Can UV DTF decorate curved or already-assembled items?

Yes. Because UV DTF is a transfer applied by pressure rather than direct printing, the object does not have to pass under a printhead, which is what allows shaped and finished items to be decorated.

Do I need white ink for promotional products?

White ink is what makes a graphic readable on a dark, coloured or transparent object, because it lays an opaque base under the colour. Whether you need it depends on the products you sell.

Will a UV print stick to any plastic?

Not to every plastic without preparation. Adhesion depends on the material and its surface treatment, which is why a sample on the actual product is the only reliable test before committing to a production run.

Decorating promotional products and hard goods

Q: What size object can a UV flatbed print on?

It depends on the model. The 2026 catalog spans a compact A3 machine, 600 x 420 mm and 900 x 600 mm models, up to the 2500 x 1300 mm 2513 UV. The largest object you must decorate usually decides the format.

Why heat is usually the constraint

Garment processes bond a transfer with a heat press. That works on textiles and fails on glass, metal, many plastics and any finished product that would distort, discolour or delaminate under pressure and temperature. Decorating objects therefore needs a process that does not rely on heat to apply the graphic.

The catalog offers two: UV DTF, which produces an adhesive-backed transfer applied by pressure, and UV flatbed printing, which prints directly onto the object or panel.

UV DTF: transfers for objects of any shape

UV DTF prints UV-curable ink onto AB transfer film. The ink cures instantly under ultraviolet light and the cured print carries its own adhesive layer, so it is applied by hand pressure or a cold laminator rather than a press.

Because the application is a transfer rather than direct printing, UV DTF is not limited by the shape of the object and does not need the item to sit flat under a printhead. The catalog covers 300 mm and 600 mm-class UV DTF machines, using XP600, I1600 and I3200-U1 heads depending on the model.

UV flatbed: printing directly onto the item

A UV flatbed holds the substrate on a fixed table and prints directly onto it, which suits rigid panels, boards and objects that can be laid flat. Curing is instant, so the printed surface is handled immediately after printing.

The catalog spans a compact A3 machine using an I3200-U1HD head, through 600 x 420 mm and 900 x 600 mm models, up to the 2500 x 1300 mm 2513 UV with four to eight Ricoh G6 heads. The format decision here is driven by the physical size of the largest object or panel you need to decorate.

Choosing between the two routes

Ask whether the item can be laid flat under a printhead. If it can, and the decorated surface is flat, a flatbed prints directly and avoids the transfer step. If the item is curved, already assembled, or awkward to fixture, UV DTF applies a transfer to it by hand instead.

The two are complementary rather than competing. Many promotional print shops run a flatbed for panels and flat items and a UV DTF machine for shaped and assembled goods.

What to confirm before ordering

Confirm the substrate list, because adhesion on glass, untreated polypropylene and coated metal differs and usually needs a test. Confirm the largest object dimensions, which sets the flatbed format. Confirm whether you need white ink, since it is what makes a graphic readable on a dark or transparent object.

Ask for samples on your own products. Surface energy, existing coatings and the shape of the item all affect the result in ways a general specification cannot predict.

Let’s discuss your next printer.

Tell us what you want to produce. We will help you identify a suitable configuration.

Company address

Room 3606, Block A, Shenglong Jinzhonghuan, Haifeng West Road Street, Zhengzhou, Henan, China

Factory address

Zhongyuan Printing Industrial Park, Yuanyang County, Henan, China