The Emerging Technology Of UV Printing Within The Packaging And Printing Industry
Direct-To-Object printing (or DTO printing) is a distinct form of digital print that uses ultraviolet (UV), light to cure and dry ink almost as quickly as it is applied on a substrate. Unique UV printing is possible. It can be used with flat and cylindrical objects. This can consist of almost all metals, acrylic, plastic, glass, canvas, and even wood. 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 initially developed for gel nail polishes. The gel polish is then applied to the nails using a UV light. The result is a quick-drying, long-lasting, and flawless manicure. However, eventually, the benefits of using ultraviolet light began to be recognized and started being used in industrial and commercial markets. This was the beginning of UV printing and the associated printing business. You can use it to make flyers and leaflets, screen printing, labels, and bottle labels, just to name a few. UV printing is not unlike traditional printing. The inks used, as well as the drying and curing process, are different. This is due to the unique nature of the printing technology.
Traditional printing involves the application of solvent inks to a substrate. Heat is used to cure them. 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 used to cure the solvent ink to the substrate produces an unpleasant odor. Furthermore, the solvent inks are absorbed into the substrate, which can result in faded colors. Spray powders can also prevent ink from drying and offsetting, which can lead to a slow and tedious process. Traditional printing is generally limited to paper and similar materials due to the nature of the printing press. It can't be View in Shop used on metal, plastic, glass or acrylic.
Specialized UV inks can be used for UV printing. To cure ink onto the substrate, high-intensity LED UV lights are used instead of heat. The ink is spread onto the substrate by the ultraviolet light. No matter what substrate is used, the ink will dry quickly. Because the ink is dry almost immediately, it doesn't evaporate and cannot spread onto the printed material.
In addition to the quick-drying capabilities and the eco-friendliness of UV printing, this ultraviolet printing method and the associated form of ink transfer can also be used with various materials, including paper, plastic, foil, acrylic, foam, etc. The air is free from VOCs, ozone and toxic fumes. This feature will interest companies that prize sustainability in their printing processes.
Imagine the possibilities when you consider digitally printing directly to the item instead of printing on a sticker and then needing to place the sticker on the object. With DTO Direct-To-Object, printing in full color is applied directly to the item.
