Tag: VersaUV 12i

Printing 101: What is a UV Printer?

When it comes to printers, there are various types of printing machines to choose from. One of which, UV printers, stand out as innovative solutions that have transformed the possibilities of graphic reproduction. UV, or ultraviolet, printing has gained prominence for its ability to create vibrant and durable prints on various materials. This article delves into the realm of UV printers, exploring their mechanisms, applications, and the unique advantages they bring to the world of digital printing. Whether you’re a printing enthusiast, a business owner seeking cutting-edge technology, or simply curious about the latest trends in the printing industry, understanding what UV printers entail opens the door to a realm of possibilities in high-quality and versatile printing.

What Is A UV Printer?

UV printers, short for ultraviolet printers, are a category of digital printing machines that use ultraviolet light to cure or dry inks and coatings instantly during the printing process. Unlike traditional printers like inkjet printers that rely on heat or absorption to dry inks, UV printers utilize UV light to initiate a chemical reaction, turning liquid ink into a solid on the surface of the printed material. This instantaneous curing process allows for faster production speeds and enables printing on a wide range of substrates, including rigid materials like glass, metal, and plastic.

UV printers are known for their versatility and the ability to produce high-quality prints with vibrant colours and sharp details. They are commonly used in various industries, including signage, packaging, promotional products, and interior decoration. The technology’s capacity to print on unconventional materials and its environmentally friendly characteristics, as UV inks typically contain fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs), contribute to the widespread adoption of UV printers in the modern printing landscape.

Difference Between UV Printers and Other Types of Printers

UV printers differ significantly from other types of printers, such as traditional inkjet or laser printers, in terms of their technology, capabilities, and applications. Here are some key distinctions:

Instant Drying with UV Light

UV Printers: The defining feature of UV printers is their use of ultraviolet light to instantly cure or dry the ink as it is printed onto the substrate. This immediate curing process allows for quick production and the ability to print on a diverse range of materials, including rigid surfaces.
Inkjet and Laser Printers: Traditional inkjet and laser printers rely on heat or absorption to dry the ink onto paper. This process can be time-consuming, especially for high-volume printing, and is generally limited to flexible media like paper.

Versatility in Substrate Compatibility

UV Printers: UV printing excels in printing on both flexible and rigid materials, including glass, metal, plastic, and wood. The versatility of UV printers makes them suitable for applications beyond traditional paper-based printing.
Inkjet and Laser Printers: These printers are primarily designed for paper-based printing and may not be suitable for printing on rigid or unconventional materials.

Print Quality and Durability

UV Printers: UV printing offers high-quality prints with vibrant colours and sharp details. Additionally, UV-cured inks tend to be more durable and resistant to fading and scratching compared to traditional inks.
Inkjet and Laser Printers: While suitable for many applications, the print quality and durability of traditional printers may not match the standards set by UV printing, especially for applications requiring longevity and resilience.

Environmental Considerations

UV Printers: UV inks used in UV printing often contain fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making them environmentally friendly compared to some traditional inks.
Inkjet and Laser Printers: The environmental impact of traditional printers depends on the type of ink or toner used, and some formulations may have higher VOC levels.

In summary, UV printers stand out for their immediate curing process, versatility in substrate compatibility, high print quality, and durability. These characteristics make UV printing a preferred choice for applications that demand precision, speed, and the ability to print on a wide range of materials. Traditional inkjet and laser printers, while suitable for many purposes, may not offer the same level of flexibility and resilience as UV printers.

Best UV Printers in 2023

Here are some of the best UV printers offered by Roland DG Solutions:

Best Ink to Use for UV Printers

Choosing the best ink for UV printers is crucial for achieving optimal print quality, durability, and compatibility with various substrates. UV printers typically use UV-curable inks:

ECO-UV4 Inks – compatible with LEC series printers/cutters, LEJ‐640 printers, LEF series printers. ECO-UV4 is available in six colours (CMYK plus Gloss/White)
Roland DGA EUV5 Inks – Available with the new VersaUV LEC2 Printer/Cutter (excluding LEC2-300 model) and LEC2 S-Series Flatbed Printers, new EUV5 ink offers significant cost savings versus previous generations, as well as further safety enhancements.

UV printers represent a transformative leap in the world of digital printing, harnessing the power of ultraviolet light to redefine the possibilities of graphic reproduction. Their ability to deliver instant curing, exceptional print quality, and unparalleled versatility across a myriad of substrates has made them indispensable in various industries. Whether employed for vibrant signage, intricate promotional materials, or unique applications on rigid surfaces, UV printers have become the hallmark of innovation, ushering in a new era of efficiency and creativity in the dynamic realm of printing technology. As technology evolves, UV printers continue to illuminate new horizons, promising continued advancements and groundbreaking solutions in the ever-evolving landscape of digital printing.

Are you ready to elevate your wide-format printing capabilities and unlock a realm of possibilities? Invest in the cutting-edge technology of UV printers and experience a paradigm shift in print quality, versatility, and efficiency. Take the next step toward transforming your business by contacting us today. Our experts are ready to guide you through the process, ensuring that you make a well-informed decision tailored to your unique printing needs. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to redefine your printing capabilities – inquire now and embark on a journey of innovation and success!

Tag: VersaUV 12i

Specialize in Print Customization – 5 Small Businesses You Can Start Today!

While there are many people trying to make money in online customization, there’s no reason why you can’t find your own path through the ecommerce crowds. We can point to hundreds of Roland DGA customers who have found online success in the customization market— often starting with a desktop device like a BN-20 printer/cutter or a VersaUV LEF-12i UV printer and building hugely profitable businesses by making smart business decisions.

Find Your Online Marketplace
Online customization is a growth market. According to statistics website, statista, US ecommerce sales grew 14.9% in 2019 and have continued to grow exponentially in 2020— despite the challenges that people faced in this year. It’s the reason why, right now, it would be a good time to start an online business during this upward curve. However, before you start investing in a new online business and choosing what products you want to print on, there’s three things, right off the bat, you should consider:

a. Have a solid plan on what products you want to customize
Find what really interests you in the customization and personalization market and concentrate your efforts in those product areas. You may find that you’ve “spread yourself too thin” in to trying to serve too many markets at once— it’s often asking too much of yourself to manage a myriad of shopfronts and products all-at-once.

b. Keep focused on what marketplaces you want to sell in
Like any business, you’ll need to promote your products and so you’ll probably want to to invest in online ads. However, providing different designs to fit each different application and marketplace is going to be costly and inefficient. It’s preferable to concentrate your online ad spending in one niche area to avoid having to stretch your costs across many product interests.

c. You’ll need multiple machines if you want to offer customization in different markets
If you have a business plan that includes serving apparel, décor, art, merchandising, and accessory markets, you’ll need more than one Roland DG machine. While all Roland DG desktop devices are versatile and allow you to print on a range of applications, you’ll need to invest in multiple devices to fulfill different customization markets.

Instead of looking to try to do everything, you might consider just one or a few items to produce so that you can focus your skill and creativity on them, get really good at making them, and turn them over really quickly. The following list of applications represent some specific customization markets you could specialize in.

5 Customization Markets to Specialize in

1 – Quick Print Accessories

There’s a huge market for accessory customization right now and there are a few major reasons why it’s a smart one to get into.

1. In comparison to custom tees and jerseys, while the final markup doesn’t tend to be massively different, the cost for products like socks, underpants, masks, scarves, bandanas is much lower from wholesale sites like S&S activewear, Alibaba, Amazon Business, Sinalite and other bulk order suppliers.

2. Right now, there’s still a huge market for products like custom masks and bandanas and that is unlikely to go away anytime soon. Maybe you choose one or a handful of these products to specialize in and build a business around them.

3. Once you start focusing on fewer markets, you’ll start to gain extensive knowledge of these markets, i.e., what designs are trending, where the best shopfronts are to sell your products, who your biggest competitors are in this field. This helps you streamline your thinking and gain condensed, potent knowledge in one area.

Recommended Desktop Technology for Quick Print Fabric Accessories

BT-12 Direct-to-Garment Desktop Printer

Print on cotton apparel, accessories and more, with this easy-to-use, versatile device

2 – Wall Décor

Wallpaper is a product that people used to associate with old-fashioned decorating techniques where buckets of paste and a whole load of mess were required to install it. With the introduction of the peel-and-stick wallpaper, wallpaper is now big business with mess-free, easy installation, modern designs, and custom options now offered.

Owners of BN-20 printer/cutters or CAMM-1 GS-24 vinyl cutters have many wall graphic options available to them as either a custom décor service for personalizing family rooms in homes, or branded designs for businesses. You might also consider providing “off-the-shelf” products to sell in your online marketplaces— this could be as simple as oversized vinyl wall decals with fashionable designs and sayings or “roll-to-order” wallpaper designs that you can print on-demand.

The following facts explain why wall décor personalization is a smart market to get into right now:

1. The home improvement market in the US was worth 407 billion in 2019*— it’s a huge industry that keeps growing exponentially each year, despite fluctuations in the housing market

2. Wallpaper and wall coverings are really on-trend right now for creating accent walls and specific décor touches in homes

3. Sold by the roll, custom wallpaper is seen as a specialty décor item and can command a high premium

4. Wallpaper media is easily available and not an expensive, specialty media item— it’s price comparable to other adhesive vinyl products on the market.

Recommended Desktop Technology for Wall Décor

VersaSTUDIO BN-20 Desktop Printer/cutter – Print and cut vinyl, poster paper, heat transfer media and much more.
CAMM-1 GS-25 Desktop Vinyl Cutter – Cut vinyl, film and heat transfer media with this affordable solution.

3 – Specialty T-shirts and Jerseys

It is inconsequential that so many people are printing and selling t-shirts, because t-shirts have not decreased one iota in popularity. In fact, according to the statistics site, statista, the t-shirt market that’s currently at 1.18 billion dollars is predicted to reach a value of 3.1 billion dollars by 2025. To break into this huge market, you might consider specializing in specific t-shirts and t-shirt designs— rather than trying to throw out a huge net to catch customers, it might be better to use the marketing equivalent of a line and a rod with your designs and sales strategy.

The line and rod could come in the form of specializing in t-shirt markets like bachelor and bachelorette t-shirts, team jerseys, holiday t-shirts, etc. These rely on photo and text personalization— the perfect applications for a VersaSTUDIO BT-12 desktop direct-to-garment printer or a VersaSTUDIO BN-20 desktop printer/cutter. To stand out in the marketplace you might also consider printing on just pocket t-shirts or just raglan t-shirts. Whatever you have to do to make your shopfront stand out from the crowd while making it more straightforward and focused than your competitors. A big problem with online t-shirt shopfronts is how chaotic and distracting they often are, containing many different designs that all trying to vie for different markets. It’s smart to be more customer and market focused.

According to popular t-shirt shopfronts Bonfire and Etsy, here is a top 10 shortlist of some of the most popular apparel categories to consider concentrating your efforts on:

1. Animal portraits
2. Inspirational sayings and words in handwritten fonts
3. Retro typography
4. Pop culture quotes, characters, and movie tie-in’s (note: there will likely be issues of copyright infringement if using these sources without permission)
5. Religious message designs
6. Mountains and outdoor themed designs
7. 90’s retro vibe designs
8. Pocket print shirts
9. Funny/ironic messages and quotes
10. Band t-shirts (note: there will likely be issues of copyright infringement if using these sources without permission)

Recommended Desktop Technology for T-Shirts

VersaSTUDIO BN-20 Desktop Printer/cutter – Print and cut vinyl, poster paper, heat transfer media and much more.
BT-12 Direct-to-Garment Desktop Printer – Print on cotton apparel, accessories and more, with this easy-to-use, versatile device.

4 – Phone Cases, Pop-ups and Electronics

In spite of the electronic market being subject to rapid changes in technology, there are some applications within it that remain constant. The following items are ones that you might consider specializing in.

One of the biggest customization markets on the internet, personalized electronic accessory printing is an entire industry within itself. With this in mind, it would likely benefit you to concentrate on selected applications and create your own personalization niche within this market. With technology like the VersaUV 12i desktop flatbed printer, you have everything you need to personalize plastic, silicone, leather, and polycarbonate accessories— common materials used in electronic accessory production.

One thing to be aware of however, is that the electronic accessory market is an ever-changing one that’s in constant flux, making many accessories obsolete very quickly. The following list amalgamated from buzzfeed, etsy and other online sources outlines some of the trending electronic accessories to consider personalizing and creating a niche market for yourself while they’re still en vogue:

1. Bluetooth speakers and home pods
2. Electronic (smart) doorbell covers
3. Roombas and robot vacs
4. Pocket photo printers
5. Echo frames
6. Phone sanitizer and charger
7. VR headsets
8. Electronic beer dispensers
9. Drones and drone cases
10. Soundbars

Recommended Desktop Technology for Electronic Accessories

VersaUV 12i Desktop Flatbed Printer – Print directly onto electronics, giftware, souvenirs, and merchandise with this product personalization solution.
VersaUV LEF2-300 Flatbed Printer – Customize small and medium-sized items on-demand by adding corporate branding and stunning graphics – from a single object to a short production run.

5 – Photo Printing

And while there’s a mountain of online and offline companies who put photos on canvas, there’s world of possible applications to consider for adding photos and artwork too and building a successful business by specializing in one or more of these products. Many owners of VersaUV flatbed printers and other Roland DG devices have forged success in the photo-personalization market and almost all of them have gravitated to one or more products to specialize in.

The following list outlines some business profiles of people who create photo personalized products to make the optimum use of their business:

Photographers who have extended their wedding and event photography services— upselling customers with photos on memento products
Pet store owners and pet sites who put pet pictures on pet apparel, souvenirs and giftware
Businesses in the décor, interior design and craft markets who are making home furnishings, décor pieces, and wall art a more individually personalized experience
Jewelers and Jewelry suppliers who are offering an added photo personalization service to add extra value to jewelry and keepsake items
Souvenir and giftware suppliers who are including the additional option of photo personalization to make inexpensive products into high-value ones

Recommended Desktop Technology for Photo Printing

BT-12 Direct-to-Garment Desktop Printer – Print on cotton apparel, accessories and more, with this easy-to-use, versatile device.
VersaUV 12i Desktop Flatbed Printer – Print directly onto electronics, giftware, souvenirs, and merchandise with this product personalization solution.

As well as providing multiple desktop printing solutions for small businesses and home-based business startups, Roland DGA has a huge range of large format printers, laser engravers, 3D milling machines and more technology to help you start and succeed in graphics and product personalization markets.

Source/Content provided by Roland DGA
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