What is UV Printing?
UV printing, a digital type of printing that uses ultraviolet light to cure or dry ink while it's being spread on the surface, is a form of digital printing. As the printer passes over each spot where the ink has been printed, Ultraviolet lights follow close behind, instantly "curing" or drying the ink.
Ultraviolet print allows you to directly print onto almost any flat or 3D media. This allows you to create custom products. It is a popular choice for packaging companies because it allows you to print directly onto substrates and then expose it to ultraviolet light. The ink instantly solidifies.
Conventional Printing Vs. Ultraviolet Printing: How Does It Work?
Traditional printing techniques use inks with special solvents that evaporate into the air upon application onto the material during printing. The solvents are evaporated into the air and allow the ink to absorb more easily onto the surface. Once it is vaporized, the ink leaves behind a digital picture. Spray powders can be used to speed up drying. However, this printing technique is not compatible with plastics, acrylics, foil, and other materials.
Ultraviolet (UV) Printing Process
UV printing utilizes ultraviolet lights to dry the ink as it's printed quickly. The printer applies the ink to the surface of the material. After that, the UV lights dry it quickly. The printing industry is embracing ultraviolet printing as a new trend. It is more durable than traditional methods.
UV ink can be printed directly on the substrate (material), and it transforms almost instantly from liquid to solid when exposed to UV light. As there's little evaporation of solvents and almost no absorption into paper, you can print virtually anything with UV inks. This technology allows for direct printing Article source on a wide range of 3-D media. It also makes it possible to customize products quickly and easily.
UV inks are quick drying and leave no VOCs behind. UV printing can be an eco-friendly technology that leaves little carbon footprint.
LED UV Printing
Led-UV printing, the latest technology in UV printing, produces wavelengths of 385-395nm (nanometer). This new UV spectrum is safer than the older one and produces superior results to traditional UV printing methods.
The practicality of printing with led UV is greater than that of its UV counterpart. Firstly, unlike UV printing, led UV doesn't need mercury lamps for curing the inks; this makes it safer and cheaper because the light emitted falls within the UV-A range, offering greater security than its traditional counterpart. Furthermore, its power consumption is less than that of conventional UV printing.
LED UV printing is the best option for luxury companies looking for long-lasting results. Its faster drying time makes it more reliable in the FMCG and pharmaceutical industries. The final printed product is enhanced with color and finished with superior quality that makes a lasting impression.
LED-UV printing is an environmentally friendly and green technology since there is no VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emission during the printing process. Companies require less infrastructure to set up LED printing units, while consumers get a superior product with a glossy finish.
UV Printing in Food Packaging Industry
Personalization is a rapidly growing industry worldwide. Digital UV printing offers a great way to meet that demand, increase product sales and remain competitive.
Conventional printing methods were hazardous, as there was a high likelihood that food items could get contaminated when ink substances from the printing plate were transferred onto them inside the packaging. Because these inks didn't cure and were exposed to potential hazards there was always the risk of contamination. Furthermore, the final food packaging wasn't up to standard either.
The use of UV inks to print food packaging has been a great success. They cure during printing and leave no harmful solvents. More and more food manufacturers are pursuing this technique for customized food items while upholding high-quality standards.
UV Printing for Pharmaceutical Industry
Each industry is different. Different applications require different printing technology. This includes labels for pharmaceutical, sports, food, beverages, cosmetics, and more. Each brand is unique in its aesthetic appeal. UV printing is one type of security printing popular within the pharmaceutical sector.
The uniqueness of pharmaceutical labels (such as medical and drug brands) is that they are susceptible to forgery or counterfeiting. For added protection, the pharmaceutical industry uses UV printing.
Invisible UV inks are used in pharmaceutical printing. They have been proven to be one the most effective methods for preventing counterfeiting within the pharmaceutical industry. While these inks cannot be seen with the naked eye, they can be illuminated by Ultraviolet LEDs. Invisible UV inks are a powerful deterrent to counterfeiters because they have unique identification numbers attached each time a pharmaceutical item is opened.
UV Printing Offers Untold Advantages
Grand Prints argues that ultraviolet printing is the future of packaging and printing. It is economical and environmentally friendly, and its business-generating advantages are vast.
LED Print Applications: LEDs are cool and dry, with very little heat output. They can be used to print on heat-sensitive substrates like self-adhesive sheets or thin slides.
UV Printing Is More Fast Than Traditional Printing. Because UV ink is evaporative during the photochemical process, it doesn't take long for inks to dry. It's almost instantaneous.
It is economical: This method can help you save significant money because of its quicker drying time. You can print more because the finished product dries quickly. Aqueous coatings don't need to be applied as often as traditional inks used for packaging printing.
A vibrant finish: UV printing provides a brighter appearance because there is no time for ink to soak into paper/material. This technique can produce photo-realistic prints.
The bottom line
UV printing is an emerging industry trend that promises to expand over the coming years and find applications across various industries. Because of its eco-friendly, cost-effective, and varied nature, UV printing will be the future in packaging and printing technology.