UV Ink General FAQs
What are UV curable inks and how do they differ from traditional inks?
UV curable inks cure instantly under ultraviolet light, transforming from liquid to solid in seconds. Unlike traditional solvent or water-based inks that dry through evaporation (taking hours), UV inks polymerize immediately when exposed to our UCJV300’s LED lamps.
This creates a durable, scratch-resistant surface with superior color fastness that outperforms traditional inks in speed, strength, and longevity.
How does the Mimaki UCJV300 use UV inks compared to other printers?
The UCJV300 uses dual-LED curing, hitting ink as it lands and again after each pass. This outpaces Roland, HP, or Epson models that rely on slower heat/air drying.
Our machine also prints white and clear UV inks alongside CMYK, creating metallic effects and opaque backing impossible with standard printers. Daily calibration ensures consistent color matching across our 20,000+ color library.
What's in UV inks that makes them cure so fast?
UV inks contain monomers, oligomers, photoinitiators, and pigments. When our UCJV300’s LED lamps hit the ink at 395 nanometers, photoinitiators absorb the light and release free radicals that trigger instant polymerization.
This hardens the ink in under a second, compared to solvent inks that need hours to dry.
Why choose UV inks over solvent or latex for wallpaper printing?
UV inks cure instantly (seconds vs. hours), create a tougher finish that resists scratches and moisture, and produce zero VOCs for cleaner air. They deliver superior color gamut with our CMYK process and use less energy than heat-based latex or ventilation-heavy solvent systems.
The result is faster production, better durability, and eco-friendly printing.
CMYK Printing Process
How does the CMYK printing process work in large format printing?
Our UCJV300 layers four UV-curable inks—Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black—in 44 passes at maximum resolution across 52-inch widths. Each layer cures instantly under LED light, preventing bleed and ensuring consistent color from edge to edge.
This subtractive process creates rich, stable colors ideal for large-scale wallpapers and murals.
What's the advantage of CMYK over RGB for wallpaper designs?
CMYK delivers natural, grounded colors perfect for interior spaces, while RGB creates neon-bright hues suited for screens. Our CMYK process ensures consistent printing with no conversion issues, producing earthy greens, warm reds, and muted blues that complement home decor.
RGB often results in color shifts and unprintable tones when converted to physical ink.
How does your printing press layer CMYK inks for color depth?
The UCJV300 builds depth through 44 passes at maximum resolution. Each color—Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black—gets its own precision inkjet head, firing micro-drops that cure instantly under LED light.
This controlled layering prevents muddy colors and ensures rich saturation, turning flat tones into vibrant, lasting designs.
Can CMYK handle gradients and fine details on big prints?
Yes. The UCJV300 runs at maximum resolution (up to 1200 DPI), keeping fine details crisp over 52-inch widths. Our 44-pass process builds smooth gradients layer by layer, with each pass cured instantly to prevent bleeding.
Daily calibration ensures consistent color across the entire print, from intricate Victorian borders to smooth sunset fades.
How does UV curing affect CMYK color consistency?
UV curing locks in colors instantly, preventing the drift and bleed common with slower-drying inks. Each CMYK layer cures in under a second, maintaining distinct yet unified tones across large prints.
Our LED system operates at cool temperatures, avoiding the heat-related color shifts that can occur with latex printing.
Environmental and Safety Benefits
What are the environmental benefits of using UV curable inks?
UV inks produce near-zero VOCs, eliminating the toxic fumes of solvent printing. They use energy-efficient LED curing instead of power-hungry heat dryers, and create less waste through precise application and instant curing that prevents reprints.
The durability of UV prints also reduces replacement frequency, cutting long-term environmental impact.
How do low VOCs in UV inks help indoor spaces like nurseries?
UV inks cure without releasing volatile organic compounds, keeping indoor air clean and safe. They meet GREENGUARD Gold certification for sensitive environments like nurseries and schools.
Unlike solvent inks that require days of ventilation, UV prints are ready to install immediately with zero odor or off-gassing.
Are UV inks certified for safety standards?
Yes. Our UV prints pass multiple safety certifications including CAN/ULC flame tests, ASTM E-84 fire ratings, and VOC emission standards. They meet GREENGUARD Gold requirements for air quality and various international fire safety codes.
These certifications ensure our prints are safe for residential, commercial, and institutional use.
How does UV curing cut energy use compared to traditional drying?
UV curing uses low-wattage LED lamps that consume a fraction of the energy required by heat-based drying systems. Traditional methods can use 5-10 kilowatts per hour, while our UV system operates under 1 kilowatt per hour.
The instant curing also eliminates lengthy drying periods and ventilation requirements, further reducing energy consumption.
What's the waste reduction like with these inks?
UV inks dramatically reduce waste through precision application (no overspray), instant curing (no smudged reprints), and elimination of solvent cleanup materials. Our calibrated system uses only the ink needed, avoiding the excess typical of other printing methods.
The durability of UV prints also reduces long-term waste from replacements.
Durability and Performance
How durable are prints made with UV curable inks?
UV prints form a tough, scratch-resistant film that withstands daily wear, moisture, and UV light exposure. They resist the chipping and peeling common with solvent inks and the softening issues of latex prints.
Expected lifespan is 10-20+ years indoors with minimal fading or wear.
How do UV inks perform in terms of fade resistance over time?
UV inks retain over 90% of their vibrancy after the equivalent of a decade of sun exposure, compared to 50% for solvent inks. The cured film shields pigments from UV degradation and environmental factors.
This superior fade resistance makes them ideal for sun-facing walls and archival projects.
Can UV inks withstand high-traffic areas or outdoor exposure?
High-traffic indoor areas: Excellent performance with 10-20 year lifespan under heavy use.
Outdoor exposure: Good performance with 3-5 year lifespan, extendable to 7 years with lamination. UV prints significantly outperform solvent and latex alternatives in both applications.
What makes UV prints scratch and smudge resistant?
UV curing creates a hard, non-porous surface that deflects scratches and resists smudging. The instant hardening prevents wet transfer, and the chemical bonding creates a cohesive layer that withstands abrasion.
Fingerprints and marks wipe clean without streaking, maintaining print quality over time.