Doming for corporate merch in Türkiye
Doming is the clear polyurethane resin coating that gives a 3D, glass-like dome over a printed label or badge. This page covers where doming fits on a corporate merch program — name badges, product emblems, asset labels, premium logo stickers — and how a doming order runs through our Levent studio.
What doming is and where it earns its place
Doming — also called resin doming, epoxy doming or 3D doming — is a process where a clear, two-component polyurethane resin is dispensed over a printed label, badge or emblem and cured to a flexible, glass-like dome. The result is a label that looks three-dimensional, catches light like a polished surface, and has the durability of a thermoset plastic.
The technique is widely used in corporate merch for product emblems on drinkware and electronics, name badges for events and offices, asset labels for IT equipment, premium logo stickers for packaging, and small-format brand plaques. The visual effect is unmistakable — a domed badge reads as more premium than a flat printed label of the same artwork.
Our İstanbul studio runs a manual dispensing line for short runs and prototypes, plus a semi-automated line for production batches of 500-5,000 pieces. The resin cures in 8-24 hours depending on ambient temperature and humidity, and we run climate-controlled doming rooms year-round to keep the cure consistent across the year.
Substrates and product fit
Doming works on any flat, dimensionally stable substrate that the resin can adhere to. The most common substrates are printed vinyl (PVC, polyester, polyacrylate), printed paper with a laminate overlay, and printed metal with a clear coat. The substrate carries the printed artwork; the resin sits on top as a clear protective dome.
Printed vinyl is the workhorse substrate for name badges, product emblems and asset labels. We stock white, clear and metallic vinyl in rolls from European manufacturers, and we print in-house on digital presses in our Levent studio. For premium programs, we use polyester or polyacrylate film with a 5-7 year UV-stable outdoor life.
Printed metal — brushed aluminium, polished aluminium, brushed stainless — is the premium substrate for corporate emblems on drinkware, electronics and packaging. The metal is printed with UV-cured inks in our Başakşehir facility, then domed in our Levent studio. The combination reads as a much higher-end product than vinyl alone.
Resin types and their properties
Standard polyurethane resin cures to a flexible, glossy dome with a typical thickness of 1.5-3.0 mm at the centre. It is UV-stable for 3-5 years of outdoor exposure, scratch-resistant to pencil hardness 2H, and remains flexible down to -30°C. We use standard resin for most corporate applications — name badges, product emblems, asset labels, packaging stickers.
UV-stable polyurethane resin extends outdoor life to 5-7 years and is used for asset labels on outdoor equipment, vehicle decals, signage components and marine applications. UV-stable resin costs about 30% more than standard resin and is worth the premium for programs that will see prolonged sun exposure.
Hard-coat resin cures to a harder, more rigid dome with a typical thickness of 1.0-2.0 mm. It is more scratch-resistant (pencil hardness 4H) but less flexible and more brittle. Hard-coat is used for premium product emblems where the dome is expected to take occasional contact without scratching, but it is not suitable for curved surfaces or applications that need flexibility.
Anti-slip resin is formulated for floor decals, equipment markings and any application where the dome needs grip rather than smooth sliding. Anti-slip resin has a slightly textured surface and is typically used in industrial safety applications rather than corporate merch.
Artwork preparation and colour
Artwork for doming is the same as for any printed label — vector with each colour as a separate layer, or high-resolution raster at 300 DPI minimum. We accept AI, EPS, PDF, PSD and PNG. The artwork is printed on the chosen substrate, die-cut to shape, then domed. The dome is clear, so the artwork underneath shows through with a slight magnification effect.
Colour reproduction is excellent because the artwork is printed on a flat substrate before the resin is applied. We work from supplied artwork in sRGB or Adobe RGB and soft-proof to the substrate. For brand-precise Pantone matching, the print can be calibrated to Delta-E under 2 against the supplied reference.
Variable-data doming (each piece carries a unique name, number or code) is achievable through a variable-data workflow on our digital presses. Common applications: numbered asset tags, named event badges, personalised loyalty emblems. The variable-data workflow adds 1-2 working days to the lead time and is priced as a per-piece add-on.
Adhesion systems and product fit
Domed badges ship with one of several backing systems depending on the application. Pressure-sensitive adhesive (3M-equivalent) is the default for flat surfaces — name badge backing, asset label backing, packaging sticker backing. The adhesive is applied during the die-cut step and is covered with a release liner until application.
Magnetic backing is used for name badges that need to be removable without adhesive residue on clothing. The magnetic back is applied after the doming step. Magnetic-backed badges are more expensive than adhesive-backed but read as a more premium product for VIP events, executive teams and conference badges.
Pin backing is used for traditional name badges and corporate pins. The pin is applied after doming and ships with a butterfly clutch. Sew-on backing is used for textile applications (uniform patches, branded apparel emblems) where the dome is sewn onto a garment.
Run sizes, lead times and unit economics
Doming starts at 50-100 pieces for a new design. Below that, the substrate print setup, die-cut setup and resin dispensing labour dominate the unit price. Above 1,000 pieces we run the semi-automated line and the per-piece price drops meaningfully. For programs above 5,000 pieces we usually suggest a fully automated partner facility in Bursa.
Lead time is 7-12 working days for a typical corporate program: 2-3 days for substrate print and die-cut, 1-2 days for doming setup, 2-4 days for resin cure, 1-2 days for backing application and pack-out. Express 5-7 day turnarounds are available on simple jobs with in-stock substrates.
For programs that combine doming with a structural component (magnetic closure, pin assembly, premium packaging), we run the doming in Levent and the assembly at our Tuzla depot. The combination adds 1-2 working days to the lead time and is priced as a per-piece add-on.
Durability and care guidance
Standard polyurethane resin survives 3-5 years of outdoor UV exposure without yellowing or cracking. UV-stable resin extends this to 5-7 years. The dome is scratch-resistant to pencil hardness 2H, which means it survives normal handling, light abrasion and cleaning with a soft cloth and mild detergent.
For programs where the dome will see heavy contact (event badges handled daily, asset labels on equipment that gets moved frequently), we recommend hard-coat resin or a 2H minimum thickness. For programs where the dome is decorative (premium product emblems, packaging stickers), standard resin is sufficient.
Domed badges should not be exposed to solvents, acetone or abrasive cleaners. For corporate programs that need a chemical-resistant label (laboratory equipment, industrial assets), we recommend anodised aluminium or laser-engraved plastic rather than domed printed labels.
Where we run doming in Türkiye
Doming production sits in our Levent studio with overflow capacity in Başakşehir for large runs. The climate-controlled doming rooms run year-round with temperature and humidity logging on every batch. Substrate printing and die-cutting happen in Levent; metal substrate printing happens in Başakşehir on our UV printers.
For corporate programs delivered to İstanbul offices, Ankara government and diplomatic addresses, İzmir trade-show venues, and Antalya resort venues, we run hand-delivery for high-value orders and tracked road freight for larger volumes.
Related decoration methods
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order for doming?
Doming starts at 50-100 pieces for a new design. Below that, the substrate print setup and resin dispensing labour dominate the unit price. Above 1,000 pieces the semi-automated line drops the per-piece price meaningfully.
How long does a doming order take?
A typical corporate program takes 7-12 working days: 2-3 days for substrate print and die-cut, 2-4 days for resin cure, 1-2 days for backing application. Express 5-7 day turnarounds are available on simple jobs with in-stock substrates.
Which substrates work with doming?
Printed vinyl (PVC, polyester, polyacrylate) is the workhorse substrate. Printed metal (brushed aluminium, polished aluminium, brushed stainless) is the premium substrate for drinkware and electronics. Printed paper with laminate overlay is used for short-run packaging stickers.
Is doming durable enough for outdoor use?
Standard polyurethane resin survives 3-5 years of outdoor UV exposure. UV-stable resin extends this to 5-7 years. The dome is scratch-resistant to pencil hardness 2H and survives normal handling and cleaning. Heavy contact applications benefit from hard-coat resin at 4H.
Can doming carry variable data?
Yes — variable-data doming through a digital press workflow generates unique artwork per piece. Common applications: numbered asset tags, named event badges, personalised loyalty emblems. The variable-data workflow adds 1-2 working days to the lead time.
Is Corp-Merch a licensed resin doming provider or officially accredited by any resin manufacturer?
We are an independent corporate merch decoration provider in Türkiye. We are not licensed, endorsed or accredited by any resin manufacturer, substrate supplier or printing-equipment maker. Brand and product names are used to describe compatible substrates and decoration methods.
Request a quote
Send your artwork file, badge dimensions, quantities and any backing preference. We'll come back with TRY pricing, lead time and substrate options within one working day.