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UV-DTF
DECAL PRINTING

Decal: noun (de-cal \ di-kal)
: a picture, design, or label made to be
transferred from specially prepared material

All about UV-DTF

ONE single UV printer...TWO printing methods

*ONLY APPLICABLE TO THE EPSON V1000 (gloss ink is required)
You can use our UV printers to print "Direct-to-Substrate" or "Direct-to-Film".
With our UV-DTF tools and materials you can get much more from your UV printer by creating easily transferrable UV decal prints - perfect for applying designs to uneven and difficult to print product shapes.
UV-DTF: Methods & Materials

UV Direct-to-Film (UV-DTF) printing is a digital, inkjet process that involves printing UV-curable ink directly onto a glue film to be then transferred directly to a substrate using a transfer application film.

ADVANTAGES of UV-DTF

Speed:
Batch printing many jobs onto a single sheet to be applied to each product later allows for higher productivity than UV flatbed printing onto the product.
Applying UV-DTF decals to cylindrical products like cups and flasks is many times faster than rotary printing on a flatbed UV printer.
Versatility in Substrates:
The glue base (from the "glue film material"), transferred to the printed ink, bonds to a wider range of materials than UV printed/cured ink from a direct-to-substrate print.
Versatility in Shapes:
You can quickly and easily apply UV-DTF printed decals to almost any shape surface.
Flatbed UV printing is limited to flat items.
Reduce Waste:
Eliminate mistakes made from printing incorrectly positioned items on the print bed.

DISADVANTAGES of UV-DTF

Scratch Resistance:
A protective gloss ink layer on the print surface is required to make the applied decal as scratch resistant as possible.
Adherence to Substrate:
The edges of the applied decal can be picked off/away from the surface more easily than when printed on directly from the flatbed UV printer.
Flex:
UV printed inks usually have a 120%+ flex rating - UV-DTF printed decals are less flexible (apx. 80% flex). For applications where the printed product will bend, you may experience cracks in the ink.
Extra Materials & Processes Required:
There is an extra process of laminating the printed decals before hand-applying them to the product.
"Glue film material", "transfer film material" and a "hot roll laminator" are required to be able to create UV-DTF decals.

"Direct-to-Substrate" vs "Direct-to-Film".

We recommend testing both methods to get the best possible solution and satisfaction from whichever UV print method you choose.
1. Printing

Remove the protective layer of film from the GFM-1 (glue film material) sheets, place on the print bed and print white, CMYK and gloss ink layers before carefully removing printed sheet from the bed.

2. Laminating

Place the printed sheets of GFM-1 onto the bed of the hot roll laminator pre-loaded the LFM-1 (laminate film material) roll.
Laminate the printed sheets at 90°C and cut/remove them from the rear of the roll laminator.

3. Application

Separating the two film layers will pull the laminate film and printed ink away from the glue film, enabling you to position and apply the decal to your product.

Then finally, peel away the laminate film from the applied decal.
*For some substrates; using a heat gun to heat the laminate film for 10secs can ease the removal of the laminating film from the decal's ink layer.

PRINTING

Glue Film Material (A3 sheets) - GFM-1

Glue Film Material (A3 sheets) - GFM-1

Our class leading Glue Film Material(GFM-1) is specially designed to work with Roland and Epson UV inks.
Once it is printed you do this...
£59.99

LAMINATING

UV-DTF Hot Roll Laminator

UV-DTF Hot Roll Laminator

Our class leading Hot Roll Laminator is specially designed to work with Roland and Epson UV inks.
Once it is printed you do this...
£399.99

APPLICATION

Laminate Film Material (50mtrs) - LFM-1

Laminate Film Material (50mtrs) - LFM-1

Our class leading Laminate Film Material (LFM-1) is specially designed to work with Roland and Epson UV inks.
Once it is printed you do this...
£59.99
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