There are many ways to decorate products. From screen printing to sublimation, each decorating process is unique. Even among the different processes there are specialty and trendy decorating options. There are rhinestones, applique, even specialty heat press transfers. Each of these specialty product decorations has its own market. For instance, rhinestones and glitter are extremely popular with younger girls and women, especially cheerleaders and dancers. Children are typically fond of specialty transfers like glow-in-the-dark, color-changing, puff, and glitter.
Rhinestones are small pieces of glass or acrylic that are meant to imitate diamonds. They can be used in place of ink to create a design or even to outline one. Rhinestones can be applied to a variety of products, from pants and shirts to bags and hats. Rhinestone designs are typically created using a setting machine that places the stones onto a transfer backing that then can be heat applied using a heat press.
Applique is a piece of fabric that is sewn or pressed onto another fabric to create a new design. Applique is a common decoration method for sweatshirts and jackets (think letterman jackets). Applique is first cut using a laser to cut the design instead of a metal blade so that the edges do not fray. The applique then must be sewn onto the product using an embroidery machine.
A newer decoration method is laser etching, which involves the design being burned into a fabric with a laser, creating an image that is just a few shades darker than the garment itself. Laser etching works best on medium-colored garments, as the resulting image will struggle to stand out from darker garments and whites. This method is most commonly used for one-color corporate logos or names.
Another decoration method worth mentioning here is cutting & sewing. In this process, the fabric is sublimation printed before being cut and sewn into a garment. Cutting & sewing gives the product decorator the ability to decorate an entire garment rather than just one or two printable areas. Many polyester, moisture-wicking, and other sports apparel products are now made this way. Many soccer, baseball, wrestling, cycling, track, and other sports are products are first printed using sublimation printers and then each garment is sewn together. While this decoration method offers great customization options it is typically expensive, has a long turnaround time, and is best used for larger orders rather than single garments.
When it comes to specialty transfers, there are many options. Glow in the dark transfers are fun for children of all ages. Puff transfers add a 3D aspect to a design and really stand out. Glitter, well, speaks for itself. Glitter transfers are great for printing cheerleading and other female-targeted products. Perhaps the coolest product decoration method of all is the color-changing transfer. When indoors and deprived of UV light, these designs seem black and white. However, when exposed to sunlight (and therefore UV rays), the colors in the design can be seen. It is a neat effect to witness, and the colors are as vibrant as a typical transfer in the sunlight.
Offering specialty decorating processes is another great way to make your business stand out from the crowd. These unique decoration methods are distinct, and they appeal to different markets. This will help you to expand your customer base and attract more business from your existing customers. While you may not be able to offer all these product decoration methods, they are certainly worth your consideration.
