Q: What is pad printing?
A: Pad printing is a method used to transfer an inked image from a photo-etched plate to a thick, soft silicone pad. The pad is then pressed against the product that requires decorating and the ink is transferred.
The pad can wrap itself as much as 180° around a small object, and ink coverage is excellent. One colour is transferred at a time, but registration between colours is good enough to allow four-colour process printing.
Q: What is hot foil stamping?
A: Hot foil printing, also known as gold blocking or hot foil blocking, is a method used to transfer an image through the application of heat and pressure on to a product that requires decorating.
Foil comes in a vast range of colours and finishes which can be gloss, matt, metallic, pearl and marble. Rainbow patterns and even wood grains can be achieved. Foils also come in pigmented colours and special effects including holographic patterns such as those seen on many credit cards.
Q: How should artwork be supplied?
A: We have an in-house design studio which can either create a design from a basic concept or can work from supplied corporate branding or artwork. Our design team has the ability to create designs and plates using Photoshop / Corel / Illustrator etc. Good artwork is essential in order to decorate your custom promotional products with a neat clearly defined print. A business card or letterhead is not really sufficient to produce good artwork. We are happy to produce or amend artwork, the cost of which, although kept to a minimum, will be passed on.
Please supply artwork in the following formats if possible:
PC: (WeTransfer, memory stick, DVD, CD) Coral draw, Illustrator EPS, Editable Tiff, Editable PDF or Jpegs – in a high resolution & ready for use
E-Mail: anc@ancestors.co.uk to be supplied in above formats
Hard Copy: Please include hard copies for colour matching purposes.
Please remember to include any fonts used, or convert text to outlines when saving.
Q: What is the largest image you can print?
A: Pad printing and hot foiling do have their limits when it comes to printing larger items. This is largely dependent on the equipment available. Screenprinting is suited to printing larger items, but only onto reasonably flat products. For fine detail onto small components, pad printing is the most versatile and gives the best results. For parts that require high quality metallic decoration, hot foiling has its advantages. For larger flatter items we favor screenprinting.
Pad Printing Print Areas
Up to 150mm x 600mm (6″ x 23″)
Hot Foiling Print Areas
Up to 203mm x 305mm (8″ X 12″)
Screenprinting Print Areas
Up to 1000mm x 1000mm (40″ X 40″)
Normal digital printing we can print onto 350gms card up to SRA3 in house, over size we would pass to our regular print house.
Q: What is the smallest image you can print?
A: We specialise in printing small items, so there really is no limit to the smallest area we can print.
We can generally print down to a line thickness of 0.2mm on a smooth surface and still ensure good definition.
Q: What about colour matching?
A: Matching colours has always been a difficult process for pad printing. Due to the thin layer of ink applied to the branded product compared to screen printing. The print colour can look totally different if printed onto a light coloured surface compared to being printed on a dark coloured surface. Until recently we had to purchase ‘colour matched’ inks to overcome this problem, which led to longer lead times for customers and increased costs. We are now able to offer this service in-house and pass the benefits on to our customers. Pantone References
Whilst every effort is made to match print colours to your requirements, it must be appreciated that if a pantone reference is not supplied we cannot guarantee a colour match.
Q: When will I receive my order?
A: Standard orders are usually dispatched within 1-2 working days, and customised items are dispatched within 5-7 working days. For urgent requirements please contact us.
Q: Are the prices on the website inclusive of VAT?
A: All of the prices on the website are exclusive of VAT
Q: How much postage will I pay?
A: We have a standard minimum delivery charge of £10 for all UK mainland. This will either be by ParcelForce or DPD, international by FedEx, TNT or ParcelForce – this may change depending on circumstances. A signature would be required.
Q: Can I get a custom/bespoke product?
A: Absolutely! Our core business is bespoke, this is everything from square, round, rectangle and pretty much any shape. Let us know if you are working to time or budget constraints and we will look at all options available to you.
Q: I don’t want to order my labels online how else can I order?
A: We have 4 easy ways to order to suit every ones needs:
By fax 01303 857201
By post ANC Manufacturing, Unit 2a, c/o Ancestors Group, Bowles Well Gardens, Dover Road, Folkestone, CT19 6PQ
By phone 01303 857200
By email anc@ancestors.co.uk
Q: How can I pay for my labels?
A: When ordering online you have the option of paying via:
BACS
Debit/Credit Card
Cheque
Debit/Credit card by telephone
WorldPay or PayPal
Q: Do you offer an account facility?
A: Yes, we do offer an account subject to completion and approval of an account application form.