UV_PRINTING_101
ZERO-TO-FIRST-PRINT ▸ THE FUNDAMENTALS OF UV DIRECT PRINTING
> WHAT_IT_IS
UV direct printing uses UV-curable ink jetted directly onto a surface, cured instantly by a UV LED lamp next to the print head. Unlike screen printing (which needs screens/stencils) or sublimation (which needs heat transfer), UV ink goes directly from print head to substrate and hardens on contact. No drying time. No transfer step.
> CMYK-W_+_GLOSS_LAYERING
The EufyMake E1 prints in layers:
The white underbase is critical for printing on dark, clear, or colored substrates — it's what makes colors pop instead of looking muddied.
> AP3155_ADHESION_PROMOTER
Wipe AP3155 on the substrate before printing. It chemically bonds the UV ink to surfaces that ink alone won't stick to — glass, metal, acrylic. Without it, prints peel off. Apply thin, even coat. Let it flash dry (30–60 seconds). Then print.
> SUPPORTED_SUBSTRATES
> SUBSTRATE_PREP
- ▸ Substrate must be FLAT and CLEAN — print head has a fixed focal distance.
- ▸ Warped or uneven surfaces cause banding or head strikes.
- ▸ Clean with isopropyl alcohol before AP3155.
- ▸ Dust, fingerprints, or oil = print defects.
- ▸ Z-height is set manually — check with a feeler gauge.
> MULTI-PASS_REGISTRATION
The print head makes multiple passes: White → cure → CMYK → cure → gloss → cure. Registration keeps each pass aligned. The machine auto-registers, but the substrate must not move between passes.
> PRINT_TIME_&_COLOR
A 4×4" full-color print with white underbase + gloss takes ~8–12 minutes. The limiting factor is resolution (DPI) and layer count, not complexity.
CMYK ≠ Pantone. UV ink is near-photographic but not exact color match. For brand colors, do a test swatch first. Pure white and pure black are reliable.
> INK_&_CURING
- ▸ Ink is cured, not dried — print is fully hardened the instant it comes out. Handle immediately.
- ▸ Head maintenance is critical — UV ink cures under UV light, including sunlight. Clogged nozzles if ink sits too long.
- ▸ Machine runs automatic cleaning cycles. If idle for days, run a nozzle check before printing.
- ▸ White ink settles — agitate cartridges before use.
> LIMITATIONS
NOT printable: Flexible fabrics (can't hold flat), heavily textured surfaces (ink bridges the valleys), curved objects (fixed focal plane).