UV printing opens up a lot of possibilities for makers. From printing colorful designs on wood and acrylic to customizing phone cases, skateboard decks, and other products, a UV printer makes it possible to add detailed graphics to a wide variety of materials.
Since getting into the world of UV printing, I've picked up several useful tips and tricks that have made my printing projects easier and more consistent. Some help with testing designs, others prevent materials from moving during printing, and a few make cleaning up ink overspray much easier.
See my review of the Morpho UV Printer Here
In this article, I'm sharing eight practical UV printing tips that I've found useful in my own projects. I'm using the Morpho UV printer for these examples, but most of these techniques should be applicable to other UV printers as well.
1. Use Masking Tape for Test Prints
One of the easiest ways to test a UV print without permanently marking your material is to use masking tape.
Before committing to a final print, apply masking tape to the area where you plan to print. You can then run a test print directly onto the tape to check the size, positioning, and appearance of your design.
This is particularly useful when working with materials that are expensive, difficult to replace, or tricky to position accurately.
Masking tape can also be shaped to fit many curved surfaces, making it useful for testing prints on objects that aren't completely flat. I've even found it works well on flexible materials, such as faux leather.
Once you're happy with the results, simply peel off the tape and print your design directly onto the material.
**My tip:** I prefer using blue masking tape, but there are plenty of options available in different widths and types. Choose one that works well for the surface you're printing on, and test it first if you're concerned about adhesive residue or surface damage.
2. Use Cardstock for Larger Test Prints
Masking tape works well for smaller test areas, but it isn't always practical when you're printing across a larger surface.
That's where cardstock comes in.
For example, when working with mini skateboard decks, you can cut a piece of cardstock to match the size and shape of the area you want to print. Use masking tape to secure the cardstock to the underside of the deck, positioning it where your final design will go.
You can then print your design onto the cardstock to check the layout and appearance before printing directly onto the skateboard deck.
Cardstock is available in a variety of colors, which is particularly useful when you're trying to get an idea of how a design will look against a specific background color.
It also provides a good surface for producing test prints, allowing you to evaluate the appearance of your design before moving on to the final material.
**Why I like this method:** It's inexpensive, easy to cut to size, and useful for testing larger designs where masking tape alone would be impractical.
3. Stop Small Objects from Moving with Silicone Mats
One problem you may encounter when UV printing small, lightweight objects is that they can shift during printing.
Many UV printers have a non-slip coating on the print bed. This helps with cleaning up ink overspray, but it doesn't necessarily provide enough grip to keep every object in place.
When the print head moves back and forth, the resulting airflow can sometimes push lightweight items around.
This is especially noticeable when printing small wooden discs or other thin objects.
My solution is to place a silicone mat on top of the print bed and then position the material on the mat.
The silicone provides additional friction, helping prevent objects from moving while the printer is working.
I've tried regular, flat crafting mats, but I've found that **honeycomb silicone mats work particularly well for keeping small items in place**.
An added benefit is that the mat can also catch ink overspray, helping protect the print bed underneath.
Keep the mat as clean as possible, since ink buildup and other debris can reduce its effectiveness. You can wash it with hot water and soap to remove residue.
4. Use Silicone Mats to Catch UV Ink Overspray
Silicone mats are useful for more than just keeping your materials in place. They're also a practical way to catch excess ink.
When doing edgeless printing, some UV ink may land beyond the edges of your material. Over time, this overspray can build up on the print bed and create additional cleanup work.
Placing a silicone mat underneath your work provides a removable surface to catch that excess ink.
One of the advantages of silicone is that UV ink doesn't permanently adhere to it in the same way it adheres to many printing surfaces. Larger clumps can often be picked off, while the remaining residue can be scrubbed away with hot water and soap.
For this purpose, however, I prefer **flat silicone mats rather than honeycomb mats**.
Although textured mats are useful for gripping materials, I've found that their grooves and patterns make them more difficult to clean when used primarily for catching overspray.
So, if you're planning to use silicone mats for UV printing, consider keeping two types on hand:
- **Honeycomb silicone mats:** Best for providing grip and preventing small objects from shifting.
- **Flat silicone mats:** Best for catching overspray and making cleanup easier.
This gives you a simple way to address two common UV printing problems with an inexpensive accessory.
5. Use Cardstock to Protect Your Print Bed
Another option for catching UV ink overspray is to place a sheet of cardstock between the print bed and the object you're printing.
This method is particularly useful for larger projects, since cardstock is available in larger sheet sizes that can cover a substantial portion of the print bed.
Simply position the cardstock underneath your material before printing. Any overspray that lands outside the edges of your design will be caught by the cardstock instead of accumulating on the print bed.
You can reuse the same sheet several times, depending on how much ink builds up on it.
Once the cardstock has accumulated too much ink to be useful, remove it and replace it with a fresh sheet.
It's a straightforward solution that requires very little preparation.
**My recommendation:** Keep some larger sheets of cardstock near your UV printer. They're inexpensive, easy to cut, and particularly handy when working on oversized projects or designs that extend close to the edges of your material.
6. Secure Lightweight Materials with Removable Double-Sided Tape
Silicone mats work well for many small objects, but sometimes you need a more secure way to hold your material in position.
For this, I've had good results using removable double-sided tape from Scotch.
This type of tape works particularly well with thin, lightweight materials, including:
- Wood
- Foam board
- Paper
- Acrylic
The key is to use the **removable type of double-sided tape rather than permanent tape**. The removable version is designed to come away more easily, reducing the risk of damaging your material or leaving adhesive residue behind.
I've also found that the tape can remain on the print bed and be reused multiple times before losing its tackiness.
Another useful application is securing your overspray cardstock. You can tape the cardstock to the print bed, then use another piece of tape to hold your material in position on top.
This creates a simple setup that keeps both the protective sheet and the object from moving during printing.
I've found this technique particularly practical for everyday UV printing because it is quick to set up and works with a variety of materials.
7. Prevent Thin Plywood from Warping with Woodworking Tape
Printing on thin wood presents a different challenge.
When printing on thin plywood, such as 1/16-inch material, the ink can cause the wood to warp toward the side being printed. If the material bends or lifts, it can interfere with the printing process and affect the final result.
One solution I've found is to temporarily attach the thin plywood to a thicker, heavier piece of plywood using double-sided woodworking tape.
The thicker plywood provides support, while the strong adhesive holds the thinner material flat during printing.
This helps prevent the thin plywood from warping and keeps it in position while the printer is working.
However, woodworking tape generally creates a much stronger bond than removable tape intended for lightweight materials.
Because of this, I wouldn't recommend using it on delicate surfaces or materials that could be damaged during removal.
### How to Remove the Tape Without Damaging Your Material
The strong bond can make separating the two pieces of wood difficult.
I've found that the best approach is to gently work a thin paint scraper between the two pieces and carefully pry them apart.
Take your time and work gradually to reduce the risk of damaging the plywood.
This technique is especially useful when you're printing on thin wooden components that need to remain flat throughout the process.
8. Use Foam Board for Prototyping and Test Prints
My final tip is one of the simplest: keep some foam board on hand.
Foam board has become my go-to material when I want to experiment with a new idea or test a design before committing to the final product.
It's inexpensive, easy to cut, and can be shaped into almost any size you need. It's also available in different colors, making it useful for testing how your artwork will look against different backgrounds.
Another advantage is that foam board provides a good printing surface, allowing you to evaluate the appearance and quality of your design.
You don't need anything special, either. I've been using foam board purchased from my local dollar store.
I've generally found two thicknesses available:
- **3 mm foam board:** A thinner option for basic testing.
- **5 mm foam board:** A thicker, more rigid option that I prefer for most of my prototyping.
Both have worked well for me, but the additional rigidity of the 5 mm board makes it my preferred choice.
When developing a new product, you can cut the foam board to match the approximate dimensions of your intended material, run a test print, and evaluate the results before moving on to the finished piece.
It's a quick, inexpensive way to experiment with designs without wasting more expensive materials.
Final Thoughts
UV printing can be a lot of fun, but a few simple adjustments can make the process easier and help you avoid common problems.
Here are the eight techniques covered in this article:
1. Use masking tape to test print size and placement.
2. Use cardstock for larger test prints.
3. Add honeycomb silicone mats to prevent lightweight objects from shifting.
4. Use flat silicone mats to catch and clean up ink overspray.
5. Place cardstock underneath your work to protect the print bed.
6. Secure lightweight materials with removable double-sided tape.
7. Use double-sided woodworking tape to prevent thin plywood from warping.
8. Keep foam board on hand for inexpensive prototyping and test prints.
None of these techniques requires expensive equipment or complicated modifications to your printer. They're simple, practical solutions that can make a real difference in your day-to-day workflow.
Although I demonstrated these methods using the Morpho UV printer, many should be useful with other UV printers, too.
What Are Your Favourite UV Printing Tips?
Do you have a trick that makes your UV printing projects easier, or a solution to a problem you've struggled with?
Let me know in the comments. I'm always interested in learning new techniques and finding better ways to work with these machines.
And if you're interested in more UV printing tutorials, laser engraving, CNC projects, and other maker-related content, be sure to check out the other videos here on Make Tech.