Acrylic UV printing is widely used for signage, decoration, and personalized gifts thanks to its vibrant color output and durability. However, improper operation or misunderstanding of UV printing technology can lead to common errors that affect the final quality. In this article, we’ll walk you through four frequent mistakes users make when printing on acrylic — and offer expert tips on how to avoid them.

1. Incorrect Surface Preparation

The mistake:
Many users skip or improperly clean the acrylic surface before printing. This results in poor ink adhesion, leading to peeling, smudging, or fading after a short time.

How to avoid it:
Always clean the acrylic surface with isopropyl alcohol to remove dust, grease, and fingerprints. For optimal adhesion, some applications may also benefit from applying a thin layer of primer depending on the UV ink used.

2. Using the Wrong UV Ink Type

The mistake:
Not all UV inks adhere equally well to acrylic. Using general-purpose UV ink can result in cracking or poor color performance on smooth surfaces.

How to avoid it:
Choose UV inks that are specifically formulated for hard and non-porous materials like acrylic. If you're using a MYJET UV printer, consult with your supplier to match the correct ink type to your target materials.

3. Improper Height Adjustment Between Printhead and Material

The mistake:
Incorrect distance between the printhead and the acrylic surface can cause ink misting or banding, especially on thicker sheets.

How to avoid it:
Ensure your printer has automatic height detection or manually calibrate the height according to the thickness of the acrylic. MYJET UV printers offer adjustable printhead height control to help with this exact issue.

3. Improper Height Adjustment Between Printhead and Material

The mistake:
Incorrect distance between the printhead and the acrylic surface can cause ink misting or banding, especially on thicker sheets.

How to avoid it:
Ensure your printer has automatic height detection or manually calibrate the height according to the thickness of the acrylic. MYJET UV printers offer adjustable printhead height control to help with this exact issue.

Final Thoughts

Acrylic UV printing delivers stunning results — when done right. By avoiding these four common pitfalls and following best practices, you can ensure consistent, professional-quality prints every time. At MYJET, we provide high-performance UV printers and expert technical support to help our customers achieve the best results on all types of materials, including acrylic.

Need help choosing the right UV printer for acrylic?
Contact our team or explore our machines like the MYJET-6090C UV Flatbed Printer, ideal for both small-scale and high-end customized printing.