UV Printing vs Digital Printing: In-Depth Comparison
2025-07-17
In advertising printing procurement, UV printing and digital printing are two widely used processes. Understanding their core differences can help you select the right one based on your needs.
I. Printing Principle
| Item | Digital Printing | UV Printing |
|---|---|---|
| Curing Method | Dries via solvent evaporation or material absorption; additional protective film available to enhance performance | Instant curing via UV light irradiation |
| Drying Time | 1 Minute | Curing completed within 1 second |
| Core Equipment Components | Inkjet head + drying device + protective film laminator | Inkjet head + UV lamp set |
II. Suitable Materials
Digital Printing
- Advantageous Materials: Ink-absorbent flexible materials such as light box cloth, banner cloth, adhesive PP, and banner fabric; applicable to more outdoor scenarios with protective film
- Limitations: Not suitable for non-ink-absorbent hard materials like glass and metal
UV Printing
- Coverage: In addition to traditional flexible materials, it can adapt to hard materials such as glass, acrylic, metal, wood, and PVC boards
- Typical Applications: Shopping mall acrylic light boxes, exhibition wooden shelves, metal signs
III. Performance Comparison
IV. Cost and Efficiency
| Dimension | Digital Printing | UV Printing |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per Square Meter | Lower basic cost; 10%-15% increase with protective film, suitable for mass production | Higher, ink cost is about 1.5-2 times that of digital printing |
| Production Efficiency | High efficiency in mass production; 5% more time with protective film lamination | Ready immediately after printing |
| Additional Costs | Protective film is optional additional cost; but reduces post-maintenance expenses | No lamination needed, saving post-processing costs |
V. Selection Suggestions
- If you need to make large outdoor cloth advertisements with a limited budget, digital printing is preferred; protective film recommended to enhance durability.
- If hard materials are involved, or if durability and three-dimensional sense are required, UV printing is a better choice.
- Attention, fabric products cannot be laminated，Inkjet printing is more suitable .In the next issue, we will introduce solvent printing
We have complete production lines for both processes and can provide customized solutions according to your specific needs. Feel free to contact us for samples and quotations at any time.
ReviewsNumber of comments: {{ page.total }}
I want to comment?
{{item.nickname ? (item.nickname.slice(0, 2) + '*****') : item.source === 1 ? 'mall buyer' : '--'}}
{{item.comment_time}}
Review in the {{item.country}}
Reviews
Merchant
{{replyItem.nickname ? (replyItem.nickname.slice(0, 2) + '*****') : replyItem.source === 1 ? 'mall buyer' : '--'}}
{{replyItem.parent_nickname ? (replyItem.parent_nickname.slice(0, 2) + '*****') : '--'}}
{{replyItem.is_merchant_reply === 1 ? replyItem.reply_time : replyItem.comment_time}}
Review in the {{replyItem.country}}
Reviews
No customer reviews
recommended for you
no data
Get in touch with us