Feb. 23, 2022
Many people have heard of solvent and UV printing but very few people fully understand what they are or what the differences are between them.
UV printing is a commercial printing process that involves using ultraviolet curing technology and an intense blast of ultraviolet light to print. On the other hand, solvent-based technology mixes solvent and pigment to create a liquid ink that evaporates to leave a hard layer of ink. Unlike UV printing, which is virtually harmless to operators, solvent printing can be extremely toxic and hazardous if the solvents become airborne.
This is one of the main reasons why UV printing technology is quickly becoming the new industry standard, with more businesses than ever before switching their solvent printers for UV printing solutions.
After all, the safety of employees should always be a top priority in any working environment.
The advantages of UV printing
Due to the fact that UV printers use UV lamps to fix a printed image, no solvents are used. This means that this method of printing requires no ventilation.
Here's a closer look at some of the advantages of UV printing:
Optimising drying time; the ink is dry the second it comes off the press, allowing you to fold, bind or perform any other finishing operations almost straight away.
All UV printers can be used with a variety of different materials, including paper and non-paper substrates.
UV-cured ink is less prone to scratches, fading, scuffs, or smudges during handling and transportation process.
The UV printing process is kinder to the environment. Because UV-cured inks are not solvent-based, there are no harmful substances to evaporate.
Enjoy sharper, crisp and more vibrant results.
However, one of the main advantages of UV printing is the quality of the printing results. Printing done on a UV printer is much better quality, as the ink does not have a chance to absorb or spread due to the rapid drying time.
As technology continues to advance, the industry has predicted that UV printing will continue to evolve and improve, unlike solvent printing, which has reached its technical pinnacle. With this in mind, if you are considering upgrading your current printer, it's a much smarter move to invest in a UV printer rather than a solvent printer.
So, compared to solvent printing, UV printing has proven to triumph. Offering wider colour ranges, improved detailing, safer printing, sharper images and faster printing, it's no surprise that more businesses than ever before are opting for UV printers over solvent printing.
Here at Freecolor, we have a range of UV printers available for you no matter the scale of your business. Get in touch today to speak to our team of experts about your requirements!
Our team is always on hand to answer any of your questions and guide you in the right direction when it comes to connecting you with the right printing solutions for your business needs. Get in touch today!
