Time to bring back one of our favorite series: Print This, Not That!

Today's printing lesson is all about the underbase. 

In screen printing, an underbase is a layer of ink (usually white) that is printed on dark garments to prevent the material's color from showing through the surface print. You might have also heard this base layer referred to as a flash. Flash is short for flash curing, which describes the process in which the underbase is spot heated, but not completely cured. A printer wants the underbase to feel dry to the touch before laying other inks on top, but the inks aren't entirely cured until the complete design is run through the drier at the end of the process.

Looking at the image above, you'll see why the underbase is an important step not to be missed. Without it, you'll end up with discolored artwork. A yellow ink printed on a blue shirt without an underbase will appear green, just as white ink printed on a red shirt without an underbase will appear pink.

Many printers will charge an additional fee for the underbase, so be sure your printing quote includes this important base layer.

We recently pulled a product ranking report to determine current best-sellers within our Signature Collection. Not every category has a clear winner (there are several equally popular styles of reusable bags, for example), but here are some items that noticeably stand apart from the rest of the competition:

Cotton Tees: Gildan 6.1 oz. 100% Ultra Cotton T-shirt

Training Tees: Sport-Tek Competitor Tee

Cotton Polo Shirts: Port Authority Silk Touch Sport Shirt


Performance Polo Shirts: Nike Dri-FIT Sport Shirt and Nike Dri-FIT Pebble Sport Shirt

Pens: Javalina Pen

USB Flash Drives: Rotate USB Flash Drive

Cold Drinkware: Sedici Tumbler


Fun Giveaways: Rubberized Sunglasses and Malibu Sunglasses

Did any of these winners surprise you?

I was surprised by the Javalina Pen. I incorrectly guessed the Bic Clic Stic would come in first, though it wasn't too far behind.

The sunglasses were also a surprise for me. I know they've been popular this year (I still have a pair of neon orange shades in my purse from a Comcast promotion at SXSW in March), but the numbers were more impressive than I anticipated.

What are your go-to products? Are you a Gildan T-shirt fan all the way? A Nike brand loyalist when it comes to polo shirts?

"Which products do you really like?"

Clients ask us that question all the time. We never know quite how to respond, because every product that we recommend for a project is one we honestly believe to be a great choice.

I suppose, though, that what they're really after is our personal opinion, not our professional opinion. And like "neutral" parents, we'd be lying if we said we didn't have our favorites.

I asked some of Sonic's staff to weigh in:

Debbie's Pick: Rechargeable External Power Bank

"I love this product. It first caught my attention when we saw it demonstrated at the conference in Nashville earlier this year. The light changes color to indicate its level of charge: purple for full charge, blue for half charge and red for low charge. I think it would make a perfect executive gift or incentive for traveling employees."

Lindsay's Pick: The Gripstic

"I remember rolling my eyes when I saw this piece at a show in Atlantic City last year. I mean, the name is pretty ridiculous. I grabbed a few samples and surprised myself by actually using them at home. I still do. They're really easy to slide on and off and they create an air-tight seal. I think it's a fun product for inexpensive event giveaways, food and beverage promotions, and campaigns targeting college students. The only downside is the small imprint area; it's not the best choice for text-heavy artwork or logos with fine detail."


Jamie's Picks: Bookbound Journals and the Camelbak Eddy Water Bottle

"If I said that I had three of these journals on my desk right now, would that make me sound crazy? These are my go-to notebooks. They look professional for meetings, they're the perfect size to easily throw in my bag as I'm walking out the door, and I like the pocket for notes and business cards in the back.

As for the Camelbak, I'm completely in love with the straw. It's almost reached the point where I refuse to drink from any other bottle."


Michael's Pick: Bottle Opener

"I'm a big fan of the bottle opener key chain. I got one at the finish line of my first Mud Dog Run. It has a full color imprint and is shaped like a dog tag. I use it all the time, mainly because it's attached to something very important: my keys. Truly, any kind of bottle opener is a good one. They're an important device, providing access to the sweet nectar that is beer."

Seth's Pick: Pizza Cutter

"The Pizza Cutter gets a lot of use in our household; our family easily consumes 12 quesadillas per week. My favorite version features a blade that detaches from the handle. Both pieces are dishwasher-safe and easily cleaned. It's just so simple. When I'm using this product for a campaign, I like to package the cutters in small cardboard pizza boxes for easy distribution and mailing."

What are your favorite promotional products? Take a look at your desk, fridge, kitchen drawer, dashboard, and purse. Tell us what you find and what you'd hate to live without!

Stylus pens have experienced a wave in popularity in the last 10 years. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Palm Pilots and small PDA devices were new to the market, styluses were used regularly. This is because these early technologies used resistive touch screens, screens that respond to and register pressure. Resistive touch screens are not particularly responsive to fingers, so a stylus was extremely helpful, even necessary.

Around 2005, many companies made the switch to using capacitive screens. Capacitive screens are much more accurate and do not require you to push on the screen. A light touch, or simply placing your finger, is sufficient to register movement or selection. With the introduction of capacitive screens, the prevalence of styluses really dropped.

Now, in 2012, they seem to be back in full force, the ballpoint pen/stylus combo in particular. They're a popular choice for trade show giveaways, career fairs and tech conferences. We're also using them for restaurant promotions. Servers can keep a few in their apron to enter orders for the kitchen, and they're helpful for patrons signing mobile payments.

Why use a stylus instead of your finger?

A stylus pen is more precise. Whether you're sketching on a tablet or signing an electronic document, using a stylus will keep your work and penmanship tidy and legible.

A stylus pen is more sanitary. If you carry a pen with you to prevent picking up germs, why wouldn't you carry a stylus as well? Just think of the number of fingers that have swiped that screen before you. Keep a stylus/ballpoint pen combo in your purse, and you'll have your writing bases covered.

A stylus pen is gentler on your screen. If you have long nails, using a stylus pen instead of your finger will prevent scratches on your phone or tablet's screen.

Do you use a stylus when working on a tablet or browsing your phone?

How much do you sweat during a workout? Do you wear that damp shirt proudly? Or do you rush home to change and shower? If you belong to the former group, you're going to love this.

(source)

ViewSPORT is a growing clothing company that specializes in sweat-activated athletic wear. That's right... sweat-activated. When dry, the shirt resembles any other screen-printed T-shirt. It's only when you begin to perspire heavily or saturate the garment with water that a special decoration appears.

(source)

We think it's a unique solution for race promotions, corporate health and wellness programs, and yoga studio merchandise. Contact us to develop a custom design for your next campaign.

Sweat equity, for your brand. We love it!