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UV-LED and UV-DTF Buyer's Guide
Find the Best Direct-to-Object Printer for Your Business
Full-color prints that cure instantly? Yes please! If you're looking to expand your printing capabilities with full-color, high-durability results, UV-LED printing could be your perfect match. Whether you're a personalization pro, sign shop, or creative entrepreneur, choosing the right UV printer is essential to scaling your business. We’ve created this UV printer buyer’s guide to help you find the best model for your needs, budget, and space.
Who Should Read This Guide?
This guide is perfect for:
• Small businesses entering the world of direct-to-object UV printing
• Sign and personalization shops adding full-color capabilities
• Creators looking to print on unique items like acrylic, metal, glass, and more
• Makers who want to complement sublimation?or laser engraving
What is UV-LED Printing?
UV-LED printing is a printing method that uses ultraviolet light to instantly cure specially formulated inks onto flat or slightly curved surfaces. One major benefit of UV printing is its white ink capability. The white ink allows full-color, vibrant prints in one-step. Plus, these printers cure fast, so your products are ready to handle and ship in no time, keeping things moving smoothly.
What's even cooler is that you can print on unique materials like leather, metal, and glass. This opens up a whole new world for artists and entrepreneurs to explore niche markets. Whether you're just getting started or thinking about upgrading, investing in UV-LED printing could be your ticket to new opportunities and taking your business up a notch.
Unlike traditional inkjet or sublimation printing, UV printing doesn’t require coated substrates or heat presses, just print and cure in one step.
With UV printing, you can directly print on materials like plastic, wood, leather, glass, acrylic, and even metal. The result? Crisp, colorful images with excellent adhesion and color pay off. Perfect for custom gifts, signage, packaging prototypes, promotional items, and so much more.
What can you make with UV-LED Printing?
UV-LED printing is an extremely versatile technology due to its white ink capabilities and the ability to add a varnish, or gloss finish. You can create things like coasters with photographs, full-color signage or add logos and names to items like head phone cases, speakers, hair clips and beyond! With UV-LED printing, the possibilities are virtually endless, allowing you to meet a wide range of customer demands with customized, eye-catching products. Imagine crafting bespoke wedding invitations with intricate details, or designing vibrant, durable outdoor signs that withstand the elements. Whether you're personalizing corporate gifts, producing unique art pieces, or creating eye-catching promotional products, UV-LED printing empowers you to deliver professional-grade results with ease.
This technology's ability to print directly onto a variety of materials opens doors for creative experimentation and innovation. You can even explore niche markets by offering customized home decor items like printed tiles or decorative glass panels. As businesses and consumers increasingly seek personalized and unique products, UV-LED printing positions you at the forefront of this growing trend, ready to impress clients with your vibrant, high-quality creations.
Embrace the creative freedom that UV-LED printing offers and watch your business flourish as you push the boundaries of what's possible with printed designs.
• 19 Creative Ways to use UV-LED Printing in your Personalization Business
• UV-LED Inspiration Guide
What’s UV-DTF Printing?
UV-LED printing works best on flat surfaces or surfaces that have a slight curve, so what if you want to UV print on something cylindrical like a mug or a vase? That’s where UV-DTF comes in! UV-DTF is a cutting-edge technology that allows you to print vibrant, full-color designs on cylindrical objects with ease. UV-DTF, which stands for UV Direct-to-Film, involves printing your design onto a special film and then transferring it onto the cylindrical surface. The UV DTF does not need to be heat pressed onto objects. It only needs to be applied by hand, and then squeegeed after it is applied to set the adhesive and help push out any remaining air bubbles. This method is perfect for achieving high-quality prints on items like mugs, bottles, and vases, where traditional UV-LED printing might struggle due to the object's shape.
The beauty of UV-DTF is its versatility and the ability to maintain the same level of detail and color intensity as you would expect from flat surface UV printing. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses looking to expand their product range to include custom drinkware or other rounded objects. Plus, with UV-DTF, you can create intricate designs that wrap seamlessly around the entire surface, offering a professional and polished finish that customers will love.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting, integrating UV-DTF into your printing arsenal can unlock new creative possibilities and market opportunities. It's a fantastic way to diversify your offerings and meet the growing demand for personalized, high-quality products.
Epson SureColor V1070 UV Desktop Printer
Best for High-Color Accuracy and Professional Results
The Epson V1070 brings Epson’s legendary print quality to the UV space, combining precision MicroPiezo technology with white and varnish ink options. It's a sleek, high-performance desktop printer built for serious professionals and detailed product work.
• 11.7" x 6" max print area
• White and varnish ink support for layering, textures, and effects
• Print on wood, acrylic, metal, packaging, and more
• Ideal for: retail signage, awards, branding agencies, high-end gifts
Roland VersaSTUDIO BD-8 UV-LED Flatbed Printer
Best for Beginners and Compact Spaces
The BD-8 is Roland’s most affordable and compact UV-LED flatbed printer. With intuitive controls and a space-saving design, it's the ideal entry point for anyone new to direct-to-object UV printing. Perfect for customizing phone cases, signage, giveaways, and more!
• Print on items up to 10.8" x 6"
• Uses gloss, white, and CMYK inks
• Safe and simple operation with built-in safety features
• Ideal for: startups, crafters, home-based businesses
Roland VersaSTUDIO BD-12 UV-LED Flatbed Printer
Best for Growing Shops and Mid-Sized Jobs
Need a little more power and print space? The BD-12 steps things up with a larger bed and faster output, making it ideal for those ready to scale production. It’s a compact yet powerful solution for full-color customization across a wide range of items.
• 12.2" x 8.27" printable area
• Available with gloss or primer ink options
• Prints directly on plastics, wood, glass, and more
• Ideal for: personalization shops, promotional product vendors, growing businesses
Setting Up Your UV Printing Workspace
To get the most from your UV printer, consider these must-have accessories and supplies:
• Inks: Ensure you have inks that are compatible with your machine
• Primers: Ensure adhesion on difficult surfaces like metal and glass
• Printable Blanks: Stock up on printable wood, acrylic, plastics, and more
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