Direct-to-Object Printing Methods

Direct-to-object printing has become a fast-growing force in packaging and product decoration. With studies showing that 80% of consumers are more likely to purchase from companies offering personalization, the demand for flexible, on-demand printing has never been greater.

This printing method delivers key advantages that traditional label printing can’t always match, including greater design freedom, streamlined production processes, and stronger sustainability benefits. In this article, we’ll explore how direct-to-object printing is reshaping the future of label printing and what it means for brands and manufacturers alike.

What is Direct-to-Object Printing?

Direct-to-object is the process of taking a 2D image and printing it onto a 3D item. Some applications include printing on promotional products, drinkware, and more. Machines such as UV printers and cylindrical inkjet printers digitally print graphics, images, and logos directly onto these items. Businesses are able to bypass the need for any type of label and print directly to the substrate of choice with direct-to-object (DTO) printing methods. This, in turn, saves money and time and cuts down on consumables. By digitally printing directly on the product, numerous doors are opened for personalization.

UV LED inkjet printing technology is the key component to direct-to-object printing. The printing machine hosts a print head that propels tiny droplets of UV ink directly onto a 3D product. The 3D product is held in place by specially designed tooling.

As DTO appeals to the promotional and industrial industries, the products often require the assistance of custom fixturing, otherwise known as tooling, to hold the product in place during printing. Inkcups offers the service of creating custom tooling for our customers for a wide variety of products. We can create a tooling to hold your product in place, whether it be hand sanitizer bottles, golf balls, or everything in between.

The most common applications for DTO printing include drinkware, favors, promotional items, and industrial products. UV inkjet printing machines come in a wide variety of sizes and types to accommodate any product to personalize.

Options for Direct-to-Object Printing

Small Format Flatbed Printers

Don’t let the word ‘small’ fool you, small format UV inkjet flatbed printing machines are capable of industrial direct-to-object printing printing. They offer the same high-resolution print quality as machines of bigger scale. Small format flatbed printers are ideal for smaller, shorter objects such as coasters, USB drives, fishing lures, and mint tins.

Inkcups also offers the XJET 800 UV Flatbed Printer with a print area of 19.6 x 24.4”. This small format UV flatbed printer really stands out with its ability to print highly opaque white on dark substrates in a single pass. The XJET can print highly detailed personalized phone cases, coasters, napkins, and a variety of toys all of which are ideal candidates to handle the conveyor unload system into a bin. Whether you are printing one-off items or multiples, the XJET can handle most direct substrate printing jobs.

Large Format Flatbed Printers

The next category of object printers is large format flatbed printers, which accommodate larger print areas as well as bulkier items that stand tall. Large format UV flatbed printing machines are perfect for printing on coolers, basketballs, footballs, or boxes.

For these applications and more, Inkcups offers the X5-T Flatbed UV Digital Printer that can print 43.4 x 24” and up to 20” tall in under two minutes. The X5-T is a powerhouse printing machine that is specially designed for near-constant use for heavy-duty industrial printing and promotional products printing.

Industrial Digital UV Cylindrical Printers

UV cylinder inkjet printers appeal to the drinkware industry, especially businesses that want to streamline production and skip the step of adhering a label to their bottle. Industrial UV cylindrical printers will decorate directly on any glass, sports bottle, stainless steel tumbler, shot glass, growler, crowler, beer bottle, or wine bottle.

• The Helix® is favored in the drinkware industry as it offers full-coverage seamless graphics, as well as innovative print features like mirror print, tone-on-tone, and contour print.
• The Double Helix® offers all the fun its predecessor holds, with double the output. Depending on the artwork size, the Double Helix® can print 6 to 8 parts per minute, making it an ideal option for businesses with medium to higher demand production runs.

If the Helix® and Double Helix® cannot keep up with volume demand, then the Revolution® High-Speed Digital Cylinder Printer will be a better fit for your operation, with a whopping 12 stations and integrated pre-treatment systems.. The Revolution® can pre-treat and print up to 600 parts per hour.

UV Ink for Direct-To-Object Printers

Direct-To-Object printers can often accommodate numerous types of UV inks. The traditional four colors offered are Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK). Inkcups offers six different types of UV inkjet ink lines. There are many different types of inks available because there is no such thing as a universal ink for object printing. UV inkjet inks are specially formulated for direct substrate printing. Inks are often paired with a specialty primer for optimal adhesion.

Direct-to-object printers typically print with CMYK, white and varnish. In the case of the Helix® Hi-Fi, the four traditional colors plus light cyan and light magenta are used to render photorealistic images. The Helix® Hi-Fi is one of a kind, the only photorealistic rotary printer on the market. The ink line that the Helix® Hi-Fi uses is the DL UV LED ink series, perfect for glass and plastic drinkware. *As of 2022, the Helix® Hi-Fi is no longer a standalone machine, but rather its capabilities are an add-on to Helix® machines. 

View all the UV inkjet inks that Inkcups offers here. As always, even if you can identify your substrate material, we encourage sending in your product for our professionals to extensively test your product with numerous different inks to guarantee long lasting results.

Direct-to-Object Printing Tangents

Direct-to-Can

Direct-To-Object can be utilized in many different markets. One noteworthy tangent is direct-to-can printing, appealing to the craft brewer’s industry.  Brewers looking to print stunning graphics directly on their aluminum cans should explore the Helix®, Double Helix®, and Revolution®.

In a recent copy of the New Brewer magazine, Inkcups was highlighted for direct-to-can printing methods when it comes to full-color, high-quality, seamless graphics. The craft brewer’s scene is an equal combination of tasty hoppy beer paired with creative can graphics.   Learn more in our blog article, The Benefits of Direct-to-Can Printing.

Direct-To-Bag

Specialized flatbed printers are beginning to emerge on the market, including the direct-to-bag printer, the XJET Switch. This UV printer is incredibly unique, as typically tote bags have been printed via screen printing, digital transfers, and more, but with UV digital technology, the XJET Switch digitally prints and instantly cures onto a wide variety of materials.

Printing on bags appeals greatly to companies designing promotional products. This direct-to-object inkjet printer is an effective option for those looking to explore alternative methods for decorating tote bags, especially those that are facing the limitations presented by comparable methods.

Print-on-Demand

The Helix® and Double Helix® offers not only cylindrical direct to object printing but knocks it up another level by offering print-on-demand capabilities. The advanced workflow system that is included in each Helix® allows an operator to receive an order, pick the product, place corresponding barcodes on the correct type of product, scan the barcode, and sit back and print the graphics.

Print-on-demand is commonly utilized in the drinkware industry. It allows businesses the flexibility to differentiate their product line while staying up on market trends.

Print-on-demand can even refer to the ability to snap a picture of a person or thing and instantly print it on a substrate in 30 seconds or less.

Next time you ‘re at a trade show, hand customers a promotional item they ‘ll keep for years to come; one that includes both a picture of themselves and your logo. The ultimate display of print-on-demand is the ability to snap a photo and instantly print it on a stainless-steel tumbler, or any product of your choosing.

Benefits of Direct-to-Object Printing

Direct-to-object printing combines speed, precision, and personalization, providing businesses with a convenient way to enhance customer appeal. Benefits include:

• Flexibility – Instantly personalize items with photos, logos, or graphics
• Streamlined workflow – Barcode scanning ensures more accurate order fulfillment
• High-end appearance – Direct printing eliminates labels, delivering a premium, high-value finish
• Precise placement – Printing on tapered or curved vessels without alignment issues
• New revenue opportunities – An ideal solution for weddings, events, colleges, and personalized promotions
• Adaptability – Quickly respond to market trends without added setup costs

Get Started Today with Inkcups

Inkcups offers a full line of digital UV inkjet printers to accommodate any product you see fit to direct-to-object print on. Whether you’re looking for cylindrical to flatbed, short or long run, we have you covered. Explore all of the options of Inkcups UV printers and get in contact with your local sales representative for more information today. Contact us today!

More Information

Dive deeper into direct to object printing methods on our dedication page: All About Direct to Object Cylinder Printers. Related, make sure to read, Industrial Applications for Direct to Shape Printing.