Choosing the wrong branding technique can spoil a good product and excellent artwork. This quick reference shows you what works on which material, when to choose each technique and what result to expect.
Quick reference: choose your technique
🖨️Screen printing
🧵Embroidery
⚡Laser
DTF
🌈Sublimation
✨Hot foil
UV printing
Screen printing
Best for: T-shirts, mugs, bags, plastic bottles
Colours1-8 colours (separate set-up for each colour)
Min. quantity50-100 pcs
Lead timeMedium (5-8 days)
Relative costMedium
Advantages
✓ Low unit cost on large runs
✓ Opaque, vibrant colours
✓ Good durability
✓ Works on a wide range of materials
Limitations
✗ Set-up cost for each colour
✗ Not cost-effective below 50 pcs
✗ Difficult on curved surfaces
✗ Not suited to gradients or photographs
The most popular process for volume orders. Ideal for events and large-scale campaigns.
Embroidery
Best for: Polo shirts, hoodies, caps, jackets, bags
ColoursUnlimited (coloured thread)
Min. quantity12-25 pcs
Lead timeMedium (5-10 days)
Relative costMedium to high
Advantages
✓ Premium, three-dimensional look
✓ Extremely hard-wearing
✓ Can be washed without deteriorating
✓ Perceived as a mark of quality
Limitations
✗ Higher cost per piece
✗ Not suitable for fine detail
✗ Adds weight to thin fabrics
✗ Set-up (digitising) on the first order
The standard for corporate uniforms and quality textiles. Your logo ‘lives’ as long as the garment does.
Laser engraving
Best for: Metal, wood, bamboo, leather, glass, hard plastic
ColoursSingle colour (the colour of the material)
Min. quantity1 pc
Lead timeFast (2-5 days)
Relative costMedium (depends on the area)
Advantages
✓ No inks: an elegant, natural look
✓ Lasts indefinitely
✓ No minimum order
✓ Maximum precision for fine detail
Limitations
✗ Single colour only, no full-colour option
✗ Looks different on different materials
✗ Glass requires special equipment
✗ Fixed cost per piece (does not fall much with volume)
Recommended for premium products: fountain pens, trophies, metal accessories, bamboo items.
DTF transfer (Direct-to-Film)
Best for: Textiles (any fabric, any colour)
ColoursUnlimited: full colour, gradients, photographs
Min. quantity1 pc (no minimum)
Lead timeFast (2-4 days)
Relative costMedium (consistent per piece)
Advantages
✓ No minimum order quantity
✓ Full colour and photographs
✓ Works on any fabric colour
✓ Fine detail and gradients
✓ Good durability (30+ washes)
Limitations
✗ Higher unit cost than screen printing on large runs
✗ Not as hard-wearing as embroidery
✗ A ‘flat’ finish rather than a three-dimensional one
The textile revolution of recent years. It is replacing classic heat transfer and competes with screen printing below 50 pcs.
Sublimation printing
Best for: Polyester textiles, white ceramic mugs, mouse mats
ColoursFull colour, unlimited
Min. quantity12-24 pcs (mugs), 1 pc (textiles)
Lead timeMedium (4-7 days)
Relative costMedium
Advantages
✓ Full colour, including photographs
✓ Covers the entire surface
✓ Bright, vivid colours
✓ Will not crack or peel
Limitations
✗ Works ONLY on white or light-coloured materials
✗ Works ONLY on polyester and ceramics
✗ Not suitable for cotton
✗ Machine washing can degrade the print over time
Ideal for full-colour mouse mats, photo mugs and white polyester sportswear.
Hot foil / embossing
Best for: Paper, card, leather, faux leather, matt plastic
ColoursGold, silver, black, rose gold, bronze
Min. quantity50-100 pcs
Lead timeMedium (5-8 days)
Relative costMedium to high
Advantages
✓ Luxurious, premium look
✓ Tactile finish you can feel
✓ Stands out immediately
✓ Well suited to premium brands
Limitations
✗ Not full colour
✗ Limited choice of finishes
✗ Not suitable for heavily textured surfaces
✗ Set-up for each die
Perfect for diaries, premium business cards, packaging and gift books: anywhere you want maximum visual impact.
UV printing
Best for: Plastic, metal, glass, wood, leather (flat surfaces)
ColoursFull colour, including white and a raised 3D effect
Min. quantity25-50 pcs
Lead timeMedium (4-7 days)
Relative costMedium to high
Advantages
✓ Full colour on almost any surface
✓ Water- and UV-resistant (does not fade)
✓ Optional raised 3D effect
✓ Does not rub off
Limitations
✗ Not suitable for textiles
✗ Higher cost per piece
✗ The surface needs to be fairly flat
Quickly gaining ground, especially for power banks, plastic accessories and hardback diaries. A real wow factor.
How to prepare your artwork files for branding
Whichever technique you choose, the quality of your artwork file determines the quality of the final result.
Vector (AI, EPS, vector PDF)
Used for: Screen printing, embroidery, laser engraving, hot foil
Essential for spot-colour techniques. The logo can be scaled to any size without any loss of quality.
High-resolution raster (TIFF, PNG 300 dpi+)
Used for: DTF, sublimation printing, full-colour UV printing
At least 150 dpi at final print size. Photographs: at least 300 dpi. Transparent background (PNG) for textiles.
CMYK (not RGB)
Used for: All colour printing techniques
Screens display RGB, whereas print uses CMYK. Automatic conversion distorts colours, so always send CMYK files or specify Pantone references.
Pantone colours (PMS)
Used for: Screen printing, embroidery thread
If your brand identity uses precise colours (e.g. Pantone 485 C for red), specify the exact code. Otherwise, colours are matched by eye.
Would you like to discuss the right technique for your project?
ATU’s specialists will recommend the most suitable technique and send you a proof before you place your order.