What is UV printing

UV printing is a distinctive form of digital printing that involves the use of ultraviolet (UV) light to cure or dry UV ink almost as soon as it is applied to a prepared substrate. The UV printing process is unique. The substrate can include paper as well as any other material that the printer can accept. This can be foam board, aluminum, or acrylic. As the UV ink is distributed onto the substrate, specialized ultraviolet lights within the printer are immediately applied to the material over the top of the ink, drying it and adhering it to the substrate.

The UV printing process was originally developed to be used with gel nail polishes. After the gel polish is applied, a UV light is used to cure the polish onto the surface of the nails. The result is a quick-drying, long-lasting and flawless manicure. Eventually however, the benefits of ultraviolet light applications expanded and they began being used in commercial and industrial markets. This forms the foundation of UV printing services and the associated printing industry. It is now used to create everything including flyers, leaflets, signs, screen printing and even bottle labels as just a few examples. The process of UV printing is similar to that of traditional printing. However, the inks used and the drying and curing processes differ. This is in addition to the distinct nature of the printing technology itself.

With traditional printing, solvent inks are applied to a substrate and heat is used to cure the ink. Solvent-based inks can evaporate, spread out onto the surface of the substrate before they are dried, and release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The heat that is used to cure the solvent ink to the substrate produces an unpleasant odor. Additionally, spray powders are used to prevent the offsetting and drying of ink and the process as a whole can take a number of days. Furthermore, the solvent inks are absorbed into the substrate which can result in faded colors. Traditional printing is generally limited to paper and similar materials due to the nature of the printing press. It cannot be used on other materials such as metal, plastic, glass, or acrylic.

With UV printing, specialized UV inks are used. Instead of heat, high-intensity LED ultraviolet lights are used to cure the ink onto the medium that it is printed on. The ultraviolet light follows closely behind the ink as it is distributed onto the substrate and as a result, the ink dries immediately no matter what material (or materials) are used. Since the ink dries almost immediately, it does not evaporate and as such, it cannot spread out onto the material that it is printed on. Additionally, no VOCs, ozone, or toxic fumes are released into the air. For companies that prize sustainability in their printing processes, this feature will be of particular interest. In addition to the quick-drying capabilities and the eco-friendliness of UV printing, this type of ultraviolet printing method and the associated form of ink transfer can also be used with a variety of materials, including paper, plastic, foil, acrylic, foam etc.

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