

UV printing mixes CMYK inks for full color, and depending on the equipment, a white ink base lets colors show on dark surfaces and clear materials. Spot colors are approximated with CMYK.

Good for

UV printing is good for rigid materials such as plastic, metal, acrylic, glass and wood, logos with photos or gradients, and small runs on small areas such as pens.

Avoid when

Avoid UV printing on soft materials such as fabric and on sharply curved surfaces (depends on equipment).

Durability

UV printing leaves the ink as a layer on the surface, so hard scratching can remove the print. UV printing is less resistant to wear than methods that cut into the material, such as laser engraving.

Watch out for

The printable size in UV printing depends on the printer's print area and the product's height. Ink adhesion in UV printing depends on the surface finish, so a test print may be needed for each item.

Cost pattern

UV printing needs no plates, so setup costs are low and the unit price stays fairly flat across quantities. UV printing favors small runs and many-color designs.

O-SEAN items

The O-SEAN item that uses UV printing is the link pen.

UV film is a sticker-style film printed with UV ink and applied to the product, and UV film is used for full-color logos on round products such as tumblers.

How it works

UV film is made by printing the design on film with UV ink and adding an adhesive layer, and the film is pressed onto the product surface without heat. Peeling off the top film after application leaves only the design.

Color

UV film can combine full color with a white base, so colors stay vivid even on dark or clear products.

Good for

UV film is good for rigid products with curved surfaces such as tumblers and cups, and for full-color logos that need a slightly raised texture.

Avoid when

Avoid UV film on fabric products and for uses with frequent dishwasher washing (repeated hot washing can weaken the adhesion).

Durability

UV film is waterproof, but long soaking in hot water or repeated dishwasher cycles can weaken the adhesion. For uses with frequent dishwasher washing, consider laser engraving as well.

Watch out for

UV film lasts longer when oil and dust are cleaned off the surface before application. UV film is hard to reposition once applied.

Cost pattern

UV film is a plateless digital method, so small runs are affordable and the unit price changes little with quantity.

O-SEAN items

O-SEAN items that use UV film are tumblers (offered alongside laser engraving and screen printing).

Laser engraving marks a logo by burning or cutting the product surface with a laser, and because laser engraving uses no ink, the logo cannot wear off and shows in the material's own color on metal and wood.

How it works

In laser engraving, a laser beam burns or vaporizes the surface in the shape of the logo. On a coated tumbler, laser engraving removes the coating and reveals the metal base underneath.

Color

Laser engraving uses no ink, so the logo color is limited to the one color the material reveals. Laser engraving has only one color, so it is usually called one-color engraving.

Good for

Laser engraving is good for stainless tumblers, metal products, wooden products such as wood pens, leather, acrylic and some plastics.

Avoid when

Avoid laser engraving for logos that need several colors and for photos or gradients.

Durability

Laser engraving cuts into the material itself, so the mark is permanent and does not peel or wear off.

Watch out for

Laser engraving can blur very thin lines and small text, so bold fonts and vector files are recommended. The color tone of a laser engraving depends on the material and coating.

Cost pattern

Laser engraving needs no plates, so setup costs are low, and the cost follows the engraving time per piece. A larger engraving area takes more time.

O-SEAN items

O-SEAN items that use laser engraving are the 3-in-1 charging stand, fans (one-color laser engraving), tumblers and the wood pen.

Full-color printing means printing with no limit on the number of colors, including photos and gradients, and the actual process for full-color printing varies by item between UV printing, heat transfer, digital printing and others.

How it works

Full-color printing mixes four CMYK inks to create a wide range of colors. Full-color printing is done with UV printing, heat transfer printing or digital printing, depending on the product material and shape.

Color

Full-color printing has no limit on the number of colors, but spot colors are approximated with CMYK. Print results can differ from the RGB colors seen on a monitor.

Good for

Full-color printing is good for designs with characters, illustrations or photos, and for merch where color matters, such as PP tumblers, acrylic coasters and slippers.

Avoid when

Avoid full-color printing when a brand spot color must match exactly (color differences can occur).

Durability

The durability of full-color printing depends on which process is used: UV printing, heat transfer printing or digital printing.

Watch out for

Full-color printing uses a different process for each item, so the printable area and file requirements also differ by item.

Cost pattern

Full-color printing is mostly done with digital processes, so adding colors makes little difference to cost.

O-SEAN items

O-SEAN items that use full-color printing are the PP reusable tumbler, LED acrylic coaster, fans and slippers.

One-color printing means printing in a single color, and one-color printing lowers cost and steps when the logo is a single color.

How it works

One-color printing is printing in one color, and in Korean print terms the word "do" counts the colors used in printing. 1-do means one color and 2-do means two colors, and the term is mostly used for methods that make a screen per color, such as screen printing.

Color

One-color printing uses only one color, so the logo must be prepared in a one-color version. The ink can be mixed to match a brand color.

Good for

One-color printing is good for one-color logos, text logos, and products that suit a simple look, such as clear PVC tote bags and hard pouches.

Avoid when

Avoid one-color printing when a logo with several colors must keep all its colors.

Durability

The durability of one-color printing depends on the print process actually used, such as screen printing.

Watch out for

One-color printing requires converting a multi-color logo to a one-color version. One-color printing on clear materials may need a white base print so the color does not look see-through.

Cost pattern

One-color printing needs only one screen, so setup costs less than multi-color printing.

O-SEAN items

O-SEAN items that use one-color printing are the waterproof clear tote bag (PVC) and the hard pouch.