What Is Pad Printing? How It Works and When to Use It

Pad printing is a process that uses a soft silicone pad to lift ink off an etched plate and press it onto a three-dimensional object. Because the pad flexes, it can print logos and fine text on curved, recessed or textured surfaces like pens, golf balls, tumblers, medical devices and molded parts. Classic Printing & Signs runs pad printing in-house in Birmingham.

How does pad printing work?

1. Your artwork is etched into a flat steel or polymer plate, called a cliché.
2. The plate is flooded with ink and a doctor blade wipes it clean, leaving ink only in the etched design.
3. The silicone pad presses onto the plate and picks up the inked image.
4. The pad presses onto your part, wraps around its shape, and releases the ink.
5. The ink air-dries or is cured with heat or UV, depending on the material.

Each color is a separate pass, so multi-color logos need registration from pass to pass.

What can you pad print on?

Plastics, metals, glass, ceramics, rubber, silicone, wood and coated surfaces. The ink is chosen for the material, which matters more than the press: polypropylene and silicone, for example, need special inks or pretreatment to bond.

When should you choose pad printing?

What are the advantages of pad printing?

• It prints where nothing else reaches: inside curves, on edges, on textured plastic.
• It holds fine detail and small type.
• It's highly repeatable, so piece 5,000 matches piece one.
• Setup is modest, so short and medium runs stay affordable.

What are the limits?

Print area is small, typically a few inches across. Full-color photo images aren't practical, because each color is a separate pass. For big flat areas, screen or UV printing is faster and cheaper.

FAQ

What is pad printing used for?

Logos and markings on promotional products, medical devices, electronics, auto parts and molded components.

Is pad printing durable?

Yes, when the ink is matched to the material. Cured pad prints resist handling, cleaning and abrasion.

Can pad printing do multiple colors?

Yes, one pass per color with registered alignment.

What's the difference between pad printing and screen printing?

Pad printing transfers ink with a flexible pad for curved parts. Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh for flat surfaces and bigger areas.

See our pad printing services and pad printing pricing, call (205) 326-6540 or request a quote online.