Dye sublimation or screen printed lanyards?

How screen printing works

Ink is pushed through a fine mesh onto the strap, one colour at a time. It gives crisp, flat spot colours and is economical in volume. On printed polyester lanyards your logo can be up to four colours, repeated along the whole strap. On nylon lanyards it can be up to five, and the finer weave holds small text and thin lines more cleanly.

How dye sublimation works

Ink is turned to a gas and bonded into white polyester, so the colour becomes part of the fibre rather than a layer on top. There is no limit on colours: gradients, photographs, patterns and rows of sponsor logos all print edge to edge, and each side can carry a different design. See our dye sublimation lanyards.

Side by side

• Colours: screen printing up to 4 spot colours on polyester (5 on nylon). Dye sublimation has no limit.
• Strap colour: for screen printing, choose a stock strap colour or give us a Pantone reference and we dye the strap to match. Dye sublimation starts with a white strap and prints the background colour, picked from CMYK or Pantone.
• Artwork: screen printing suits logos made of solid colours. Dye sublimation suits gradients, photos and detailed artwork.
• Finish: a screen print sits on the strap. Dye sublimation is bonded into the fibre, so there is no ink layer to crack.
• Both sides: both methods can be printed on both sides; with dye sublimation each side can be a completely different design.

Which suits your artwork?

Count the colours in your logo. If it is one to four flat colours, a screen printed lanyard gives a sharp result and is usually the more economical choice for larger runs. If your logo uses gradients, a photo or more colours than that, or you are printing a sponsor wall for a conference, choose dye sublimation. If you have very fine detail, ask about nylon with heat transfer printing, where the design is printed onto a transfer and pressed onto the strap.

If staff will wear the lanyard every day and wash it often, consider a third option: on a woven lanyard the design is woven into the strap itself, so it cannot rub off. It suits bold, simple artwork.

Eco options in both styles

Both methods come on recycled PET straps woven from plastic bottles: recycled PET lanyards are screen printed, and recycled PET dye sublimated lanyards print in full colour. See eco lanyard options in New Zealand for bamboo and plant silk.

Not sure?

Send us your logo with your quote request. Our designers will tell you which method suits it, and we can price both. Every order comes with free artwork help and a digital proof, so you see the strap before anything is printed.

Common questions

Can dye sublimation match my brand colour?

Colours are chosen from CMYK or Pantone, and your digital proof shows the result before printing.

Can a screen printed lanyard be full colour?

Screen printing uses spot colours, up to four on polyester. For full colour artwork we will suggest dye sublimation.

Can either style be rushed?

Both printed polyester and dye sublimated lanyards are styles we can often rush. Put your date on the quote and we will confirm what is possible before you approve.