Questions & answers

Start with the audience, intended use, quantity and budget. Compare material, product colour and the available branding area. A clear logo on a useful product is often more effective than a very detailed design printed too small. Browse the catalogue or ask us to help shortlist suitable items.

It varies by product and decoration method. Check the quantity information on the product page and in the customizer.

Contact us to discuss sample availability, costs, branding options or a custom quotation.

First check which methods are offered on your chosen item and position. For a simple logo in one or a few solid brand colours, compare screen printing, pad printing or transfer printing. For photographs, gradients and many colours, compare an available full-colour process such as UV printing, digital transfer or sublimation. For a subtle, tactile result, consider laser engraving, debossing or embroidery on suitable products.

Next compare the total price at your actual quantity, not just the name of the method. The product material, print size, number of positions and required finish all matter.

• One colour: one solid ink colour at one position, not the colour of the product itself.
• Several spot colours: two or more separately specified inks, often matched using Pantone references. Each colour can require its own production step and setup.
• Full colour / multicolour: a process that reproduces many image colours, photographs and gradients, usually using CMYK. CMYK's four process inks do not mean that you should select “4 colours” in a spot-colour option.
• Embroidery: colours are threads, not printing inks.
• Laser engraving and blind debossing: no selectable ink colour; the material determines the appearance. Reflective transfer is a special film effect, not photographic full colour.

A white underbase or special finish may be handled separately. Follow the options for the exact product and position rather than a catalogue-wide maximum.

The following quantities are comparison guides, not minimum order quantities or guaranteed price breakpoints:

• Small runs, roughly 20–50 pieces: where the product minimum permits, compare digital transfer, UV, digital printing, sublimation or DTG for complex full-colour artwork. Laser engraving can also suit a short premium run. These processes do not need a separate screen for every artwork colour, but setup and handling charges can still apply.
• Medium runs, roughly 50–250 pieces: compare full-colour and spot-colour options at the same print size and position. A simple one-colour logo may favour pad, screen or transfer printing; a photo may favour digital production.
• Larger runs, roughly 250+ pieces: screen, pad or screen-transfer production can become more economical for a limited-colour logo because setup is spread across more items. This is not a universal rule; compare the actual quotation.

Embroidery also depends on stitch count and design area; engraving depends on the marked area and processing time. Compare the complete configured order including setup, all positions, delivery and applicable VAT. Ask us to compare options if you are unsure.

These are catalogue methods, not options available on every product. Open the linked guide for details, then check the actual product, print position, maximum colour count and quantity in the customizer.

One or several selected colours / threads

• Screen printing — One or several spot colours, each using a separate screen. Good for bold logos on suitable apparel, bags and promotional items; often worth comparing at medium and larger quantities. Not the first choice for photographs.
• Pad printing — One or several spot colours, subject to the item limit. Suits small logos on pens, keyrings and shaped surfaces. A simple logo can be economical as quantity increases; tiny text still needs to remain readable.
• Transfer printing — A spot-colour design is printed onto transfer media, then heat-applied. Useful for solid logos on compatible textiles and accessories; compare medium and larger runs. It is different from full-colour digital transfer.
• Ceramic printing — Specialist spot-colour decoration for suitable ceramics and glass, fixed using the specified heat process. Consider repeated logo runs on mugs; compare setup at your quantity. Colour palettes and care instructions are item-specific.
• Embroidery — One or several thread colours, not photographic CMYK printing. Gives suitable polos, caps and bags a textured finish. Cost depends on digitising, stitch count and size as well as quantity; simplify gradients and very small lettering.

Full-colour processes

• UV printing — Full-colour direct printing with UV-cured inks on compatible surfaces. Suits detailed logos and gradients, including short and medium runs. White ink and wraparound printing are available only on supported items.
• Digital printing — Full-colour artwork reproduced without separate screens for each spot colour. Useful for detailed designs and compatible paper or packaging options, including short runs. The exact substrate and production process depend on the item.
• Digital transfer — Full-colour artwork is printed on a transfer medium and heat-applied. A useful comparison for detailed, multicoloured textile logos in short or medium runs. Check fabric compatibility, print feel and the allowed area.
• Sublimation — Full-colour dye is transferred into suitable polyester or a sublimation coating. Useful for photos on compatible textiles and mugs, including short runs. Normally no white ink: the base colour affects the result.
• Direct to garment printing — Full-colour textile ink is printed directly onto a compatible garment. Often worth comparing for short runs of detailed artwork. Fabric, pretreatment and garment colour matter; it is not the same process as digital transfer.
• Button printing — A full-colour printed insert is assembled into a pin badge. Suits photographic or campaign artwork; compare costs at the required quantity. Keep important content within the visible badge area, allowing for the folded edge.
• Digital inlay — A full-colour printed paper insert sits inside the product's display area. Useful for detailed artwork and short runs on compatible items. Follow the insert template; this is not direct printing on the surface.
• Digital labels and stickers — Full-colour artwork on a self-adhesive label. Flexible for detailed designs and short or medium runs where labels are suitable. Confirm the label material, adhesion and exposure requirements; do not assume every label is waterproof.
• Doming — A full-colour printed label is covered with clear resin for a raised, glossy effect. Useful for premium badges and logos; compare quantity and size. The dome adds depth, not extra selectable printing colours.
• Inkjet overprinting — Digital overprinting on a compatible surface, with colour capabilities determined by the item. Consider for detailed artwork where full colour is offered; compare the actual quantity. Do not assume white ink or UV curing.
• Vision film printing — Full-colour artwork printed on perforated film for supported items such as promotional sunglasses. Suits bold campaign graphics; perforations can interrupt fine details. Use the product template and compare its minimum quantity and price.

Engraving and special finishes

• Laser engraving — No printing inks: the laser reveals or changes the surface, so the finish follows the material or coating. Useful for durable, understated branding and short premium runs. Price depends partly on area and processing time.
• Debossing — A stamp creates a recessed, usually tone-on-tone impression without ink. Suits compatible notebooks and leather-like surfaces. Tooling can weigh more heavily on small quantities; compare medium runs. Foil is not included unless specifically offered.
• Reflective transfer — A reflective film, commonly silver, creates a light-reflecting mark rather than a full-colour image. Suits simple logos on compatible apparel or bags. Compare the item minimum and design area; decoration alone does not certify protective clothing.

Availability is specific to the product, material and decoration position. A method described in this FAQ may not be enabled for that item, and the front, back or sleeve can have different limits. A catalogue filter is a way to shortlist products, not a promise that every method and colour count is available at every position. Use the options actually offered in the customizer; contact us if the option you need is missing.

Use a clear, high-quality file accepted by the customizer. Vector artwork is generally preferable for logos. The required format and print size depend on the selected decoration method. You must have permission to use the uploaded content. Read our Artwork and Intellectual Property Policy.

The visual created in the customizer is a preliminary illustration, not the final production proof. After reviewing the order, PrintSide prepares the final production proof with the manufacturer and sends it to the customer for approval. Production starts only after the customer approves that final proof and PrintSide confirms the approved version to the manufacturer.

Check the design, spelling, dimensions, colours and placement carefully before approving the final production proof.

Screens, materials, coatings and product colours change how artwork looks. Spot-colour methods can use Pantone references, but full-colour CMYK and thread palettes have their own colour limits. Sublimation normally has no white ink, while white underprinting is available only on supported processes. Tell us if a brand colour is critical and review the final proof; a screen preview is not a physical colour sample.

Choose a product, colour and quantity, open the customizer and select an available decoration method and position. Upload your artwork and complete the configuration before adding the product to your cart. Review the order and delivery details at checkout.

Contact us as soon as possible. Before production, changes or cancellation are assessed individually and may involve costs already incurred. Cancellation is not possible once production has begun. See our Terms of Sale.

Production and delivery estimates depend on the product, decoration method, quantity, stock and artwork approval. Check the estimate for your order and our Shipping Policy. An estimated lead time is not a guaranteed delivery date.

Standard delivery is currently free for every order placed on the website, without a minimum order value. Express delivery is charged separately. Delivery charges and free-delivery offers may change in the future. The final delivery charge and the conditions in effect when you place your order are displayed at checkout.

Contact us promptly with your order number, a description and clear photographs. We assess manufacturing faults and printing errors under our Returns, Refunds and Complaints Policy. Applicable statutory rights remain unaffected.

Contact us via Telegram, WhatsApp, email or the contact form. Include the product link or SKU, quantity, required delivery date, artwork and preferred decoration position. We can check compatible options and discuss a quotation before you order.