Medal Ribbon Options: Plain, Foil Printed or Full Colour?

The ribbon is sometimes treated like the least important part of a medal.

In reality, it can have a huge impact on how the finished award looks.

The right ribbon can reinforce your event colours, carry sponsor branding, match the artwork on the medal and help the whole award feel properly considered.

The wrong ribbon can make even a great medal feel disconnected from the rest of the event.

Watch Michael explain our plain, foil printed and full colour ribbon options.

Why Ribbon Matters More Than Most Organisers Think

A medal does not exist on its own.

It sits within the branding, colours and experience of the event.

That is why we usually look at the ribbon as part of the medal design rather than something added afterwards.

Option 1: Plain Recycled Polyester Ribbon

Plain ribbon is often the simplest and most practical choice.

We use recycled polyester satin ribbon made in the UK by a UK supplier.

That gives us access to a broad colour range and also helps with stock availability when organisers need medals quickly.

If your event branding already has a clear colour identity, a plain ribbon may be all you need.

• Good for simple event branding.
• Easy to match with your main event colour.
• Useful for last-minute orders.
• Made from recycled polyester.
• Produced in the UK.

Option 2: Foil Printed Ribbon

Foil printing is the next step up when you want to add a logo, event name or simple sponsor branding.

It works well for bold artwork and clear text, particularly when the design does not rely on gradients or extremely fine detail.

The important thing is making sure the supplied artwork is suitable for the print method.

If a sponsor logo contains very fine details, tiny text or complicated colour changes, foil printing may not reproduce it accurately enough.

Option 3: Full Colour Printed Ribbon

Full colour ribbon gives organisers much more design freedom.

Instead of starting with a coloured ribbon, the ribbon begins white and the complete artwork is applied through a sublimation process.

This allows us to reproduce:

• Full colour logos.
• Gradients.
• Very fine linework.
• Patterns.
• Detailed sponsor branding.
• Artwork that matches the medal.
• Different design elements across the ribbon.

For some events, upgrading to full colour can be relatively small compared with the improvement it makes to the finished result.

When Full Colour Is Worth the Upgrade

We do not automatically recommend full colour ribbon for every event.

If a plain colour or simple foil print will do the job properly, there is little value in adding complexity.

But there are times when full colour becomes the better option.

Why Sponsor Branding Needs to Be Right

Sponsors often contribute hundreds or thousands of pounds towards an event.

Their branding therefore should not be treated as an afterthought.

Colours need to be accurate, logos need to remain recognisable and small details need to reproduce clearly.

If the supplied artwork is not suitable for a particular print method, our design team will flag that during proofing and recommend the better option.

Use the Ribbon to Continue the Medal Design

One of the strongest uses of full colour ribbon is continuing the artwork beyond the medal itself.

Lupine Racing is a good example.

Their medals use strong individual colour schemes and event-specific artwork, so the ribbons continue those colours, effects and themes.

That may include matching green tones, national flags, neon-style effects or the same orange and yellow palette used on the medal.

When done properly, the medal and ribbon feel like one product rather than two separate components.

Don't Ignore the Small Details

Full colour printing can also include very subtle design features that would be difficult to reproduce through simpler print methods.

On one event ribbon, for example, fine map-style gradient lines could be retained within a logo while subtle squirrel artwork ran through the ribbon background.

These details may not dominate the design, but they help connect the ribbon back to the identity of the event.

Ribbon Fastening Options

The ribbon itself is only part of the decision.

We also use different fastening methods depending on the event.

Ultrasonic Welding

Our standard ribbon joining method uses ultrasonic welding.

The ribbon is bonded using a high-frequency process which creates a strong join while remaining efficient for larger medal quantities.

Wooden Breakaway Clips

For events where a breakaway fastening is useful, particularly children's events, we can also use our wooden safety clip.

These were designed in-house and make use of material that would otherwise sit between larger laser-cut components.

The clip works in a similar way to a buckle and is designed to separate under sufficient force.

What Other Event Organisers Can Learn

The main lesson is not that one ribbon option is better than another.

It is about choosing the simplest ribbon that still does the job properly.

Before deciding, ask:

• Does the ribbon need to carry sponsor branding?
• Are the logos simple or highly detailed?
• Does the ribbon need to match complex medal artwork?
• Would a plain colour already fit the event perfectly?
• Is consistent branding important across a race series?
• Do we need a breakaway fastening?
• Will the ribbon look like it belongs with the medal?

You do not need to work all of this out before contacting us.

Send us your logo, event information and the type of medal you like and we can recommend the ribbon option that suits it.

Ribbon Options at a Glance

Planning Medals for Your Event?

If you are unsure whether you need plain, foil printed or full colour ribbon, send us your event branding.

We will look at the artwork alongside the medal and recommend the option that gives you the best result without adding unnecessary cost.