UV printers are used to create the various promotional posters and flyers we see in our daily lives. They can print on a wide range of flat surfaces, serving a wide range of industries, including custom home decor, building materials, advertising, mobile phone accessories, signage, crafts, and decorative paintings. Using a UV printer requires ink. Different inks are used in different applications. Here's a brief summary of UV ink categories:
UV Hard Ink
Hard ink is recommended for printing on rigid materials. Hard ink offers stronger adhesion but weaker stretch and bendability. Printed designs will crack if the material is twisted.
Applicable Materials: Ceramic tiles, metal, wood, hard plastics, signs, acrylic, glass, integrated boards, small handicrafts, and other highly rigid materials.
UV Soft Ink
Soft ink can be printed on soft materials and will not cause cracking or other problems even when the material is distorted. An ink layer that is too soft can easily leave scratches on hard materials.
Applicable Materials: Lighting screens, soft films, wall coverings, wallpaper, car stickers, PVC films, PET light sheets, canvas, 3P fabrics, and other soft materials.
UV neutral ink
Disadvantages: Slightly lacking in hardness, not suitable for materials requiring high hardness, such as glass.
Applicable materials: Acrylic, PS board, PVC foam board, KT board, etc.
Coating-Free Ink
This type of coating-free ink adds some coating materials to the original UV ink. This allows the ink to be directly applied to the equipment's printhead, rather than requiring a coating wipe. This improves adhesion and printing quality, saving time and increasing production efficiency. However, it's important to note that mixing the ink and coating liquid in this type of coating-free ink increases the risk of printhead clogging and reduces print quality. Suitable materials: Smooth surfaces requiring a coating, such as glass and acrylic.