Remember that with traditional printing methods, such as silk screen printing, multiple setup costs are incurred with each color printed. That means for artwork that is three colors or more, this could result in substantial savings.
Let's take a look at the different printing methods and the limitations of each. Laser engraving is a method which allows you to laser a logo into a product's surface but it's only available monotone and without any color options. Usually the finished color is a silver- or gold-tone finish. Debossing is similar to laser engraving, in which no color can be printed. Debossing is simply a heated plate pressed against a surface, much like how cowhides are branded with a hot plate. Screen printing and embroidery both offer color options, which is why they are the most popular methods used. However, with screen printing a screen must be made for each color printed, which incurs a set-up cost for each color. This results in setup costs that could be hundreds of dollars for colorful logos. Embroidery allows for colorful logos but marketers do have limitations of colors and total stitch count. The more colors required or the more stitches needed, the higher the cost of your promotional product investment.