UV printing is one of the most-liked digital printing methods for several good reasons. It can print a design, image, logo, etc., onto a wide range of substrates. If you are looking to invest in UV printing but want to learn more about it, read this post.
UV Printing Brief
UV printing is a breakthrough printing technology that uses UV (Ultraviolet) light to dry ink on an object. The UV printer releases ink straight onto the surface of a material, which is cured by the UV light following right after.
UV printing is a cutting-edge printing technique that is used to print a wide range of products. It utilizes UV light to dry UV ink.
The ink is directly discharged by the UV printer onto the surface of the material, where it is immediately cured by the UV light that follows. As a result, the ink sticks to the material in no time.
UV printing is getting popular for several reasons. However, one primary reason for its wide acceptance is its capability to print on different materials.
UV printing is used to decorate wood, print on tile, customize leather, do phone case printing, and more.
Like conventional printing techniques, UV printing does not use solvent ink. It uses special UV ink that is cured with UV light, not heating. As a result, it dries as soon as it is applied.
UV printing supports quick and effortless product customization.
Let us learn about the process of UV printing briefly.
Step-by-Step UV Printing Process
Design Preparation
A printing design is created on a computer system with the help of software pieces like Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.
Pretreatment
This process involves treating the material surface with a special coating liquid. It ensures that the design adheres to the object properly. Generally, a spray gun or brush is used for applying a pretreatment solution.
Not all substances require pretreatment. It is done on smooth-surfaced materials, such as tiles, metal, glass, acrylic, etc.
Printing
A UV printer works almost similar to a regular inkjet printer. Nevertheless, it prints directly onto the material rather than on paper.
The material is placed in the printer, and with the printing command, it starts printing. Thereafter, the nozzles of print heads spread UV ink, which is cured by UV light quickly.
Users can use rotary or flatbed UV printers, depending on the shape of the material.
Applications of UV Printing
Different industries employ UV printing. A few famous examples include:
Phone Case Printing
Phone case printing is one of the primary uses of UV printing. It lets users customize their customers’ phone cases with eye-appealing graphics and spot gloss effects.
Tile Wall
Customized tile walls are in demand in the real estate industry. UV printing enables you to print photo-level designs on the tiles.
Art Glass
The use of UV printing in creating art glasses is common nowadays. Glass art photos, painted glasses, colored glasses, customized glass sliding doors, etc., are designed using UV printing.
Advertising
UV printing has become a primary tool in the advertising industry. Marketing and advertising firms use this printing technology to make signage and advertising boards of different materials.
Merchandise Customization
There is a trend for customization. People love to customize their personal items, such as wine boxes, golf balls, keys, bed sheets, coffee mugs, stationery, etc. UV printing can easily customize these items.
Advantages of UV Printing
The following list points out some main advantages of UV printing.
Diverse Applications
UV printing can print on various materials. For example, you can customize products made of textiles, leather, wood, bamboo, PVC, acrylic, plastic, metal, etc.
Use a UV flatbed printer if you wish to print on flat things. While Rotary UV Printer is the best option for bottles, cups, etc. Regardless of the industry you are into, UV printing technology is a one-stop solution for product customization.
Quick Turnaround
UV printing ensures high productivity. In comparison to conventional printing, it has better printing speed. Moreover, its quick curing process abolishes the drying time. It means you do not need to wait too long to get your order ready.
Durable Prints
UV printing is also known for its durability. With conventional printing techniques, prolonged exposure to the sun might cause problems like color fading or color change. You will not notice such issues soon with UV printing.
Under perfect condition, UV prints have high resistance to scratching and fading. Depending on the surface and sunlight exposure, a UV print can last up to 10 years.
Production Cost
There are a lot of factors involved when it comes to production costs. However, if you look at the amount of ink used, UV printing is less expensive than other traditional printing techniques. For example, UV ink can cover more sq. m per liter than the ink used in latex printing.
High-Quality Image
UV printing offers high-quality prints having clean and lifelike colors. Furthermore, the user can create effects like raised texture and spot varnishing.
Since the UV ink applies on top of a material, the print looks fresh and impressive. You will not get blotchy pigments and streaks on the print.
Environmental Impact
UV printing is one of the most environmentally-friendly printing techniques. It produces a few volatile organic compounds.
So this is our in-depth knowledge base for UV printing. We hope it offers adequate knowledge on the topic. Happy printing!