Printing on Metal

UV-LED printing is very effective at printing onto all kinds of materials, and metal is no exception. While this technology will produce vibrant and durable prints on most metals, certain metals (for example, stainless steel) can present issues. You can work with wipe-on primers or targeted, printed primer to open up more metals for printing, however, testing is always advised. It's also important to consider the reflectivity of the substrate and ensure that UV curing light is not being reflected back at the printhead resulting in printhead damage.

Various digital print technologies can be used to transfer prints onto metal. Notably, dye-sublimation is a popular option, with direct-to-film (DTF) printing becoming more common in recent years. Both of these methods use heat and pressure to securely transfer the print. Specialist UV printing processes also allow you to print using special films and primer solutions, then transfer the print to the metal item without the need for heat.

Because CMYK digital ink is semi-transparent, the surface it's printed on will have an impact on the final appearance. In the case of metal, dark-coloured or shiny surfaces can mute the colours of your print making them less vibrant. High-opacity white ink can be precisely printed as a sub-coat before printing the graphics, ensuring that the colours retain their vibrancy.

It's important to note that printing directly to highly reflective surfaces using UV printing methods can be challenging due to the UV light curing that is required of the inks. On a reflective surface this can be reflected back causing damage to the printhead. Therefore, it's recommended that you always speak with a Roland DG expert or dealer before proceeding.

If you are working with materials like metallic vinyl or metallic cardstock, digital print technology is an ideal solution. Like printing on real metal, you may still need to use white ink to keep your colours vibrant.