An overview of the different printing options for professional advertising umbrellas.

Different textile printing techniques are used when printing umbrellas. Depending on the design and the product, there are different requirements for the print. Schirmmacher offers a broad spectrum of different techniques and can therefore get the best out of every promotional umbrella project.

Hand Screen Printing

• First, the desired print design is printed onto a film (transparent foil). The film is then exposed onto a screen with a fine mesh. The exposure makes the areas that are later meant to let ink through permeable. Using what is known as a squeegee, the ink can then be pressed through the permeable areas of the screen. The process is repeated for each colour with a different printing template.
• Advantages:
• Suitable even for small quantities
• High lightfastness
• High durability
• Relatively high colour accuracy

Printing on coloured fabrics possible

• Ideal for most logo designs
• Disadvantages:
• Only possible on stocked fabrics
• Colour gradients are problematic

Can only be used as a partial-area print

Digital Printing (Sublimation Printing)

• In sublimation printing, a special film is printed in mirror image so that the design can then be transferred onto the fabric using a heated transfer press. With sublimation printing, the applied ink cannot be felt by touch, as the ink has been vaporised directly into the material.
• Advantages:
• Designs in photo quality
• Colour gradients possible

Printing possible even for small quantities

• Can be used as an all-over print
• Disadvantages:
• Printing only possible on a white background
• Risk of colour bleeding with certain colour combinations

More Specialised Printing Techniques

Foil Transfer Printing

• As with sublimation printing, the design is first printed onto a carrier film. The design is then transferred onto the fabric by applying heat. Unlike sublimation printing, the design does not vaporise into the fabric but is glued on instead.
• Advantages:
• Any designs and colour combinations possible
• Designs in photo quality
• Colour gradients possible

Printing possible even for small quantities

• Printing on any fabric colours
• Disadvantages:
• The printed design becomes relatively hard
• The printed design cannot end with a colour gradient at the edge

Can only be used as a partial-area print

Pad Printing

• The design is transferred from one surface to another with the help of a silicone pad. This also makes it possible to print uneven surfaces, such as the umbrella handle. For this purpose, a printing form with recesses is created. The ink sits in the recesses, is picked up by the pad and then printed onto the object.
• Advantages:
• Suitable even for small quantities
• High durability

Relatively high colour accuracy

• Coloured backgrounds can also be printed
• Disadvantages: