Digital printing on glass & acrylic
Printing solutions for glass and acrylic surfaces using UV-LED inkjet printer to create vibrant, durable and scratch resistant products used across sign boards, photo prints, large glass banners and personalised awards and trophies.
Benefits of digital printing on glass and acrylic
Digital printing on acrylic (and glass) gives businesses the freedom to create customised, high-quality acrylic products and glass prints without the limitations of traditional printing methods.
UV-LED printing technology prints designs directly onto the surface, enabling printing on glass and acrylic surfaces without the need for screens, labels, or transfer films.
This advanced digital printing solution enables cost-effective short runs, variable designs, and rapid production while delivering vibrant colours, photographic image quality, and premium finishes.
White and clear inks add depth, texture, and special effects, making glass printing and acrylic printing ideal for acrylic signs, decorative panels, signage, interior décor, displays, and personalised products with lasting visual impact.
UV Printers for glass and acrylic printing
UV printer is the ideal solution for acrylic and glass printing, delivering vibrant, durable printed glass products directly onto the object without labels or transfers. White ink ensures brilliant colours on transparent materials, while clear ink creates gloss, textured and layered effects.
UV printing is cost-effective for short runs, customized products and variable designs while reducing production steps and waste. Mimaki's new ELH and ELS UV inks are SVHC- and CMR-free, reducing odour by 30% for safer, more sustainable printing.
As glass and acrylic are non-porous, Mimaki's printable primer improves adhesion and scratch resistance, while UV-LED's low-heat curing protects heat-sensitive acrylic from distortion.
Glass and acrylic digital printing workflow
The workflow for glass and acrylic printing with a UV-LED inkjet printer starts with preparing the acrylic surface to ensure optimal ink adhesion. Depending on the material, apply a primer or pretreatment before printing.
The artwork is then prepared digitally and printed directly onto the glass or acrylic sheet using UV-LED curing technology. UV inks cure instantly by LED lamps, creating durable, vibrant acrylic prints with excellent detail.
After printing, cut, assemble, or use the finished printed acrylic products for applications of your choice.
Digital printing on acrylic in action
Watch Mimaki UV-LED technology print directly onto acrylic to produce vibrant, durable graphics for a wide range of personalised acrylic products.
Printing on glass bottles & cylindrical products
Mimaki UV-LED inkjet printers work with the KEBAB HS and KEBAB MkII rotary units. Together, they enable direct 360-degree printing on glass bottles, jars, and other cylindrical products. This plateless digital printing solution helps businesses create custom bottle designs and branded packaging.
It also prints on glassware and promotional items. It suits limited-edition products and screen printed glassware alternatives and delivers vibrant colours, fine details, and durable finishes.
White and clear inks enable creative effects, like opaque graphics, glossy finishes, and layered design without the use of labels or transfers.
Interior décor & personalised products
Transform interiors and personalised products with high-quality acrylic printing and glass printing solutions. UV-LED printing enables direct printing on acrylic sheets, glass panels, glass art for the wall and decorative objects to create stunning acrylic photo prints, wall décor, customised awards and trophies etc.
With vibrant colours, white ink, and textured effects, businesses can produce premium products with unique finishes and exceptional detail. From one-off customised items to short production runs, Mimaki UV printers offer flexible options for creative projects. They suit interior design, retail, hospitality industry, and gifting markets.
Large glass graphics, signage & advertising
Produce impactful visual communication with UV printing for signage, branding, and advertising. Mimaki UV-LED printers print directly on large glass panels, acrylic boards, and other rigid materials, delivering high-resolution graphics. Applications include acrylic signs, acrylic stand displays, and glass signage.
It also works well for window displays, storefronts, retail displays, office partitions, exhibition graphics, and decorative panels.
Explore the Mimaki printers that support this application
Mimaki UV-LED inkjet printers print directly on glass and acrylic. They deliver high-quality images, vibrant colours, and premium finishes for many applications. With support for white and clear inks, these printers enable creative effects like layered designs, textures, and gloss finishes.From customised photo prints and souvenirs to signage, interior décor, and glass products, Mimaki printers provide the flexibility to handle diverse production needs. By using pre-print treatments, post-print finishing, and new printing workflows, businesses can offer more ways to print on glass and acrylic.
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UJ330H-160
Hybrid UV printer for rigid, roll and textured printing
- Handles both roll media and rigid boards
- 2.5D textured prints, multi-layer effects and spot varnish
- Multi-board printing and automatic media alignment
- Stable media transport for the most challenging substrates
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UJF-7151 plusII e
High performance flatbed UV-LED printer
- Two additional print heads
- Newly developed precise table mechanism
- Maximum print resolution of 1800dpi
- Easy integration for automated production using robotics
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JFX200-1213 EX
Compact, high-speed UV-LED printer
- Space saving table with high print speeds
- Create 2.5D textured effects
- Bi-directional Braille printing
- Versatile media and all international A sizes
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UJF-7151plus II
High performance flatbed UV-LED printer
- Two additional print heads
- Newly developed precise table mechanism
- Maximum print resolution of 1800dpi
- Easy integration for automated production using robotics
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UJF MkII e Series
High quality small flatbed UV-LED inkjet printer
- Highest ROI thanks to superior efficiency and reliability
- Print colour and white without loss of print speed
- Easy integration for automated production using robotics
- Enhanced functions enable easier operation and less errors
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JFX600 Series
Industrial large format flatbed UV-LED printers
- Extreme productivity with print speeds of up to 200 m2/h
- 16 industrial built print heads in 4-colour or 7-colour configuration
- IoT Ready for automated, unattended production using robotics
- Mimaki Printer Controller software for easy operation
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JFX200-2513 EX
5th Generation large flatbed UV-LED printer
- Introducing 2.5D automated layered printing
- Highest productivity at speeds up to 35sqm/h
- Staggered heads for printing colour and white inks simultaneously
- Added combo of NCU and NRS for uninterrupted printing
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JFX200-2531
High performance large format flatbed UV-LED printers
- Highly productive print speeds
- Simultaneous high density white ink printing
- Continuous unattended printing
- Mimaki Advance Pass System reducing bandings
Frequently asked questions about glass printing
Yes, printing on glass using UV-LED inkjet printer enables direct printing without labels or transfer materials. Compared with traditional screen printing on glass, digital UV printing offers greater flexibility, enables high-resolution graphics, vibrant colours, white ink effects, and special finishes (such as gloss and textured effects).
With the correct ink selection, curing process, and surface preparation, you can use printed glass for applications including glass bottles, signage, displays, interior décor and personalised products.
Acrylic, Plexiglas®, and PMMA are closely related terms.
Acrylic and Plexiglas® refer to the same type of material, while PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) is the technical name for acrylic.
Plexiglas® is a well-known brand name that manufacturers use for a type of acrylic sheet, similar to how some brands become commonly used as general product names.
Acrylic is a lightweight, durable, and transparent thermoplastic that offers excellent clarity, weather resistance, and impact resistance compared with glass, making it a versatile material.
Yes. Glass bottles and cylindrical products can be printed directly using UV-LED inkjet technology with Mimaki’s KEBAB HS and KEBAB MkII series. The detachable KEBAB rotary unit enables 360-degree printing around cylindrical objects, allowing businesses to create designs without the need for plates or screens.
This workflow is ideal for glassware printing, promotional items, premium packaging, and cylindrical products. It delivers vibrant colours, fine details, and durable finishes. It does not need labels or transfer materials. The use of white and clear inks further expands creative possibilities, enabling opaque colours, premium effects, and layered designs on transparent or coloured surfaces.
Because glass is a smooth, non-porous material, UV ink may have difficulty bonding directly to the surface without proper preparation. Applying a suitable primer or pretreatment can improve ink adhesion by creating a stronger connection between the glass surface and the UV ink layer.
Mimaki printable primer is designed to enhance the bonding strength of UV inks on challenging materials such as glass, helping improve scratch resistance, durability, and overall print quality. The need for primer depends on the type of glass, ink used, and the intended application. Testing the combination of substrate, primer, and printing conditions is recommended to achieve the best results, especially for products requiring long-lasting performance.
Before printing on glass or acrylic, the surface should be clean, dry, and free from dust, oil, or contaminants that may affect ink adhesion. As these materials are non-porous, testing the appropriate ink, primer, and curing settings helps achieve optimal printing results.
For acrylic, UV-LED curing technology provides low heat output, helping prevent damage or deformation on heat-sensitive materials. Proper handling and surface preparation ensure durable, high-quality prints.
