UV Printing Explained — Full Colour, Straight Onto Almost Anything
What UV printing is, what it can print on, how durable it is, and how to send us artwork for custom UV printed products from our Aberbeeg workshop.
UV printing is the reason we can put a full-colour photograph on a slate coaster, a phone case, an acrylic sign or a metal keyring — and have it survive being handled every day.
How it works
Instead of soaking ink into paper, a UV printer lays ink onto the surface and instantly cures it with ultraviolet light. The ink hardens on contact, so it sits on top of the material rather than bleeding into it. That means no drying time, razor-sharp detail, and it works on things that would normally reject ink entirely.
What we can print on
- Acrylic, perspex and clear panels
- Wood, plywood and slate
- Metal — aluminium plates, keyrings, tags
- Glass and ceramic tiles
- Leather, PVC and most rigid plastics
- 3D printed parts, including our own PLA and PETG items
If it's reasonably flat and fits in the bed, there's a good chance we can print it. Send us a photo if you're unsure.
Why it beats a printed sticker
Colour goes down opaque, even on dark or transparent materials, because we lay a white ink base first. It's scratch resistant, waterproof, and won't peel at the edges like vinyl eventually does. We can also build up layers to create a raised, textured finish you can feel — great for braille, logos and premium packaging.
Getting your artwork right
- Vector is king. PDF, SVG, AI or EPS give the cleanest edges.
- Photos need resolution. Aim for 300dpi at the final printed size.
- CMYK, not RGB, if you can — neon and fluorescent screen colours can't be reproduced exactly in ink.
- Leave a small margin. Keep important detail 3mm away from any edge.
- Transparent backgrounds should be supplied as PNG so we know where to leave the material bare.
Don't worry if none of that means anything to you — upload whatever you've got and we'll tidy it up.
Ordering
Our UV Printed Products range lets you upload your image directly at checkout, so the file arrives with the order. One-offs are welcome, and we do trade runs for local businesses too.
Got something unusual in mind? Get in touch and we'll tell you honestly whether UV printing is the right process for it.
Need something 3D printed?
Upload your file for an instant online quote, or pop into the shop in Aberbeeg.
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