Glass Sector

Printing on glass was for many years handled with vinyl film application or screen printing. Both had limits: film lifts at the edges over time, and screen printing required a separate screen per colour, making single-unit and multi-colour jobs uneconomical. UV printing removed both constraints by applying the image directly to the glass surface.

The key to success on glass is surface preparation and adhesion. Glass is non-absorbent; the ink cannot soak in, it cures and bonds on top. Primer use, surface cleanliness and correct curing settings are therefore the three factors that determine how long the job lasts.

Applications of digital printing on glass

Office partitions and screens

Patterns that partly retain transparency provide visual privacy in open-plan offices without blocking light. Frosted-effect prints are the digital and reversible alternative to sandblasting.

Kitchen and bathroom panels

On splashback glass panels the print is applied to the reverse face, leaving the working surface completely flat. The image is therefore not directly exposed to cleaning and abrasion.

Architectural and decorative applications

Facade glass, lift cladding and decorative panels require large single-piece prints. Here the machine's table size directly determines whether the job has to be split.

Choosing a machine for glass printing

Because glass is printed lying flat on a fixed table, the natural fit is flatbed UV printing machines. Table size determines the largest glass dimension you can print, making it the first technical value to check when selecting a machine.

For how UV technology and curing work in general, see our UV printing machines guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Printing on Glass

1. Can the image printed on glass be scratched off?

With the right primer and full curing the ink bonds strongly and will not scratch off in normal use. On surfaces with constant mechanical contact, printing on the reverse face of the glass is preferred.

2. Is white ink needed when printing on clear glass?

A white underbase is usually applied so colours do not blend with the background seen through the glass. For deliberately translucent effects such as frosting, white may be omitted.

3. Can tempered glass be printed?

Yes, but tempering must be completed before printing. If printed glass is tempered afterwards, the high temperature will damage the ink.

4. Which face of the glass should be printed?

If the working surface is touched, the reverse face is preferred; the image reads through the glass and the front stays flat. For decorative applications without contact, front-face printing is also suitable.