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Copyright © 2026. All Rights Reserved. Indigo Promotions. Company Reg No. 04992437.
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New to ordering branded merchandise? The industry loves its trade terms, so we have put together this plain English guide to the words and phrases you will see on our site and in your quotes. If anything is still unclear, give us a call and we will happily talk it through.
Origination, also called a set-up charge, covers the one-off cost of preparing your artwork for printing. Depending on the print method this might mean making a screen, engraving a plate or digitally setting up your design. At Indigo Promotions origination is already included in our prices, so there is nothing extra to add.
Carriage simply means delivery. Our prices include carriage to one UK mainland address, so the price you see covers getting your order to your door. If you need a split delivery to multiple addresses, just ask and we will quote for it.
MOQ stands for minimum order quantity, the smallest number of units we can supply for a given product. MOQs exist because set-up costs need to be spread across a sensible number of items. They vary by product, so check the product page or ask us if you are unsure.
Lead time is how long your order takes from artwork approval to delivery. It varies by product and print method, and busy periods such as the run-up to Christmas can stretch it. If you are working to a deadline, tell us the date you need your items in hand and we will confirm whether it is achievable before you order.
The print area is the space on a product where your design can be printed. Every product page lists its print area dimensions. Your logo does not have to fill the whole area, but it cannot go beyond it, so it is worth checking before you fall in love with a particular layout.
Screen printing pushes ink through a fine mesh screen onto the product, one screen per colour. It produces bold, durable results and is very cost effective on larger runs, which is why it is one of the most common methods for printed bags, t-shirts and drinkware.
Pad printing uses a soft silicone pad to lift ink from an etched plate and press it onto the product. Because the pad flexes, it can print onto curved and uneven surfaces, making it the go-to method for pens, keyrings, stress balls and other small shaped items.
Digital printing applies your design directly to the product in full colour, much like a desktop printer but built for merchandise. It is ideal for logos with gradients, photographs or lots of colours, since you are not paying per colour as you would with screen printing.
Dye sublimation uses heat to turn ink into gas so it bonds with the surface of the product rather than sitting on top of it. The result is a vibrant, full colour print that will not crack or peel, commonly used for mugs, mouse mats and polyester textiles.
Embroidery stitches your design directly into fabric using coloured threads. It gives a premium, long-lasting finish that suits workwear, caps and bags. Pricing is usually based on stitch count, which is why detailed logos cost more to embroider than simple ones.
Laser engraving burns your design into the surface of a product, typically metal, wood or glass. There is no ink involved, so the finish is permanent and subtle, taking on the tone of the material beneath. It is a popular choice for premium pens, bottles and awards.
The Pantone Matching System, or PMS, is a universal colour standard used across printing. Every Pantone colour has a reference number, so if you tell us your brand colour is PMS 286, we can reproduce it accurately whether we are printing a pen or manufacturing a bespoke bag. Screen colours vary between monitors, so the physical Pantone book is always the final word on accuracy. If you want to find the closest reference to your brand colour, try our Pantone colour finder.
Vector artwork is a file format built from mathematical paths rather than pixels, meaning it can be scaled to any size without losing sharpness. Common vector formats are AI, EPS and some PDFs. We ask for vector artwork wherever possible because it prints cleanly at any size. If you only have a JPEG or PNG, send it over and we will advise.
A proof is a visual mock-up showing exactly how your design will sit on the product, sent to you for approval before anything is printed. Nothing goes to production until you have signed off your proof, so it is your chance to check spelling, positioning and colours.
Spot colour printing uses individual pre-mixed inks, one per colour in your design, often matched to Pantone references. It gives precise, consistent colour and works out cost effective for designs with one or two colours, since each additional colour adds cost.
Full colour printing, also called CMYK or process printing, builds every colour from four inks: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. It is the right choice for photographs, gradients and multi-coloured designs where matching individual spot colours would be impractical.
Plain stock refers to products supplied without any printing or branding. Most of our customers want branded items, but plain stock can make sense if you are topping up a previous order or applying your own labelling.
A bespoke product is made to your specification rather than branded from an existing catalogue item. That might mean a custom shape, a Pantone-matched fabric or packaging designed from scratch. Bespoke work usually involves higher minimum quantities and longer lead times, but the result is entirely yours.
This guide covers the terms we get asked about most, but every project is different. If you have come across a phrase we have not explained, or you want advice on the best print method for your artwork, get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.
Get in touchIndigo Promotions Ltd, Unit 6, The Business Centre, Barlow Drive, Winsford CW7 2GN
Copyright © 2026. All Rights Reserved. Indigo Promotions. Company Reg No. 04992437.
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