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Are you scouring the internet for a UV flatbed printer, digging through every article, video, and review to find the best model?
Well, your search for a flatbed UV printer ends here!
On this page, you may just find the exact models and makes you’ve been looking for—including our flagship ColDesi 300H3F, and 500H3F—along with the Mutoh XpertJet 461UF and 661UF UV printers.
At first glance, these model names might seem like random strings of letters and numbers. But stick with us, and soon you’ll be asking: “Where can I buy one?”
But that’s not all! We also want to give our new and innovative ColDesi UV 24H3R direct-to-film UV printer a moment in the spotlight.
While it’s not a traditional UV printer in the way we typically think of one, it’s more of a hybrid between DTF and UV printing—a multi-purpose UV (ultraviolet) direct-to-film printer.
We think you’ll actually appreciate it and thank us for bringing it to your attention.
There’s a lot to speak of; we need to work through the numbers to show how they make financial sense, both on paper and in practice.
Then, we need to walk you through standout features, benefits, and specs of these systems, as well as their applications and everything in between.
Now, on the count of three, two, one—let’s dive right in!
Let’s ease you in with the basics. What exactly is UV printing? Well, the answer is right in front of us. UV stands for ultraviolet light, which we’re almost all familiar with.
But if you need a quick refresher: ultraviolet (UV) light is a type of invisible light with a wavelength shorter than visible light but longer than X-rays.
UV light itself is invisible to the human eye, but it often appears as a faint violet glow when emitted by UV lamps.
UV light has higher energy compared to regular light, and this “high energy” is the key concept here.
Let’s put a pin in this idea for a moment and circle back to it when the timing is right.
To make logical sense of this, we need to talk about another component found in a UV printer: UV-curable inks.
The ink used in UV printing is not your typical water-based ink, toner, or plastisol. Instead, UV printers run on specialized UV-curable inks and often use the CMYKWV color model, which includes the four primary colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black), plus White and Varnish for additional effects and opacity.
Pretty wordy, right? It can make your head spin!
But hang on—once you get this key concept, things will soon click into place.
Let’s come back to the “UV light” we just put a pin in.
You see, both of these components—the UV-curable inks and UV light—operate in perfect harmony.
The way it works is simple. These UV lights (or lamps) under the hood of the printer emit high-energy photons that interact and initiate chemical reactions in the ink, causing it to harden and cure in milliseconds.
This means that as soon as the ink makes contact with the surface, the UV lamps immediately expose the ink to UV light.
There you have it: a textbook example of what UV printing is, how these printers work, and their key features. But that’s just the theoretical engineering side of the technology, and it can be a bit boring. What we’re really interested in is the fun part: the practical, real-world uses.
So, what can these printers actually print on? The answer is almost anything! They can print directly onto a wide range of rigid materials, dimensional hard-surface objects, or transfer films (with a new UV DTF printer, as you’ll later see).
Or, in plain English, you can print on metal, plastic, acrylic, wood, glass, PVC, cardboard, ceramic, and more!
However, you may need jigs, fixtures, or molds for your project, depending on the material, curvature, or form factor of the target item(s) you wish to print on.
But hey, while that may sound like a lot, get this: you can get away without the need for extra equipment—no heat press, no cutting, no weeding, and no waiting for inks to air dry.
Phew… that was quite a workout! But it’s the perfect warm-up before our next topic. Let’s take a look at what makes a UV flatbed printer the best investment.
In this one, let’s go over several compelling reasons why investing in a UV flatbed printer is a smart and worthwhile decision for you (or your business).
We’re going to take a closer look at four main areas—versatility, speed and efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness—that demonstrate how these machines can make your printing process better in just about every way!
Versatility: One of the standout benefits of UV printers is their exceptional versatility.
While all the advantages of using UV printers are equally important, versatility is particularly significant due to the wide range of materials and objects it can handle.
UV printers can print on a variety of surfaces, from traditional materials like wood, metal, acrylic, and glass, to more specialized options such as ceramics, leather, and carbon fiber.
They are also capable of printing on objects of various shapes, sizes, and surface textures, including both flat surfaces and cylindrical objects.
This range of options gives you the flexibility to create and sell whatever you want.
Speed and Efficiency: Alongside versatility is increased speed and efficiency, another major selling point and defining factor why decorators upgrade or switch to UV printing.
To put it in simple words, UV printers significantly reduce production time. The UV curing process is almost instantaneous! There’s no waiting around for ink to dry, and you can forget about special pre-treatments or heat setting altogether!
This quick curing enables UV printers to achieve significantly faster production times and print rates, making them ideal for time-sensitive projects and high-volume production runs.
With the time saved, you can focus on tasks that drive your business forward—or perhaps enjoy a well-deserved coffee break while the printer does all the work for you.
Durability of Prints: Next on the list of reasons to invest in a UV flatbed printer is the quality and durability of its prints.
Each print that comes out of the UV printer looks absolutely stunning, often comparable to (or rivaling) high-end photo-quality standards.
These prints are designed to withstand a wide range of environmental conditions, including moisture, extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, and exposure to cleaning agents. UV prints resist fading, scratches, and weathering, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications.
They can last for over two years without noticeable fading or wear, and they are both waterproof and weather-resistant.
The colors remain vibrant, the details sharp, and the contrast excellent.
Cost-Effectiveness: When discussing UV printers, it’s impossible to ignore the associated costs.
Entry-level models, such as the Mutoh XpertJet 461UF, typically run around $20,995, while high-end options like the ColDesi 500H3F can cost upwards of $50,000 or more. Of course, there are plenty of models that fall somewhere in between.
While the initial price tag might seem high, the good news is that, over time, UV printers quickly pay for themselves. Their efficiency helps you save on every print job, day after day.
They pay for themselves through long-term savings by reducing manual labor, speeding up production, and minimizing the need for additional equipment, such as heat presses or materials like vinyl rolls.
In other words, one machine can do it all and replace multiple machines (or workers).
And it gets better—UV printers are designed to be energy-efficient. Thanks to advanced UV LED lamps, they use far less power than traditional printers, which can help lower your energy bills at home or in the office.
They use less power to get the same job done, meaning you’re not wasting energy. Plus, they run more quietly and cooler, which helps further reduce overall costs and enhance comfort in your workspace.
So, there you have it—a handful of reasons why investing in a UV flatbed printer is a smart and worthwhile decision for both you and your business. Honestly, it might end up being the best thing you invest in this year!
But now comes the big question: which one should you go for? With so many models to choose from, where do you even start? What’s the difference between them, and how do you figure out which one’s made just for you?
Let’s sort it all out in the next section.
We’ve come a long way in this article! We’ve covered all the ‘what’s,’ ‘why’s,’ and ‘how’s’ of UV printing. Now, it’s time to match you with a UV printer that’s made just for you and checks all your boxes.
So, let’s put an end to your search for a UV printer. Here’s how we’ll make it happen:
We’ll walk you through the lineup of UV printers we offer here at ColDesi. While you may only need one, we’ll introduce all four models: the ColDesi 300H3F UV flatbed printer, and 500H3F, along with the Mutoh XpertJet 461UF and 661UF.
And yes, as promised, we’re also unveiling our innovative new ColDesi UV 24H3R direct-to-film UV printer!
The way it’ll work is pretty simple, all you have to do is move the mouse cursor to a thumbnail and click on it to be directed to a dedicated product page for each printer. There, you’ll find detailed information about features, specifications, pricing, and more.
If you’re browsing on mobile, just tap the thumbnail—it’s that easy!
So, how’d it go? Did any of the printers catch your eye? We had a feeling you’d make a smart choice and find the one that’s just right for you!
Now, let us take it from here.
At the bottom of this page, you’ll see a quick form. Just fill it out with a few basics—your name, contact info, and the printer you’re interested in—and hit send.
Once we get it, one of our product specialists will take care of the rest. They’ll reach out to you by phone or email to chat about your choice, answer any questions, help you schedule a demo, or even guide you through placing an order on the spot.
Sound good? Great! Go ahead and pop your details into the form below, and we’ll be in touch soon.
See you on the other side!
Still unsure which UV printer to buy? THIS article walks you through every model—give it a read!
