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Moving from Traditional Printing Methods to UV Inkjet Printing

Pad printing has been a popular method for labeling and decorating products since the late 1800s. Another popular method, screen printing, dates back over 2000 years to China. However, advances in UV digital technology, more specifically UV printers, along with the need for customized items for short-run production has enticed many to make the move from these traditional methods to digital printing. Although pad printing is still a top solution for irregular parts and certain substrates, and silk screen for apparel, inkjet printing has seen success with its ability to print full-color graphics, to produce one-offs and to produce high-quality imaging.

WHAT IS PAD PRINTING?

Pad printing is a traditional method of transferring a 2D graphic onto a 3D object. Setting up requires etching an image into a plate or cliché either using a laser plate-maker or an exposure unit. For each new piece of artwork, a new plate or cliché must be etched. Right before printing, the solvent-based ink is mixed with the proper ratio of ink to solvent to hardener and each ink cup is filled. Once the machine starts, the ink cup moves across the etched cliché and fills the etch with the ink. The ceramic ring (which is attached to the ink cup) will doctor or remove the excess ink from the etch so only a small amount of ink is ready to be picked up. The silicone pad will then press down onto the ink, pick it up, and then transfer it onto the substrate. When working with multiple colors, it is important to ensure registration is correct on all colors before printing.

To learn more about the process, visit: Pad Printing 101 – The Ultimate Guide

Common Applications: Gaming equipment, vape cartridges, tin cans, foot insoles, apparel, stationary, toys, stress balls, silicone products, apparel… and much more!

Vape Cartridges

Pad print your logo on cannabis packaging such as vape cartridges, stash jars, vials, and more.

Additional Cannabis Applications

Tagless Printing

Pad print labels  directly onto apparel such as t-shirts, sportswear, uniforms, and more.

Tagless Pad Printing Technology

Silicone Items

Print on silicone items such as swim caps, wristbands, kitchenware and more.

Listen to: The Dos and Don'ts of Printing on Silicone

WHAT IS SCREEN PRINTING?

Screen printing is a print method in which the graphic or pattern is transferred onto the surface of an object by forcing ink through a screen of silk, mesh, or synthetic material. The screen has certain areas masked off, creating a form of stencil, only decorating the intended portion of the surface. During the screen printing process, colors are printed one at a time, and therefor not generally intended for high color count, low volume orders.

Common Applications: apparel, backpacks, balloons, signs, and a wide range of fabric items.

Drinkware

Screen printing is well suited for bold logos or any graphic will one or few colors. Create stunning prints on drinkware like assorted barware.

 

Screen Print on Growlers

WHAT IS UV INKJET PRINTING?

Digital UV printing is a subset of digital printing, which uses ultra-violet (UV) light to cure ink as it is printed. The printhead gets as close as possible to the part to ensure optimum resolution. Once the machine is ready to print, the digital ink is jetted onto the item. The ink is jetted in small dots to ensure precise, accurate imaging. During this process, the ink is cured using a UV light which enables the ink to be instantly dried before the wet dots have a chance to spread out. Artwork is created using graphic software such as Illustrator or Photoshop. The artwork is then imported into the specialized printing software and prepared for printing. There is a wide range of UV printers, all of which have unique properties. We offer both cylindrical inkjet printers as well as UV flatbed printers.

Common Applications: stainless steel tumblers, power banks, barware, candles, industrial parts, sporting goods, coasters, and even edible items like cookies, candies, and cakes!

Candles

Digitally print full color wrap-around prints to decorate candles.

Learn more about Printing on Candles

Saw Blades

Digitally print onto industrial objects such as saw blades, power banks, and more!

Learn more about the X5-T

Drinkware

Seamlessly inkjet print on drinkware including water bottles and pint glasses.

Learn about the Helix®

Common Areas of Application for Printing

Although pad printing and digital printing are different decorating techniques, there are some applications that overlap. Generally, digital printing is best for medium- to short-run applications.

COMPARE PAD PRINTING TO DIGITAL PRINTING

To illustrate the differences, take two pint glasses that require a two-color logo. One was pad printed and the other was digitally printed. Before printing, each were prepped and primed with the proper pretreatment methods.

Pad Printing on a Pint Glass

As you can see, this two-color artwork requires both plates to be etched. After the plates are etched, they are placed onto the machine. Once the inks have been mixed (this is done twice for each color), the ink is added to each ink cup. Registration is the next most important step. To ensure the print is placed in the exact area, the operator must register the item properly. In this case, the 2200-PS (or pad shuttle) is used to decorate one-color and then shift the pads to print the second color.

Video: Pad Printing on Drinkware

Inkjet Printing on a Pint Glass

Conversely, the Helix® (shown printing on a pint glass) takes the prepped artwork from Illustrator or Photoshop and prints it directly onto the item. Although setup is required, the printing process is computer to part meaning, no plates are needed. Once the print button is initiated, the item starts spinning and is sent into the machine. While in the machine, a layer of white, then color, then varnish is laid directly onto the surface. Once complete, the item is dry to the touch.

Video: Digitally Print on Drinkware

Inkcups’ Suite of Digital Inks

Inkcups has a full selection of digital inks for a wide variety of applications. Promote proper adhesion with the correct ink for your printing needs. Pair any specialty ink lines with any one of Inkcups’ digital printers to complete your solution!

S1 UV Inkjet Ink

General all-purpose ink which adheres to a variety of substrates including glass, plastic and metal.

DL UV Inkjet Ink

Specialty glassware ink that has presented great results on plastics too.

XFLEXX Flexible Ink

Used mainly to print on moderately flexible items.

Edible Ink – Candymark

Enables printing on edible items such as cookies, candies, and more.

T2 UV Ink for Tritan Plastic 

Tritan plastic is notorious for being a difficult material for ink to stick to without extensive pre-treatment, however the T2 ink line was specially formulated for the BPA free material.

 

 

FULL LINE UP OF UV CYLINDRICAL PRINTERS & UV FLATBED PRINTERS

Helix®

Print on drinkware and assorted cylindrical items, 360-degrees in full-color. Print on straight walled and tapered products such as drinkware, candles, barware, and industrial applications.

Learn more about the Helix®

Double Helix®

Decorate directly onto two pieces of drinkware at a time with the Double Helix®. Elevate your offerings by utilizing innovative print techniques available on the Helix® line of printers, like mirror print, tone-on-tone, contour print and more.

Learn about the Double Helix®

Revolution®

The Revolution® cylindrical printers offers the highest output speeds from the Helix® line of printers, printing up to 600 parts per hour. With integrated pre-treatment, automatic load and unload, the Revolution® is ideal for manufacturers in need of flexibility of print volume.

Learn more about the Revolution®

X5-T

Print on items up to 20” tall in full-color with the X5-T digital flatbed printer. Print on tall items such as hard coolers and sports balls, as well as a tray full of small promotional items like pens, mint tins, or coasters.

Learn more about the X5-T

XJET800

Automation-ready conveyorized UV inkjet printer. Compared to our other industrial flatbed offerings the XJET800 offers a larger print area and faster print speeds.

Learn more about the XJET800

XJET800-T

Industrial machine perfect for tall items. Print on coolers, luggage, and the likes with the XJET800-T due to its ability to print on parts up to 19.9″ in height.

 

Learn more about the XJET800-T

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