Help Topics:

Promotional Products Glossary

Here at TheExecutiveAdvertising.com we have spent countless hours perfecting our Promotional Products Glossary to help you answer questions about the products that you are buying. Questions like: What is a PMS Color Match? What does CMYK stand for? What is Embossing or Debossing? What is a Silk-Screen Imprint? and more. At TheExecutiveAdvertising.com we intend on making your promotional product buying experience as simple as possible.

With our Promotional Products Glossary you can answer your own question that you have about the decorating of your promotional items. We understand that you are spending good money and expect not only a good product, but excellent results. Use our Glossary to discover all of the different imprinting methods that are available and you'll be ready to promote your advertising pitch at your next marketing meeting.

Understanding the Glossary Terms

Our promotional product definitions may or may not be exactly the way "Webster" defines these terms but in the promotional products industry we use a lot of marketing lingo and shorter abbreviations that have been adopted over the years. For example you may request a 1 Color Screen on your promotional product, but this means that you are getting a 1 Color Silk Screen Imprint. In our glossary we have made every attempt to give the most understandable and accurate definition that pertains to the promotional product industry or product decoration. Would you like to see a term added? Email us at [email protected].

Need More Explanation?

We offer EXCELLENT customer service, call or email us your questions and we will help explain anything you need. TheExecutiveAdvertising.com is committed to putting our customer's needs first. We will go out of our way to meet your in-hands date or make sure that you artwork design is perfect.

If you run across anything that you don't understand somewhere on our site or if you can't find it the glossary, please feel free to call us and we will answer any questions that you may have. You can also email us at [email protected]. Thank you for browsing our store and we look forward to working with you!

Adhesive Note Pad

Adhesive Note Pads (or commonly called sticky notes) is a stack of scratch note paper that has a temporary sticky glue like compound on the top 10-15% of the paper. Adhesive note pads are designed as quick notes that you can "stick" to another document, hence the name sticky notes. View our Adhesive Note Pads.

Shopping:

Note Cubes, Adhesive Note Cubes

Adobe Illustrator (.AI Image Files)

Adobe Illustrator Artwork (AI) is a proprietary file format developed by Adobe Systems for representing single-page vector-based drawings in either the EPS or PDF formats. The .AI filename extension is used by Adobe Illustrator. This is our preferred method of receiving your business logos and artwork, however we will accept your artwork in any method that you can send it.

Glossary:

Vector Artwork

Advertising Fans (Ad Fans or Advertising Hand Fans)

Most commonly used in churches or public gatherings, hand fans are make from a flat wooden stick and glued to cardboard paper. The cardboard paper may contain printed advertisements, hence the name "Ad Fans". View our?Ad Fans.

Advertising Specialty

A useful or interesting item of merchandise usually carrying an imprinted advertising or promotional message and given with no obligation. Another, though older, term for promotional products.

Artwork

The actual design that will be imprinted or decorated on your promotional products, your artwork may consist of text, clip art and/or a business logo.

Artwork E-Proof

An emailed artwork sample of your submitted logo or artwork, we send artwork pre-production e-proofs via email with an attached PDF file, the PDF file will have an image of what your artwork imprint will look like. You will need to approve your artwork e-proof before we begin production on your order. View more on about?Artwork Pre-production E-Proofs.

Awards

Recognition gifts that are often personalized with their name and your company name and that will "award" your employees of the performance and accomplishments within the workforce. See employee appreciation and view our awards.

Shopping:

Awards

Ballpoint Pens

A ballpoint pen?is a modern writing instrument that is commonly used with promotional advertising pens. A ballpoint pen has an internal chamber filled with a viscous ink that is dispensed at the tip during use by the rolling action of a small metal sphere (0.7 mm to 1.2 mm in diameter) of brass, steel or tungsten carbide. The ink dries almost immediately after contact with paper. Inexpensive, reliable and maintenance-free, the ballpoint has replaced the fountain pen as the most popular tool for everyday writing.

Beanie Cap

A cotton cap that is usually used in cold weather to warm your head, beanie caps can be embroidered with your company logo or slogan. View?beanie caps.

Biodegradable Plastics

Biodegradable plastics are plastics that will decompose in the natural environment. Biodegradation of plastics can be achieved by enabling microorganisms in the environment to metabolize the molecular structure of plastic films to produce an inert humus-like material that is less harmful to the environment. We offer biodegradable?travel mugs?and advertising pens.

Bitmap File (.BMP)

A Bitmap File is low resolution and small size image mainly used in website and as clip artwork. Bitmap files come in many different types such as GIF, JPG, TIF, DIB, PCX, PCT, and of course BMP file types. They can be viewed in most imaging programs like Photoshop, Fireworks and Adobe Illustrator. Bitmap files are defined as a map of dots placed together to create a low resolution image.

Blank Samples

Blank Samples are product samples that are non-printed or that have no example logo on them. Typically you want to order decorated samples to see how the artwork can look on the product before you buy but Blank samples are good enough to give you the look and feel of the product.

Glossary:

Random Samples, Spec Sample

Help Topics:

Request a Sample

Bounce Back Toys

A Yo-Yo like Toy that has a "stretchy" band attached to a stressball or sporting ball on one end and a?velcro strap?on the other. Kids will throw them and the toy will "bounce back". We sell these types of toys under our?Yo-Yo Section.

BPA Plastic

Bisphenol A, commonly abbreviated as BPA, is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups. It is a dysfunctional building block of several important plastics and plastic additives. With an annual production of 2?3 million metric tons, it is an important monomer in the production of polycarbonate. Suspected of being hazardous to humans since the 1930s, concerns about the use of bisphenol A in consumer products were regularly reported in the news media in 2008 after several governments issued reports questioning its safety, and some retailers removed products made from it off their shelves. At the same time, regulatory authorities responsible for consumer health worldwide have repeatedly assessed the available scientific data about BPA and have concluded that exposure levels are very low and do not pose a risk to consumers.

Business Gift

Merchandise given by a business in goodwill, without obligation to its customers, employees, friends and the like. Unlike promotional products, the business gift often is not imprinted with the advertiser's identification.

Ceramic

Ceramics are crystalline, the definition of ceramic is often restricted to inorganic crystalline materials, as opposed to the non-crystalline glasses. We use ceramic to make our promotional coffee mugs. View our?ceramic coffee mugs.

Clients

Individuals that receive goods or services from a company.

Cloisonne

Metal emblems that are stamped from a die. A colored paste made from ground glass is applied into the recessed areas of the emblem. The emblem is then fired at 1400 degrees and polished by stone and pumice to achieve brilliant color. Gullies and ridges separate each individual color, so fine lines between colors are difficult to achieve. This is considered a very high-quality product, and is slightly more costly than other alternatives. Used in emblematic jewelry and pins.

CMYK

CMYK is short for cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black). Often referred to as process color or four color) is a subtractive color model, used in color printing, also used to describe the printing process itself. Though it varies by print house, press operator, press manufacturer and press run, ink is typically applied in the order of the abbreviation. The CMYK Color process works by masking certain colors on the typically white background (that is, absorbing particular wavelengths of light). Such a model is called subtractive because inks ?subtract? brightness from white. CMYK colors do not always match?pantone color systems?or PMS colors. Compressed T-Shirts

Glossary:

Hex Color Code, Full Color Digital Printing

Compressed T-Shirts

Screen Printed T-Shirts that are vacuum sealed into a desired marketing shape. The t-shirts are compressed so tight that they are "solid" in feel and usually come with a full color paper insert for marketing. View?Compressed T-Shirts.

Conference

An event organized by an association, individual, publication or private company for the purpose of networking, education or to discuss a business topic with a range of speakers. They can also be organized by either a non-profit or for-profit organization. Business conferences are often held at convention centers and large hotels with conference facilities.?Promotional Tote Bags?are always popular at conferences.

Debossing

A decoration method used on leather that will give you logo a indented impression into the leather. Debossing your logo cannot be used with color fills on leather but can be done with other items like silicone bracelets. Commonly used for decorating leather padfolios, travel bags, wallets, and silicone bracelets. Also the opposite of?embossing.

Decorate (or Decoration, Decorating)

The act of customizing or personalizing a promotional product so to display a marketing or advertising message on the item. Decoration methods can consist of screen printing, heat transfer, engraving, embroidering, debossing, or embossing. Different materials will require different decoration methods to achieve an adequate result for marketing. Digital Picture Frames

Die Cut

Usually refers to a die cut mouse pad or die cut sticky note pad. Die cutting an product is the act of cropping a product by stamping off the edges to create a marketable shape. For example we can die cut a rectangle mouse pad to be the shape of a five point star. Die cut promotional products really allow us to be creative when targeting particular industries. View die cut?sticky notes,?magnets, or mouse pads.

Digital Picture Frames

Electronic picture frames that will rotate digital images that are stored on a memory card. These are common executive gifts in the promotional products industry. View our?digital picture frames.

Divot Tool

A golfing tool used to flatten out the "divots" or impressing that the golf balls make when they land on the putting green.

Drilled Pen Holes

Refers to drilling a 1/2" or 3/8" hole into an adhesive or non-adhesive note pad for the purpose of sticking a promotional pen in the hole when handing our your note cubes. For more information view our?note cubes.

Dye Sublimation Printing

Continuous-tone output technology that produces near-photographic quality color prints which are (in some cases) better than those produced by a four-color commercial printing press. However, this technology requires expensive ink ribbons and paper, and does not reproduce text and line-art as well. Also called dye-diffusion printing or sublimation printing.

Easy-Glide System Ink (exclusively from Bic)

A ballpoint ink type that has a smoother writing ink, this exclusive technology offers 50% smoother and bolder ink than the current ballpoint ink pens. It writes with fluid lines and no smearing. Available in most of our Bic Promotional Pens.

EcoFriendly (or Environment Friendly Products)

Ecofriendly products or environment friendly products are any advertising products that are made of recycled material, biodegradable, recyclable, or made from organic material that is environment friendly. Common recycled materials are plastic, paper, and rubber. View our?Ecofriendly promotional products.

Embossing

Embossing is the process of creating a three-dimensional image or design in paper and other ductile materials like leather or silicone. It is typically accomplished with a combination of heat and pressure. This is achieved by using a metal die (female) usually made of brass and a counter die (male) that fit together and actually squeeze the fibers of the substrate. This pressure and a combination of heat actually "irons" while raising the level of the image higher than the substrate to make it smooth. Embossing will give your artwork a raised up appearance.

Embroidery

Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. When we decorate a custom apparel, bag or cap by embroidery, there will be a stitch count included in the price, so embroidery pricing is based by the amount of time it takes us to decorate your order, thus the larger the artwork, the longer it takes for our machines to completed the order. The good news is that the number of thread colors used is usually not a problem! Depending on the product we can go up to 7-12 thread colors for the same price as one thread color. Embroidered logo are very log lasting ans wash well.

Glossary:

Stitch Count

Help Topics:

Embroidery: Use Colors From My Artwork

Employee Appreciation

An awards or gift that to say "Thank You" to your employees for a job well done. Employee appreciation gifts are usually corporate or executive gifts that your employees can enjoy as well. View our personalized?corporate gifts.

Encapsulated PostScript (or EPS Image Files)

Encapsulated PostScript, or EPS, is a DSC-conforming PostScript document with additional restrictions intended to make EPS files usable as a graphics file format. In other words, EPS files are more-or-less self-contained, reasonably predictable PostScript documents that describe an image or drawing, that can be placed within another PostScript document. We accept EPS files for you business logo artwork. Etching

Epoxy Dome

A decoration method that starts very similar to full color labels, the decoration is printed on a label, paper or plastic underneath a clear epoxy (plastic) dome over the top of the artwork. The entire dome is then affixed to the product by a permanent adhesive. Most Epoxy Dome decoration methods will include full color digital imprint method of the artwork, epoxy domes can be considered a premium decoration method and may require an upcharge for some products.

Help Topics:

Decoration Methods

Etching

Typically used with glassware, ceramics, porcelain, and crystal. Etching is A process in which a piece of glass is covered with a template that has a design cut out of it. The glass is then sandblasted while the portion of the item not covered by the template is protected. The template image is thus etched into the glass.

Flexo (Flexography) Printing

Flexography Printing (is usually abbreviated to Flexo Printing) is a printing process that uses a rotating cylinder with a "flexible" printing plate. It's similar to a modernized newspaper printing press, however the flexible plate allows this machine to be used for more than just news paper. Flexo printing is perfect for high speed and high volume runs of cello bags, bag packaging, paper products and many other non-porous substrates. Flexo ink that is applied is lighter in weight and allows for half tones and fine detail.

Shopping:

Recyclable Die Cut Plastic Bag 9x13, Recyclable Frosted Die Cut Plastic Bag 12x15x3, OXO Biodegradable Plastic Shopping Bag 12x16x3

Glossary:

SOS Bags

Font

The collection of a typeface including the lower case, caps, numbers and special characters having unified design. This can be an important consideration when copy includes foreign terms or names with special characters. The different kinds and quantity of characters in a font will vary according to the manufacturer of the typesetting system. View our?Standard Fonts?for imprinting.

Full Color Digital Printing

A method of printing artwork using a 4 color process that usually allows for picture image quality. In full color digital printing our printing facilities only have to run your promotional product through the printing machines once, as opposed to screen printing machines. With screen printing if we are printing 3-colors we will have to send your products through the machines 3-times. Full color digital printing cost a little more but is worth it when printing multi-colored artwork.

Full Color Heat Transfers

Full Color Heat Transfers will make your artwork shine with full color CMYK full color printing. These are perfect for printing photographs and other complicated artwork designs. With Heat Transfers your artwork is printed onto a vinyl material that is designed to be heated (usually over 300 degrees) and adheres to the material type that it's being applied to. The Heat Transfer material itself is not created equal, they material changes slightly between fabric or other surfaces to make last as long as possible - The heat transfer material may be made differently if it's going on a polyester verses cotton item. Full Color Heat Transfers are a great way to go if you have a detailed logo with tight registration.

Glossary:

Full Color Digital Printing, Heat Transfer

Gel Ink Pens

Ink Pen uses ink in which pigment is suspended in a water-based gel. Because the ink is thick and opaque, it shows up more clearly on dark or slick surfaces than the typical inks used in ballpoint or felt tip pens. They can be used for many types of writing and illustration. The general design of a gel pen is similar to that of a regular rollerball pen, with a barrel containing the writing mechanism and a cap, and a reservoir filled with ink. The barrels can be created in many different sizes and designs; some have finger grips of rubber or plastic. The size of the nib or pen tip ranges from 0.25 mm to 1.5 mm. Gigabyte (GB)

Gigabyte (GB)

Gigabyte is commonly abbreviated GB, refers to the amount of electronic memory for store in a USB flash drive or computer hard drive.

Giveaway

A promotional gift or handout design to marketing your company or firm. Giveaway items are usually simple and low cost with a artwork logo imprint on them. Giveaways and handouts can help generate immediate or non-immediate sales.

Graphics Interchange Format (GIF Image Files)

The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a bitmap image format that was introduced by CompuServe in 1987 and has since come into widespread usage on the World Wide Web due to its wide support and portability. GIFs are suitable for sharp-edged line art (such as logos) with a limited number of colors. This takes advantage of the format's lossless compression, which favors flat areas of uniform color with well defined edges (in contrast to JPEG, which favors smooth gradients and softer images). We accept GIF image files for your artwork, however we prefer?vector art?in a .AI. or .EPS format. Guerrilla Marketing

Guerrilla Marketing

An unconventional system of promotions that relies on time, energy and imagination rather than a big marketing budget. Typically, guerrilla marketing tactics are unexpected and unconventional; consumers are targeted in unexpected places, which can make the idea that's being marketed memorable, generate buzz, and even spread virally.

Heat Transfer

An alternative to screen printing, heat transfers are like screen printing two or more colors at one time or in the same process. Image is screened on a transfer substrate which is then laid directly on the material to be imprinted. The image is then transferred from the substrate to the material through the use of heat and pressure. Works best on cotton and cotton blends. All transfers materials are different to correctly adhere to the surface of which the transfer is being applied to, they are also heat curled at different temperatures.

Glossary:

Full Color Heat Transfers

Hex Color Code

A Hex Code, Hex Color Code, or Hex Key is a 6 character code comprised of letters and numbers that will create a color shade. A Hex color is expressed as a six-digit combination of numbers and letters defined by its mix of red, green and blue (RGB). The first two characters are "R" (Red), the second two characters are "G" (Green), the last tow characters are for the shade of "B" (Blue). There are 11 million possible color combinations with this method. If you want to print a hex color that does not match a PMS color, you have to print with Full Color Digital Printing.

Glossary:

CMYK, Full Color Digital Printing, Pantone Color System - PMS Colors

Help Topics:

Apparel Groups, Vector Artwork Recreation

Home Page

The entry point of a website of the index main page under the webpage directory.

HTTP

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. A protocol that allow others to access information on the internet. HTTPS is HTTP Secure, HTTPS encrypts and decrypts user page requests as well as the pages that are returned by the Web server. All executiveadvertising.com pages use HTTPS.

Hyperlink

Text that you can click on and be directed to another webpage. Hyperlinks are code in an html format and design for website navigation purposes.

Imprinted Products

Any product with a logo, slogan, phrase or name printed on it for marketing or advertising purposes.

In-Hands Delivery Date

In-Hands Delivery Date refers to the date you need the order IN YOUR HANDS. If you have an event you are using products for, please list the DAY BEFORE your event as the In Hands Date. Delivery TIMES cannot be guaranteed by carriers (unless expedited shipping is requested) so having products arrive ON the day of your event is not advised. Please provide us with the last day the products can be received by to be used for your specific needs.

Help Topics:

Selecting a Delivery Date

JPEG Image Files

The name "JPEG" stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, the name of the committee that created the standard. The group was organized in 1986, issuing a standard in 1992, which was approved in 1994. The JPEG compression algorithm is at its best on photographs and paintings of realistic scenes with smooth variations of tone and color. For web usage, where the bandwidth used by an image is important, JPEG is very popular. On the other hand, JPEG is not as well suited for line drawings and other textual or iconic graphics, where the sharp contrasts between adjacent pixels cause noticeable artifacts. Such images are better saved in a lossless graphics format such as TIFF, GIF, PNG, or a raw image format. We accept JPG files for your artwork, but we prefer?vector art?in a .AI. or .EPS format.

Khaki

A light brown color usually found in garments and clothing.

Laminated

Coated with a clear plastic or two separate sheets of paper joined together as a single sheet to provide a special thickness or varying colors from side to side.

Laser Engraving

A process in which an optically-read or stenciled artwork is engraved (burned) into a material by a laser beam. When a promotional pen is laser engraved it is important to know what color is underneath the surface, laser engraving will burn away the outer surface. For example if you are laser engraving a black pen, and the pen is brass underneath, than your artwork will appear in the brass color. There may not be a noticeable depth to the engraving, but the method is permanent on the decorated products.

Logo (or Business Logo)

A visual trademark or commercial brand that can be comprised of letters, clip art, images, or any visually appealing image that will help your company develop name recognition. Business Artwork Logos may also appear with a popular marketing?slogan.

Message Pen

A retractable plastic pen that will display a different message inside the barrel every time the retracting button is "clicked". These pens usually can display up to six rotating messages inside of the barrel of the pen as well as have room for a logo imprint on the outer barrel of the pen. Rotating Message Pens are ideal for displaying a lot of information like directions or coupons. View our?message pens.

Milliampere Hour (mAh)

A milliampere hour (mAh) is 1000th of an ampere hour (Ah). Both measures are commonly used to describe the energy charge that a battery will hold and how long a device will run before the battery needs recharging. Milliampere (commonly called mili-amps) are typically used for power banks phone and electronic chargers, especially for people who travel a lot. A normal range for Powers Banks is 2,000 mAh to 6,000 mAh.

Shopping:

Power Banks, Travel Agency

Mood Products

Color changing plastic that changes to the touch of hot and cold temperature. We offer color changing mood cups, pens and pencils.

Mouse Pad

Usually a rectangular fabric pad with a rubber base or a plastic vinyl pad with a rubber base, designed to act as a platform for your computer mouse. Originally designed to provide a firm surface for the ball of your computer mouse, but not as required with the invention of a laser pointer mouse. Mouse pads can now be printed in full color, view our promotional?mouse pads.

MP3 Player

An electronic music portable player (IPOD is an example) that store music MP3 file types for playing. MP3 players now take the place of a traditional cassette walkman or portable CD Player. MP3 players can store thousands of songs and albums. View our promotional?MP3 players.

Non-Adhesive Note Pads (of Scratch Pads)

Non-adhesive scratch pads usually have a cardboard backing to allow firmness when writing and are glued at the top edge of the paper only. Scratch pads received the "non-adhesive" title when compared to is partner the?adhesive note pad?or sticky note.

Note Cube

A larger stack of adhesive or non-adhesive note pads that can be printed in full color on all 4 sides. View promotional?note cubes.

Nylon

Nylon is a thermoplastic silky material, first used commercially in a nylon-bristled toothbrush (1938). Nylon is a high strength and low absorbency material used in travel bags, drawstring backpacks and tote bags.

Offset Printing Process

Offset printing technology uses plates, usually made from aluminum, which are used to transfer an image onto a rubber "blanket", and then rolling that image onto a sheet of paper. It's called offset because the ink is not transferred directly onto the paper, instead it transfers off of the rubber surface. Offset Printing Machines are durable and are not always printed with full color therefore different offset printing processes may only have the ability to print one color at a time, so it is possible to have an upcharge to add on additional colors even though it seems like offset printing can be printed in full color.

Glossary:

Full Color Digital Printing

Open Type Font (or .OTF File Types)

OpenType is a scalable format for computer fonts initially developed by Microsoft, with Adobe Systems later joining in. Open Type Fonts are files installed on your computer to dictate the style and look of your text.

Overruns

When our printing facilities print more than the requested quantity, that extra quantity is called an overrun. Promotional product manufacturers often produce overruns as samples or extras in case their quality control department deems any of the products defective. Some distributors will charge you (the customer) for overruns if they are shipped, we do not. If we ship extras they are yours to keep. Overruns are the opposite of?Underruns.

Pad Printing

A recessed surface is covered with ink. The plate is wiped clean, yet the ink remains in the recessed area of the plate. A silicone pad presses against the plate and pulls the ink out of the recesses. The pad then moves and presses directly against the product. Pad printing is excellent for imprinting small, unusually-shaped objects for which screen-printing is not practical. Small watch dials and cylinder shapes are some examples. This is not the most highly-recommended process for imprinting large areas; screen printing is better for large areas of ink coverage. Used in plastics, paper, ceramics, glassware, wearables, leather and vinyl.

Pantone Color System - PMS Colors

Pantone Inc. is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System (PMS). The idea behind the PMS is to allow designers to "color match" specific colors when a design enters production stage regardless of the equipment used to produce the color. This system has been widely adopted by graphic designers, reproduction and printing houses for a number of years now. The Pantone Color Matching System is largely a standardized color reproduction system. By standardizing the colors, different manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colors match without direct contact with one another. View a?PMS Color Chart?or view more about?PMS color matching?with promotional products. Plate Charges

Glossary:

CMYK

Help Topics:

PMS Color Matching

Personalization

Individual Personalization is a great way to print custom text on each of your products. Personalization may be used for adding each of your employees' names or for adding many custom slogans to each product. We can accept list of your employee's names, department names or slogans and print each name on each promotional product that you purchase. Not all products have personalization available.

Plate Charges

When silk screen printing multiple colors on promotional products, the product is run through the screen printing machine once for each color in your imprint. Each time the product is run through we will "change the imprinting plate" to add the next color in your artwork. You may have a plate change charge or a second color run charge depending on which promotional product you are imprinting.

Polycarbonate Plastic (or Polycarb)

A hard and firm plastic used to make sport water bottles, usually made in translucent colors.

Portable Document Images (PDF Image Files)

Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file format created by Adobe Systems in 1993 for document exchange. PDF is used for representing two-dimensional documents in a manner independent of the application software, hardware, and operating system. Each PDF file encapsulates a complete description of a fixed-layout 2D document (and, with Acrobat 3D, embedded 3D documents) that includes the text, fonts, images, and 2D vector graphics which compose the documents. PDF files are preferred for scanning and catalog printing. Portable Network Graphics (PNG Image Files)

Portable Network Graphics (PNG Image Files)

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) is a bitmapped image format that employs lossless data compression. PNG was created to improve upon and replace GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) as an image-file format not requiring a patent license. The PNG acronym is optionally recursive, unofficially standing for ?PNG's Not GIF?. We accept PNG Files, however we prefer?vector art?in a .AI. or .EPS format.

Post-Consumer Recycled Material

Post-consumer waste is a waste type produced by the end consumer of a material stream; that is, where the waste-producing use did not involve the production of another product. Quite commonly, it is simply the garbage that individuals routinely discard, either in a waste receptacle or a dump, or by littering, incinerating, pouring down the drain, or washing into the gutter. Post-consumer waste is distinguished from pre-consumer waste, which is the reintroduction of manufacturing scrap (such as trimmings from paper production, defective aluminum cans, etc.) back into the manufacturing process. Promotional Products (or Promotional Items)

Pre-Consumer Recycled Material

Post-consumer waste is distinguished from pre-consumer waste, which is the reintroduction of manufacturing scrap (such as trimmings from paper production, defective aluminum cans, etc.) back into the manufacturing process. Pre-consumer recycling is commonly used in manufacturing industries, and is often not considered recycling in the traditional sense.

Pre-Production Proof

An actual sample of your promotional products with your company logo printed on it. Read more about?pre-production proofs.

Promotional Products (or Promotional Items)

Refers to articles of merchandise that are used in marketing and communication programs. These items are usually imprinted with a company's name,?logo?or?slogan, and given away at?trade shows,?conferences, and as part of?guerrilla marketing?campaigns.?The first known promotional products in the United States are commemorative buttons dating back to the election of George Washington in 1789. During the early 1800s there were some advertising calendars, rulers and wooden specialties, but there wasn?t an organized industry for the creation and distribution of promotional items until later in the 19th century. Today we can imprint or?decorate?anything with your company slogan. Proof

Proof

An example of what your artwork will look like printed on the promotional product, they are typically emailed for your approval. Also see?artwork pre-production e-proofs.

Quote (or Price Quote)

Promotional Products can really get tricky when ordering, each item has so many customized features that they can be difficult to price and allow for a simple and confident online checkout. You can?Request a Quote?and we will send you a customized order form detailing your desired order information. We recommend requesting a quote when you are interested in multi-color imprints and large quantity orders.

Random Samples

Random Samples refer to Product Samples that are decorated with a random logo or artwork on the items so that you can see the placement and quality of the decoration. Typically Random Samples just have any "random" logo printed on the product.

Glossary:

Blank Samples, Spec Sample

Help Topics:

Request a Sample

Retractable Pens

Pens that have a button on the top or side of them pen that acts as a mechanism for the ink tip to go in and out of the promotional pen. Retractable pens are usually created with a internal moving cylinder that is spring loaded. View examples of?retractable pens.

Rollerball Ink Pens

Rollerball pens are writing instruments which use ball point writing mechanisms with water-based liquid or gelled ink, as opposed to the oil-based viscous inks found in?ballpoint pens. The characteristics of these less viscous inks, which tend to saturate more deeply and more widely into paper than other types of ink, give rollerball pens their distinctive writing qualities. The rollerball pen was initially designed to combine the convenience of a ballpoint pen with the smooth "wet ink" effect of a fountain pen.

Run Charge

A per unit fee for adding additional imprint locations or additional imprint colors to decoration of your promotional products. This fee will vary depending on the product.

Scan Code Charge (QR or Bar Codes)

This usually pertains to QR codes that we are printing. On non-paper or textured products QR codes can have difficulty scanning after printed as the details in the print may not be perfect or shaped by the fabric. A scan code charge may be applied as a flat fee for our production team to stop the production and scan the QR or Bar Code to make sure it works before producing the entire order.

Help Topics:

Artwork Eproof Policy

Screen Printing (or Silk-Screen Printing)

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A roller or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink past the threads of the woven mesh in the open areas. We use screen printing decoration method for most of our promotional products and for clothing garments. When silk screen printing multiple colors on promotional products, the product is run through the screen printing machine once for each color in your imprint. Each time the product is run through we will "change the imprinting plate" to add the next color in your artwork. You may have a plate change charge or a second color run charge depending on which promotional product you are imprinting. Secure Ink (or Secure Ink Pens)

Secure Ink (or Secure Ink Pens)

A ball point ink tip that is formulated to be water-resistant, light-resistant and eraser-resistant to help protect your secure documents. Available in the?BIC Clic Stic, the most popular retractable pens with Bic, Paper Mate and Uniball Pens and is the most popular retractable ink choice in the banking and financial industries. Secure Ink inserts are an added option in most pens and may have additional cost.

Setup Fee

An extra fee that is charged, usually $35-60 that is the cost of your promotional product distributor to "setup" or prep the artwork or imprinting machines for printing onto your promotional products. These charges are paid per color and/or per location of your imprint. Setup Fees are charged for the purpose of "Setting up" the screen or decoration method to print a run of promotional products. Setup fees include the cost of the screen and film to decorate each item and the labor to setup the decoration machine for that run. Setup costs can vary from $15 to $120, and will depend on the product category, manufacturing facility, and decoration method.

Help Topics:

No Setup Fees

Silicone

Silicone is largely inert, man-made compounds with a wide variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant, nonstick, and rubberlike, they are commonly used in cookware, medical applications, sealants, adhesives, lubricants, and of course?silicone bracelets.

Slogan (or Marketing Slogan)

A catchy phrase that can be used to market your company, slogans can often appear underneath a logo or printed on promotional products for marketing.? For Example:?TheExecutiveAdvertising.com, Shop Where The Executives Shop! Spec Sample

SOS Bags

Most paper bags are identified by their dimensions, starting with the width of the bag, then the gusset, and then the height. Some bags, however, are identified by other means. With shipping bags, there are industry standard sizes, indicated by numbers. For SOS bags, the size indicators are pounds. For example a 2# SOS bag is a standard size that measures approximately 4.25in x 2.375in x 8.1875in. Manufacturer sizes may vary slightly, but this is an industry standard.

Shopping:

Paper Bags, Food & Pharmacy Bags

Spec Sample

A "Spec Sample" also known as a (specification sample or production sample) is a sample of a promotional product decorated with your logo or artwork on it. The sample is printed or decorated and them mailed to the customer for approval. Spec Samples are usually a approved before a larger order is produced so that the customer knows exactly what to expect.

Help Topics:

Ordering a Spec Sample

Stick Pen

A stick pen is defined a plastic two piece pen composing of a cap and barrel to write with. Because stick pen have no working or moving parts these promotional pens tent to be the cheapest pens offered. View our?Stick Pens?category.

Stitch Count

The number of stitches or strikes of an embroidery needle to a fabric while creating a artwork design. A standard stitch count is variable per product but starts any where from 5,000 stitches to 10,000 stitches. Embroidery pricing is primarily based on the number of stitches sewn verses the number of colors in the artwork. The more stitches needed to produce an artwork, the more time it takes to decorate and process your order. For larger stitch counts we can price each additional 1,000 stitches above the stitch count included.

Glossary:

Embroidery

Sublimation (or Dye Sublimination)

Table Runner (Trade Show Table Runner)

A decorating fabric (usually a polyester cotton blend) that sits in the middle of a table or existing tablecloth. Trade show table runners often have a decorative company logo on them while they sit in the middle of the trade show table. View?Trade Show Table Runners.

Shopping:

Table Runners

Tagged Image File Format (.TIF or .TIFF file types)

Tagged Image File Format (abbreviated TIFF) is a file format for storing images, including photographs and line art. TIFF was originally created as an attempt to get desktop scanner vendors of the mid-1980s to agree on a common scanned image file format, rather than have each company promote its own proprietary format. In the beginning, TIFF was only a binary image format (only two possible values for each pixel), since that was all that desktop scanners could handle. As scanners became more powerful, and as desktop computer disk space became more plentiful, TIFF grew to accommodate grayscale images, then color images. Today, TIFF is a popular format for high-color-depth images, along with JPEG and PNG. We accept TIFF files for your artwork, however we prefer?vector art?in a .AI. or .EPS format.

Trade Show (or Trade Fair, Expo)

A trade show (trade fair or expo) is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent trends and opportunities. Some trade fairs are open to the public, while others can only be attended by company representatives (members of the trade) and members of the press, therefore trade shows are classified as either "Public" or "Trade Only". They are held on a continuing basis in virtually all markets and normally attract companies from around the globe. For example, in the U.S. there are currently over 2500 trade shows held every year, and several online directories have been established to help organizers, attendees, and marketers identify appropriate events. View our?Trade Show Products.

TrueType Font (or .TTF File Types)

TrueType Fonts are files installed on your computer to dictate the style and look of your text. TrueType is an outline font standard originally developed by Apple Computer in the late 1980s as a competitor to Adobe's Type 1 fonts used in PostScript. The primary strength of TrueType was originally that it offered font developers a high degree of control over precisely how their fonts are displayed, right down to particular pixels, at various font heights.

Underruns

When our printing facilities print less than the requested quantity, that missing quantity is called an underrun. Promotional product manufacturers often reserve the right to ship you up to 5% less than your actual order and will usually refund your for the missing items. We request that all of our orders have no underruns, however if you receive less products than what you ordered we will ship additional products out to you or refund your the price of the missing units. Underruns are the opposite of?Overruns.

USB Memory Flash Drive

A USB flash drive consists of a NAND-type flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB (universal serial bus) interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, most USB flash drives weigh less than an ounce (28g). Storage capacities typically range from 64 MB to 128 GB[2] with steady improvements in size and price per gigabyte. Some allow 1 million write or erase cycles and have 10-year data retention, connected by USB 1.1 or USB 2.0. View our?imprinted USB memory drives.

Vector Artwork

Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygons, which are all based on mathematical equations, to represent images in computer graphics. We use vector artwork to avoid pixilated artwork or logos, vector art will not appear distorted when transformed or enlarged, perfect for screen printing. Vector artwork will allow other to completely edit the image using Adobe Illustrator, which is the preferred program of use for 90% of our screen printing factories. Remember to vectorize any text that may appear in your artwork before sending it in. If you send us non-vector text there is a chance that the recipient may not have the needed font style and the image will not display properly.

Velcro

Velcro is a brand name of fabric hook-and-loop fasteners, it consists of two layers: a "hook" side, which is a piece of fabric covered with tiny hooks, and a "loop" side, which is covered with even smaller and "hairier" loops. When the two sides are pressed together, the hooks catch in the loops and hold the pieces together. When the layers are separated, the strips make a characteristic "ripping" sound.

Weight (or Shipping Weight)

Refers to the weight of the promotional products that you are purchasing, so that you can calculate shipping cost.

Woven

Any fabric that is constructed by two or more sets of yarns or other material. The yarns are faced adjacent from each other to create a weaving pattern.

Wrinkle Free Garments

Apparel or clothing that is providing a wrinkle free finish that involves applying resin into the fabric and curing at extremely high temperatures.

Wrinkle Resistant

Apparel or clothing that controls the wrinkling of the fabric.

WWW

World Wide Web, a global interactive network of computers and servers that shares images, text and html coded pages.

WYSIWYG Editors

An acronym for What You See Is What You Get. Typically a program used for creating html pages within another website.

Xerography (or Electrophotography)

Xerography (or electrophotography) is a dry photocopying technique invented by Chester Carlson in 1938. Carlson originally called his invention electrophotography. It was later renamed xerographyfrom the Greek roots xeros (dry) and graphos (writing)to emphasize that, unlike reproduction techniques then in use such as cyanotype, this process used no liquid chemicals.

Yarn

A grouping of fibers that are twisted together to create a constant strand of material.

Promotional Products Glossary

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