Marking, decoration & colour · finish comparison
Hot Stamping vs Pad Printing
Hot Stamping and Pad Printing are both marking & decoration finishes; pad print is the lower-cost option ($).
Hot Stamping
Marking & decoration · $$ · instant quote
Hot stamping uses a heated die to transfer pigmented or metallic foil onto a part.
Pad Printing
Marking & decoration · $ · instant quote
Pad printing transfers ink from an etched plate to a part with a flexible silicone pad.
When to choose which
Choose Hot stamp
Hot stamp is the pick when its strengths below matter more than Pad print's.
- Produces bright metallic effects without wet ink
- Transfers a typical 10–20 µm foil stack
- Fast cycle for repeated logos and trim
Choose Pad print
Choose Pad print when for nonmetallic graphics on curved surfaces.
- Prints on compound-curved and recessed geometry
- Produces a typical 5–10 µm cured ink film
- Supports a practical line width near 0.15 mm
What the numbers say
- Pad print is the lower-cost option ($).
- Pad print is the thinner coating (5–10 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Hot stamp | Pad print |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 0 Minimal | 0 Minimal |
| Surface hardness / wear | — — | — — |
| Cosmetic quality | 88 Excellent | 72 Very good |
| Lubricity | 10 Minimal | 10 Minimal |
| Cost | 22 $$ | 12 $ |
Key numbers
| Property | Hot stamp | Pad print |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 10–20 µm | 5–10 µm |
| Electrical | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Colours | gold metallic, silver metallic, pigmented colours, holographic effects | black, white, spot colours, custom colour |
| Relative cost | Standard ($$) | Budget ($) |
| Added lead time | 5–10 working days | 3–7 working days |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant |
| Instant quote | Yes | Yes |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Hot stamp | Pad print |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Limited | Yes |
| Polymer | Yes | Yes |
| Stainless Steel | Limited | Yes |
| Steel | Limited | Yes |
| Brass | Limited | With care |
| Copper Alloy | Limited | With care |
| Glass | — | With care |
| Magnesium Alloy | No | With care |
| Zinc Alloy | Limited | With care |
| Titanium | No | Limited |
Specifications and drawing call-outs
Hot stamp
No governing public specification — called out by name and thickness.
HOT STAMP LOGO, BRIGHT SILVER FOIL, 10–20 µm TRANSFER FILM, ARTWORK HS-22 REV B, LOCATION ±0.25 MM; ASTM D3359 CLASS 4B MIN
Pad print
- ISO 2409 — Paints and Varnishes — Cross-Cut Test
PAD PRINT SYMBOLS, WHITE, 0.15 MM MIN LINE WIDTH, IMAGE 22 × 18 MM MAX, LOCATION ±0.30 MM; ASTM D3359 CLASS 4B MIN
Hot stamp vs Pad print — frequently asked
What is the difference between Hot stamp and Pad print?
Hot Stamping and Pad Printing are both marking & decoration finishes; pad print is the lower-cost option ($). Pad print is the thinner coating (5–10 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
When should I use Hot stamp instead of Pad print?
Conversely: choose Pad print when for nonmetallic graphics on curved surfaces.
Is Hot stamp or Pad print cheaper?
Pad print is the lower-cost finish ($ against $$ for Hot stamp) among the finishes FabDigit quotes. Both are priced per part with a lot minimum; the exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.