I have printing needs for acrylic sheets and acrylic products. Should I choose screen printing or UV printing?
When customers choose to customize acrylic sheets products, they usually consider two printing methods: UV printing and screen printing. UV printing is suitable for small-scale customization, while screen printing is more suitable for large-scale production. In terms of plate making, UV printing does not require plate making, while screen printing requires a separate plate for each color. From a pricing perspective, UV printing is more suitable for small-scale, diverse production, while screen printing requires payment of plate fees, and the more colors, the higher the price. In terms of gradient effects, UV printing has better results, while screen printing has poorer results. In terms of delivery time, UV printing can save time and cost, while screen printing requires more time to make plates. In terms of environmental impact, UV printing is environmentally friendly and energy-saving, and does not cause environmental pollution, while screen printing is prone to pollution during the cleaning process. Finally, in terms of technical requirements, UV printing only requires computer operation, while screen printing requires an understanding of plate making, color matching, and skills.
First, let's understand the differences between the two. Please refer to the table below.
| UV Printing | Screen Printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Allows for customization in small quantities. | Suitable for large-scale printing. |
| Plate-making | No need for plate-making. | Requires plate-making, one color per plate. |
| Price | Economical for producing small quantities of diverse designs. | Incurs additional costs for screen plates, with higher prices for more colors. |
| Gradient Effects | Provides better gradient effects. | Offers poor gradient effects. |
| Lead Time | Saves time and costs. | Takes longer time for screen plate production. |
| Environment | Environmentally friendly with no pollution. | Prone to contamination during cleaning. |
| Skills Requirement | Requires computer operation in terms of technical skills. | Requires knowledge of screen plate production, color matching, and techniques in terms of technical skills. |
Suggested Solution
Based on this, if you require small quantities with diverse customization, using UV printing directly would be more cost-effective. For larger quantities, you could opt for screen printing after covering the initial screen plates cost, allowing for bulk printing at a lower per-unit cost.