Mimaki Tops Leaderboard with Exclusive Artist-Designed 3D Printed Collectibles for 2026 LIV Golf Tournament

Mimaki 3D printed full-scale golf bag replica featuring a bold monster illustration, part of the Cleeks Golf Club Art of Golf collection for the 2026 LIV Golf tournament.

Fine details, textures, and color transitions from original artist-designed tournament bags faithfully reproduced as collectible limited-edition 3D printed replicas that blend sport, art and technology

Flowery Branch, GA, USA, June 25th, 2026 – Mimaki. a leading manufacturer of industrial inkjet printers, cutting plotters and 3D printers, has announced an exclusive collaboration that has seen the company produce a series of limited edition, artist-designed, full color 3D printed collectibles. In conjunction with Cleeks Golf Club, Mimaki is 3D printing exclusive highly-detailed miniature golf bags from the Art of Golf series – a collection of unique attention-grabbing players’ golf bags, that are currently in use by Cleeks’ professional players on the multi-stage 2026 LIV Golf tournament.

Comprising fourteen different renowned artists’ designs from the Art of Golf collection, the eye-catching representations measure around 15cm and are 3D printed on Mimaki’s photorealistic full color 3DUJ-553 3D printer in one piece, thereby eliminating the need for painting or assembly. Each 3D printed replica faithfully brings the designers’ bold visions to life by capturing the form, texture, and artwork of the original bag, turning them into desirable collectibles that are already capturing the attention of golf fans.

Each of the fourteen designs is produced in a limited quantity of just 25 3D prints, making a total of 350 models available for purchase throughout the 14 different events that make up the 2026 LIV Golf tournament. Complementing the series of miniatures, Mimaki was also commissioned by Cleeks Golf Club to produce a larger half-scale reproduction of the full-sized players’ bags for each design in the Art of Golf series. Measuring 50cm, the models are on display as an eye-catching clubhouse showpiece at each LIV event.

Teeing Up Innovation

As Matthew Stark, 3D Segment Manager at Mimaki, explains, with traditional production often requiring trade-offs, including simplifying shapes, reducing color, or adding manual finishing, 3D printing proved the perfect partner for Cleeks’ needs.

“When it comes to high-quality collectibles, this project perfectly exemplifies the capability of our 3D printing proposition – namely short-run, highly precise, full color output consistent from one piece to the next and delivered in a matter of hours,” he explains.

“The reality is that for projects like this, 3D printing is really the only viable option. Aside from the time and cost associated with conventional methods, the level of realism and fine detail we’re able to achieve would be impossible with techniques like traditional hand model-making,” continues Stark.

Jonas Mårtensson, General manager, Cleeks Golf Club, adds; “Art of Golf is about expanding what golf can be. We use the golf bag as a canvas to celebrate artists, cultures and creative voices from around the world, bringing a new dimension to the sport and creating experiences that resonate beyond traditional golf audiences.

“These collectibles capture that idea perfectly. They’re not simply miniature golf bags; they’re miniature works of art. Mimaki’s technology has allowed us to faithfully reproduce each artist’s vision and create something that fans can take home while preserving the integrity of the original work,” adds Mårtensson.

With the 14 events that make up the 2026 LIV Golf tournament already in full swing, and with the replicas already wowing US crowds, as well as those in countries that include Spain, Korea and Mexico, Mimaki is actively involved in assisting in the design and 3D printing of miniature golf bags for upcoming rounds in the UK, as well as additional events in the US.

3D printed golf bag model with support material still attached, resting on the build plate of a Mimaki 3D printer, showing a blue and white patterned design partially visible through the wax-like support structure.
Each of the eye-catching 3D printed replicas are produced on Mimaki’s photorealistic full color 3DUJ-553 3D printer in one piece, thereby eliminating the need for painting or assembly.
Hand holding a finished miniature golf bag with a blue and teal marbled pattern on a display base, with a city skyline and green trees in the background.
Each of the Mimaki 3D printed replicas faithfully brings the designers’ bold visions to life by capturing the form, texture, and artwork of the original bag within the Art of Golf series.
Full-scale Mimaki 3D printed golf bag replica with monster and eye motif design, displayed on a golf course alongside a golf club and balls.
The highly-detailed 3D printed miniature golf bags reproduce designs from the Art of Golf series – a collection of unique attention-grabbing player’s golf bags, that are currently in use by Cleeks players on the multi-stage 2026 LIV Golf tournament.

The Art of the Drive

The stunning designs that make up the Art of Golf series feature creations from artists across multiple countries including Korea, Mexico, Singapore and the USA.In most cases, the artists are locally anchored to the regions that feature as part of the 2026 LIV Golf tournament, allowing each design to reflect not only the artist’s language, but also the cultural context surrounding the course. The sixth bag in the 2026 Art of Golf series draws inspiration from Virginia, incorporating the Flowering Dogwood and Northern Cardinal into a design centered around renewal, protection, and identity.

Mimaki’s collaboration with Cleeks Golf Club underscores its advanced 3D printing capability, which is exemplified by its flagship 3D printer, the 3DUJ-553, that is central to this project. As the world’s first photorealistic full-color 3D printer, it is capable of producing more than 10 million unique colors across a multitude of different application scenarios. In addition to high quality art, collectibles, and retail products, the benefits of Mimaki’s 3D printing proposition are also being leveraged for medical and anatomical modelling; product design & prototyping; and other creative and commercial fields.

Golf fans can enjoy an up-close look at the four 3D prints from the Art of Golf series, as well as the opportunity to purchase them, at the remaining events across the 2026 LIV Golf tournament. The upcoming locations and dates are: LIV Golf UK, July 23-26, (JCB Golf and Country Club, Rocester, England); August 6–9, LIV Golf New York, (Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster, New Jersey, USA); August 20-23, LIV Golf Indianapolis, (The Club at Chatham Hills, Westfield, IN, USA); and August 27–30, LIV Golf Michigan – Team Championship, (The Cardinal at Saint John’s, Plymouth, MI, USA).

Additionally, some designs from the collection will also be on display at BMW International Open, a DP World Tour event held at Golfclub München Eichenried in Munich, Germany, from July 2–5.

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DTF vs DTG Printing – The Technologies Shaping Today’s Custom Merchandise Market

From sportswear to branded tote bags, custom merchandise continues to grow in popularity across sectors, driving print shops to cater to short runs, personalisation, and rapid turnaround. As print providers look to this market, two printing technologies often stand out: Direct‑to‑Film (DTF) and Direct‑to‑Garment (DTG). Each offers its own benefits, and understanding these differences helps determine the most suitable production method for print service providers.

What is DTF Printing?

DTF (Direct‑to‑Film) printing is a relatively new printing process, tailored to the fast-moving promotional merchandising market. The process includes printing a design onto a specialist film followed by a hot‑melt adhesive powder being applied. The printed film is then passed through a dryer unit, drying the ink and smoothing the powder layer. This direct-to-transfer sheet can then be applied onto almost any fabric, such as cotton, polyester and leather, using a heat press.

What is DTG Printing?

DTG (Direct‑to‑Garment) is a more traditional process, where the material is pre-treated before being printed directly onto and then cured. Due to the direct-to-garment technique, this technology is best suited for natural fabrics such as cotton and linen, while some blended fabrics can also be used with varying results. The resulting product is more breathable and softer when compared to more textured DTF prints.

To DTF or to DTG?

While both printers are well suited for merchandise and custom apparel production, there are key differences when it comes to the workflow and end-product. DTF printing offers broader flexibility, with more applications available thanks to its ability to be applied to any fabric via the transfer sheet. This can easily be produced and stored ahead of time, before the garment even arrives at the printshop. The manual heat-press application also means that the prints can be applied to hard-to-reach areas, instead of being restricted to flat and accessible surfaces.

On the other hand, DTG is more adept at producing intricate details and subtle gradients in its prints. Since it is applied directly onto the fabric, the resulting print is more breathable and washable compared to DTF prints, which sit on top of the fabric.

Sustainability depends on the workflow, DTG typically uses water-based inks but may require pre-treatment and washing, while DTF eliminates water usage but introduces consumables such as film and adhesive powder.

Lastly, when it comes to production processes, there is a notable difference between the two technologies. DTF only requires a two-step printing process with the DTF printer and a heat press, meanwhile DTG requires multiple steps, including pre-treatment so that the ink can adhere to the fabric, printing and curing. Due to this more time-consuming DTG process, DTF printing is more adept at bulk orders as can operate easily without constant supervision, while DTG printing is better at producing a few custom products on demand. This also means that DTF operates much better in smaller print shops, as the entire process requires less space compared to the DTG workflow

Why DTF Is Gaining Momentum

In recent years DTF has seen rapid adoption across the merchandise and promotional sectors due to its versatility, production efficiency, and compatibility with a wide range of fabrics. The technology is constantly undergoing significant innovation, including emerging powderless DTF capabilities and automated heat-press systems, helping businesses streamline workflow and improve scalability to match demand.

Mimaki’s launch of its pioneering DTF technology in 2023 with the TxF150-75 marked a significant step in bringing reliable and colour accurate print capabilities to the market, addressing key challenges such as colour consistency, white ink reliability and production stability that had previously limited wider DTF adoption. Developed alongside Mimaki’s PHT50 ink set, the TxF Series is designed to deliver stable performance across a broad range of professional DTF films, including hot-peel, cold-peel, matte and glossy types – helping reduce media-related instability while supporting sharp details, consistent white opacity and reliable transfer quality. This progress reflects the wider momentum behind DTF, a sector that continues to grow year on year, with strong sales across EMEA and a growing range of solutions entering the market – even extending beyond textile applications with UV-DTF technology.

Matching Technology to Market Demand 

For print service providers, the decision between DTF and DTG comes down to the types of applications being produced, the desired finish and required production capacity. For example, while some printers prefer the softer hand feel of DTG prints, others utilise the textured finish achieved by DTF to produce faux embroidery effects, which saw a notable rise in popularity last year. An increasing number of print service providers are adopting hybrid workflows, combining DTF for versatility and scalability with DTG for premium, soft-touch applications, while some choose to focus on DTF for its broad application scope, efficient workflow and smaller footprint.

Ultimately, the choice between DTF and DTG is not about which technology is better, but which is better suited to a specific business model. As customer demand continues to evolve towards faster turnaround, greater personalisation and broader application possibilities, the most successful print providers will be those able to align technology with market needs or increasingly, leverage both.

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Mimaki Celebrates Triple EDP Award Win at FESPA 2026

Danna Drion, General Manager Marketing and Product Management at Mimaki Europe, accepting the EDP Awards on behalf of Mimaki at the FESPA Global Print Expo 2026.

Danna Drion (R), General Manager Marketing and Product Management, Mimaki Europe, accepted three EDP Awards 2026 on behalf of Mimaki during FESPA Global Print Expo 2026, pictured with Jean Poncet (L) (© EDP)

Brand-new UJ330H-160 receives Best Flatbed/Hybrid <50 m²/h award, recognising its versatile approach to roll and rigid UV printing in one compact system

UJF-7151 plusII e and TS330-1800 also awarded, underlining Mimaki’s application-led innovation across industrial, object and textile printing

Mimaki Europe, a leading manufacturer of industrial inkjet printers and cutting plotters, was presented with 3 EDP Awards at the association’s 2026 ceremony, held at FESPA Global Print Expo. These highly acclaimed awards celebrate best-in-class innovation across the print industry, and Mimaki was honoured in three different categories. The winning technologies were:

  • Best Flatbed/Hybrid Printer <50 m2/h – UJ330H-160 hybrid UV printer
  • Best Direct-to-Shape – Object Printing – UJF-7151 plusII e UV-LED flatbed printer
  • Best Textile Roll-to-Roll Printer <150 m2/h – TS330-1800 sublimation printer

The first of Mimaki’s three wins was for the UJ330H-160, the company’s latest hybrid UV inkjet printer, developed for sign makers and print service providers looking to expand their application range without adding separate systems. Combining roll-to-roll and rigid board printing in one compact platform, the UJ330H-160 supports a wide mix of graphics applications, from signage, window graphics and banners to wallpaper, POS displays and rigid boards. Stable media handling, fast changeover between roll and rigid production, and value-added UV capabilities, including white, clear and multi-layer printing up to five layers, make it a practical response to the demand for more flexible, space-conscious and cost-efficient production.

“Winning three EDP Awards is significant recognition for the technical excellence of our innovations, but above all, we’re proud of what these technologies enable our customers to achieve,” comments Danna Drion, General Manager Marketing and Product Management, Mimaki Europe, who accepted the awards on behalf of Mimaki at FESPA. “The UJ330H-160 is a great example of this: innovation developed around real production needs. Print businesses are looking for flexibility, quality and a smarter use of space and investment. By bringing roll and rigid UV printing together in one accessible system, the UJ330H-160 gives them more ways to say yes to new work.”

Mimaki’s UJF-7151 plusII e was awarded by the EDP for direct-to-object printing. Built for industrial-grade precision, the printer combines high-resolution UV-LED output with the ability to print directly onto a wide range of objects and materials, supporting applications from promotional items and packaging to industrial parts and premium personalisation. Its ability to handle complex surfaces and objects, including cylindrical items with optional accessories, reflects the growing demand for high-value, customised production.

UJ330H-160
Hybrid UV inkjet printer
At the centre of Mimaki’s three wins was the UJ330H-160, the company’s latest hybrid UV inkjet printer, developed for sign makers and print service providers looking to expand their application range without adding separate systems.
UJF-7151 plusII e
High precision UV-LED flatbed printer
The Mimaki UJF-7151 plusII e is a high-precision industrial UV-LED flatbed printer delivering ultra-sharp 1,800 dpi output, fast production speeds, versatile printing on complex objects and materials, and smart efficiency features designed for professional-grade performance.
TS330 Series high-volume dye sublimation printers
The Mimaki TS330-1800 delivers professional textile and apparel production with flexible model options, combining high productivity, consistent print quality, reliable operation, and advanced sublimation performance in both compact and high-volume formats.
Mimaki Celebrates Triple EDP Award Win at FESPA 2026
Danna Drion (R), General Manager Marketing and Product Management, Mimaki Europe, accepted three EDP Awards 2026 on behalf of Mimaki during FESPA Global Print Expo 2026, pictured with Jean Poncet (L) (© EDP)

Completing the trio, the TS330-1800 was recognised in textile roll-to-roll printing. Designed for modern sublimation textile and apparel production, the printer combines productivity, image quality and operational stability, with a wide print area and ink configurations that support applications ranging from fashion and sportswear to soft signage, interiors and promotional products. With extended colour possibilities, including Orange, Violet and Fluorescent inks, the TS330-1800 helps textile producers deliver richer, more expressive output while maintaining reliable production.

Mimaki’s success at this year’s EDP Awards reflects the company’s ongoing focus on developing solutions that help print businesses diversify applications, improve production flexibility and create new value across multiple markets. Drion concludes: “These awards recognise three very different solutions, but they all share the same purpose: helping customers open up new applications, improve day-to-day production and build more resilient businesses. That is where we believe print innovation has the greatest impact.”

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