Create Stunning Full-Color Press Lanyards with Sublimation Printing

Creating Custom Press Lanyards

Press lanyards, often seen at conferences and events, are great for holding badges, keys, and other small items. With the rise of sublimation printing, it's easier than ever to make custom lanyards yourself. In this article, we'll walk through the process of designing and producing custom sublimated press lanyards.

What Are Press Lanyards?

Press lanyards are flat, wide lanyards usually made of polyester. They are called "press" lanyards because the printing process often used is heat press sublimation. This allows for full-color, photographic quality printing to be transferred onto the lanyard material.

Press lanyards stand out for their vibrant, crisp designs. From company logos to event imagery, just about any artwork or photo can be translated into an eye-catching lanyard. Printed elements stand up well to wear and tear, as sublimation dyes are embedded directly into the lanyard material itself.

Why Choose Press Lanyards for Your Event

Here are some of the benefits of having custom press lanyards made for conferences, trade shows, and other events:

• Promote your brand, organization, or event
• Identify staff members or event speakers/VIPs
• Security – quickly recognize those granted access
• Use custom lanyard colors to coordinate attendees
• Easily attach badges, passes, business cards or other items
• Affordable to produce in small or large quantities

How to Design Your Press Lanyards

Before getting started, think about the purpose of your lanyard and what you want to communicate. Most press lanyards feature:

• An organization/event logo
• Event name
• Date
• Location
• Website
• A decorative background pattern or image

Keep in mind the size constraints of the lanyard when designing. You’ll have a large printable surface area on the lanyard strap itself, but less space on the bulge below the clip where attachments hook on. Have all your textual elements and crucial imagery sized to fit that smaller portion.

Choosing Your Lanyard Color

Most press lanyards are made using white polyester straps. But other light color options like grey may also be available. If doing a multi-color print design, a white strap lets the colors pop.

You can also select lanyard strap colors to coordinate with your event colors or brand. For example, university logo lanyards commonly use school colors.

Sourcing Your Press Lanyards

Now that your design is ready, it’s time to source production. Many online printers offer press lanyard printing services. Get price quotes from a few providers to compare.

Factors that affect press lanyard pricing:

• Quantity needed
• Width of strap
• Attachment type (bulldog clip, ring, hook)
• Length
• Add-ons like badge attachments

Be sure to order a sample first to check print vibrancy and quality before doing a full production run. Once approved, delivery of 1-2 weeks is common.

Pressing Your Own Lanyards with Sublimation

With a sublimation printer and heat press, you can even print your own press lanyards right at home. Let’s look at the equipment and supplies you’ll need.

Sublimation Printing Supplies

• Sublimation printer – Can be a standalone printer or converter kit to adapt an existing inkjet printer
• Sublimation ink – Special ink that vaporizes to a gas when heated, bonding the color to polyester lanyards
• Blank polyester lanyards – Check strap width and length as well as clip type
• Sublimation paper – Special paper optimized for the inks and process

Heat Press Equipment

To get the color from the paper onto the lanyards, you’ll need the following:

• Sublimation heat press – Heats lanyard to over 380°F and applies appropriate pressure
• Protective sheet – Used to prevent scorching of pressure imprints onto the lanyards
• Heat resistant gloves and/or pads – For handling hot items
• Non-stick paper or parchment – Smooths lanyard surfaces and protects heating plates over time

Other Handy Tools

These additional supplies can help with production:

• A trimmer or cutting machine for sizing paper prints
• Ruler or measurement tools
• Adhesive spray temporary glue blanks

By purchasing quality equipment and supplies up front, you can reuse them again and again to make more press lanyards anytime!

Pressing Process

Once your design is printed out on sublimation paper, follow these key steps:

1. Trim paper printouts to appropriate sizes.
2. Place blank lanyard onto lower platen (heating surface).
3. Lay paper print on top of lanyard, lining up design placement.
4. Cover with a silicone/teflon sheet to protect heating plates.
5. Carefully lower heat press upper platen into position.
6. Set to 385-400°F degrees and medium-high pressure.
7. Press for 30-60 seconds, allowing inks to sublimate into the polyester.
8. Open press, remove protective sheet and paper.
9. Your sublimated lanyard is now ready!

Be very careful, focused and work methodically when dealing with a hot press. But once mastered, making personalized press lanyards can be very rewarding!

Press Lanyards: A Unique Keepsake

Whether purchasing wholesale press lanyards or diy printing, there are lots of possibilities for stunning results. Crisp, full color sublimated lanyards make memorable keepsakes or collectibles:

• Souvenirs from trips, tours, landmarks or museums visited
• Special events like music festivals or amusement parks
• Graduations
• Sports tournaments
• Scouting or similar youth events
• Camps

Even people unable to physically attend an event may appreciate being gifted a custom lanyard afterwards. They can proudly display it on a backpack, purse or wall at home.

So next time you’re looking for useful swag, need to coordinate attendee credentials, or want to commemorate an experience, consider vibrant, full-color press lanyards.

FAQs

What width options exist for press lanyards?

Common press lanyard widths include 3/8", 1/2", and 3/4". Wider lanyards can showcase more design details. But narrow options take up less space around the neck. Consider the hardware and attachments you want to accommodate when selecting a width.

Can I get multi-colored press lanyards instead of just white?

Yes, some suppliers do offer additional polyester lanyard color choices beyond basic white. But the number of colors available may be limited. Dye sublimation shows best on light or bright colors. So darker strap shades may not highlight intricate designs as well.

What types of hardware and attachments can I get on press lanyards?

Many attachment options are available for press lanyards, including metal j-hooks, bulldog clips, cord clips, plastic hooks and more. You can also choose to have badge holders or pouches added to provide a convenient way to display event credentials or security passes.

How durable are press lanyards?

Because sublimation dyes the actual material rather than just sitting on the surface, press lanyards stand up very well to regular wear and tear. The colors remain vibrant even after repeated stretching and handling. So they continue showcasing designs clearly over time.