Printing techniques
A finish that looks premium and lasts the life of the product. If you've held a metal pen with a logo etched in, a wooden gift with a name carved on, or a flask with branding that clearly isn't going anywhere, you've seen laser engraving.
Try it yourself
Type a name or message, or switch to Draw and sketch your own, then pick a material and item to see it engraved live. It's a quick preview to play with, not a final proof, when you're ready, we'll turn it into the real thing.
Draw on the item with your mouse or finger, a signature, a name, a little doodle.
Preview only. Your real proof is made by our team.
Laser engraving uses a focused laser beam to mark the surface of an item, etching your design permanently into the material itself. There's no ink. Instead, the laser removes or alters a thin layer of the surface, revealing a clean, contrasting mark beneath.
The result is a tactile, high-end finish that feels as good as it looks, which is why it's such a favourite for quality gifts and longer-lasting branded items.
Laser engraving 360, also called rotary or cylindrical engraving, is the same technique adapted for round items. The product rotates under the laser as it works, so your design wraps the whole way around, a full 360 degrees, with no seam or gap.
It's how you get branding running continuously around a metal bottle, flask or pen, rather than a single mark on one side. The same permanent, premium finish, built for curves.
The process is precise and clean. There's no ink, no drying and nothing to cure, the mark is permanent the moment it's made.
Your design is prepared digitally, with crisp line art and text working best.
The product is lined up precisely under the laser.
The laser follows your design, marking the surface exactly where it's needed.
The engraving is permanent straight away. No ink, no drying, nothing to cure.
On a round item a single fixed mark can only cover one side. With the 360 method the product turns under the laser as it works, so the design carries on seamlessly around the full circumference. It's the reason an engraved water bottle can carry branding wrapping the whole body rather than just a panel.
With laser engraving 360
Both are great, for different jobs. Here's a quick side-by-side so you can see which suits your project, and we're always happy to advise.
| What matters to you | Laser engraving | Printing |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Permanent, marked into the material. Won't fade, peel or wash off. | Long-lasting, but ink sits on the surface and can wear over time. |
| Colour | The natural tone of the material. No full colour. | Full colour, photos and gradients all reproduce. |
| Feel | Tactile, premium, etched into the surface. | Smooth print on the surface. |
| Best for | Metal, wood, glass, leather. Gifts and higher-end items. | Garments, paper, plastics and full-colour branding. |
| Small runs & names | Excellent. Easy to personalise each item individually. | Good, depending on the method. |
| Artwork | Logos, text and line art. | Anything, including photographic detail. |
Rule of thumb: choose engraving for a permanent, premium finish on hard materials and gifts, and printing when you need full colour or photographic detail. Not sure? Ask our Bristol team and we'll point you the right way.
Printing adds ink to the surface, while laser engraving marks the surface itself, so the design is etched in permanently with no ink to wear away.
It's laser engraving adapted for round items. The product rotates under the laser so the design wraps the whole way around, with no seam.
Yes. It's one of the most durable methods there is. It won't fade, peel, rub or wash off.
No. It reveals the natural tone of the material rather than printing in colour, so it's best for logos, text and line art. For full colour, digital printing is the better fit.
Metal, wood, glass, leather and bamboo all engrave beautifully. The exact finish depends on the material, and we'll always advise.
Yes. With no colours to set up and easy file changes, it's well suited to small runs and to personalising items individually, such as adding names.
Yes. Stainless steel is one of the best materials for engraving, giving a crisp, permanent mark with a subtle metallic contrast. It's a popular choice for bottles, flasks, pens and multi-tools.
Yes. We're a Bristol-based print and branded merchandise company, and we offer laser engraving and 360 engraving for businesses and organisations locally and across the UK. You'll deal with a real person from start to finish.
Both. Engraving works beautifully for logos, text and line art. Clean vector artwork gives the sharpest result, and we'll help prepare your file so it engraves crisply.
It depends on the item, the quantity and how busy we are, but engraving itself is quick once the file is set up, with nothing to dry or cure. Get in touch with your deadline and we'll tell you what's possible.
If you'd like to know more about laser engraving or 360, or you're not sure which method suits your project, get in touch with our Bristol team. You'll speak to a dedicated business manager, not AI or a robot.
And we won't hassle you. Prefer the phone? We'll call. Prefer email? We'll keep it to email. Either way, we're here to help you get the right finish for your branded merchandise.
Contact our team for a quote