How it Works - The Art of Pad Printing and Its Application For Promotional Printed Pens

Promotional pens can be personalised using a number of different methods, one of which is pad printing. Considered one of the most versatile printing processes, pad printing is most popular because of its ability to print on compound angles and three-dimensional objects. With increasingly stylised and ergonomic printed pens and other promotional items on the market, pad printing is the obvious choice for a clear, defined image.

Pad printing is an indirect offset printing process through which a two-dimensional image can be transferred to a three-dimensional surface. This method of printing is comprised of four components: a printing plate (generally made of steel); a silicone transfer pad; quick-drying, solvent-based ink; and a substrate (in our case, printed pens). Here's how it works:

1. A sealed, inverted ink cup covers the etched artwork area of the cliché, or printing plate, and fills the image with ink.

2. When the ink cup moves away, it takes all excess ink with it, exposing the ink-filled etched image. Once the top layer of ink is exposed to the air, it becomes sticky, enabling it to adhere to the transfer pad and, eventually, to the promotional item.

3. The transfer pad, generally made of flexible silicone, presses downward onto the cliché. This compression forces air outward causing the ink to transfer from the printing plate onto the pad.

4. As the silicone pad lifts away, it picks up the tacky ink film from inside the etching, leaving a small amount of ink behind.

5. The ink cup moves back into position over the etched artwork area, ready for the next cycle, as the transfer pad moves forward.

6. When the transfer pad presses down onto the promotional pen, it transfers the sticky ink layer to the printing surface, then lifts off and moves back into position in preparation for the next sequence.

As you can well imagine, the printed pens industry is only one of many for which pad printing is highly suitable. The unique characteristics of silicone enable the pad to lift an image from a flat plane and imprint it on a variety of surfaces (e.g. convex, concave, spherical, cylindrical, and textured), making it adaptable to multiple applications. Consequently, pad printing is used to print graphics on matchbox toy cars, golf balls, sporting equipment, automotive parts, medical devices, television and computer components, and clothing. With such a flexible method of printing, there's no limit to where your marketing ideas can take you.

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