PRODUCTION GUIDE

Imprinting Processes

Colorfill

Screen printing an image and debossing it onto the surface of a promotional item.

Deboss

The depression of an image into a material's surface resulting in the image to sit below the surface of the logo product.

Decal

Artwork imprinted onto a transparent decal and applied to the promotional product.

Digitizing

Embroidery artwork first must be "digitized", the specialized process of converting
two-dimensional artwork into stitches of thread, before being added to corporate apparel.
As with most artwork, certain graphic formats, such as a jpeg, tif, eps or bmp cannot be converted into an embroidery tape. These formats must be recreated by a master artisan known as a digitizer to recreate the artwork into stitches. Overture's Digital Masters are the best in the advertising specialties industry.

Emboss

Impressing an image in relief to achieve a raised surface for an imprinted promotional product.

Embroidery

Adding a digitized design to corporate apparel through stitching via the use of high-speed, computer-controlled sewing machines. The specially-designed, computerized sewing machines are programmed to sew a specific design in a specific color with a specific type of stitch. Overture's in-house embroiderers is one of the nation's leading embroidery specialists.

Etching

A promotional item is covered with a protective coating that resists acid to create the artwork. This leaves a bare surface and a protected surface. It is then exposed to acid. The acid dissolves only the exposed surface to a controlled depths resulting in the image etched onto the surface.

Foil Stamp

Stamping metallic or colored foil imprints to vinyl, leather or paper surfaces such as corporate gifts. Commonly used to add color and/or texture to a deboss imprint.

4-Color Process

A color image is separated into four different color values (CYMK) and images using filters and screens resulting in a series of tiny dots. These dot images are pressed onto printing plates and printed on a printing press with the colored inks C = cyan (blue),
Y = yellow, M = magenta (red), and K = black to reproduce the original color image.

Hot Stamp

Setting a design on a metal relief die or plate, then heated and pressed onto the printing surface of the logo product. Overture has our own hot stamp services in house.

Laser (Engraving)

Art or lettering is cut into an advertising specialty by a laser beam.

Pad Printing

After covering a recessed surface with ink, the plate is wiped clean, leaving ink in the recessed areas. A silicone pad is then pressed against the plate, pulling the ink out of the recesses and pressing it directly onto the promotional product. Overture provides pad printing as one of our on-site services.

Screen Printing/Silk-Screening

An image is transferred to the printed surface by ink, which is pressed through a stenciled screen and treated with a light-sensitive emulsion. Film positives are put in contact with the screens and exposed to light, hardening the emulsion not covered by film and leaving a soft area on the screen through which the squeegee presses ink. A different screen must be created for every color to be printed and each color is screened separately. Overture provides this imprinting process in house. It can be used on most types of imprinted promotional products.

Sublimation

Dye transfer process where the image consists of a colored dye permanently embedded into the pores of the material surface. Used to imprint messages, graphics and photographs on a variety of items, primarily corporate apparel, tradeshow giveaways and advertising specialties.