How To Differ Ordinary Printing And UV Printing

Posted by fannyzeng on July 7th, 2023

Ordinary printing and UV printing are two different printing methods that offer different benefits and drawbacks.

What's ordinary printing?

Ordinary printing, also known as conventional printing, is a technique used by most modern printing presses. It generally uses four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) to create a wide range of colors. Ordinary printing can be done on various paper types including coated or uncoated papers and cardstocks.

Advantages of ordinary printing:

1. Cost-effective for large print runs
2. High-quality color reproduction for sharp images and text
3. Can produce a range of finishes like gloss, matte, or satin
4. Wide variety of paper types available

Disadvantages of ordinary printing:

1. Longer setup time required
2. Limited printing capacity
3. Takes longer time to dry which makes it easy to smudge
4. Not suitable for printing on non-paper substrates

What's UV printing?

UV printing is a newer printing technology that uses ultraviolet light to dry or cure the ink immediately after it's printed. The process involves applying a coating of ink to the substrate, followed by exposure to UV light to cure the ink rapidly. This process creates vivid, high-quality images with enhanced durability and resistance to fading.

Advantages of UV printing:

1. Faster drying time, resulting in higher productivity
2. Improved clarity and vibrancy of colors with no bleeding or smudging
3. Can print on a wide range of materials such as wood, metal, plastic, and glass.
4. Highly resistant to scratching, scuffing, and fading

Disadvantages of UV printing:

1. Generally more expensive than ordinary printing
2. Limited paper stock options
3. Requires specialized equipment and expertise
4. Not very eco-friendly due to the use of UV light

The difference between ordinary printing and UV printing

1. Drying method

Traditional ink printing sprays a layer of powder on the paper after printing. Creating a space between the paper and the paper to prevent ink sticking and accelerate ink drying. Traditional ink does not dry immediately after printing, and if this layer of powder is not sprayed on the paper. It is easy for the ink to stick together or back print, simply put, it will break down. If printed and powder sprayed through normal procedures, it will take about a period of time to completely dry. Of course, the length of drying time depends on the paper material. In short, newly printed paper will not dry immediately!
UV ink, on the other hand, has a reactive agent that interacts with ultraviolet light in the ink. During the printing process, an additional step of illuminating ultraviolet light is added, allowing the ink to dry instantly. This shortens the work that can be completed in existing printing methods from a few days to just a few hours. Once printed, it can be used for other processing. Therefore, it can be printed on an exceptionally smooth surface, with stronger preservation and less fading.

2. Printing material

The printing material of traditional ink is paper like the book printing, which cannot be printed on plastic or other materials. Unlike UV ink, there are many printing materials to choose from. UV ink can almost adhere well to all material surfaces, such as polyethylene, vinyl materials, styrene, polycarbonate, glass, metal, and paper.
Another difference between UV ink and traditional ink is its coverage. If you want to print on colored paper or materials, you don't need to worry about the printed color not being able to cover the underlying color with a layer of white ink. Thus, the quality of UV ink printing will be darker than traditional ink. Due to its ability to accelerate the overall process significantly and allow immediate processing without waiting for ink to dry. More and more people are adopting this printing method.
Normally, Chinese printers with the regular printing method for custom book printing, because that will save cost. And we have the whole set of advanced offset printing machine, our printing is one of the best among this line.  If you have books want to print, please do not hesitate to contact us.