What to check before you buy

A vibrant sample photo can show what a UV printer produces, but it cannot tell you whether the machine fits your production. A useful sample test uses your intended material and artwork, then checks print quality, adhesion, handling and total batch time.

For sign makers, gift businesses, metal badge producers and decoration manufacturers, the goal is to confirm more than whether an image can be printed. You need to know whether a practical, repeatable workflow can deliver products that meet your customers’ requirements. Use this guide to make your pre-purchase testing more specific.

1 Prepare the right information

Whenever possible, supply the actual substrate used in your orders. Materials sold under the same general name may have different coatings or surface treatments. A successful result on one sample does not automatically apply to another material or batch.

· Material details: exact substrate, surface coating, supplier and batch. If these are unknown, share the packaging or material description.

· Product dimensions: length, width, thickness and print area, including holes, raised features or curved surfaces.

· Artwork: original design files where possible, with final output dimensions, small text, brand colors and transparent areas identified.

· Finishing requirements: white ink, spot varnish, double-sided printing and any later processing.

· Production targets: batch size, expected daily output, turnaround time and intended indoor or outdoor use.

For example, “printing metal badges” is only a starting point. A clearer brief identifies the badge’s surface finish, specifies a white underbase, and asks for checks on edge registration and appearance after routine handling.

2 Inspect more than the color

Assess the sample under agreed lighting and at a normal viewing distance before examining fine details. Photos and videos help with initial discussions, but important orders should include approval of a physical sample. Keep an agreed reference sample for future comparisons.

· Image detail: check small text, fine lines, gradients and the uniformity of solid color areas.

· Color: compare brand colors with an agreed physical reference where possible. A phone screen alone is not a reliable approval reference. Record the print mode used.

· White ink: on dark or transparent substrates, check that coverage meets the design requirements and that white does not extend visibly beyond color edges.

· Varnish: inspect gloss, coverage, registration and surface feel against the intended result, rather than judging only the height of the effect.

If the final product needs white ink or varnish, include those steps in the test. A color-only sample does not establish the quality or production time of a multilayer job.

3 Confirm whether surface treatment is needed

The words “metal” or “plastic” alone do not determine whether a primer is needed. Adhesion depends on the compatibility of the ink and the substrate surface. Glass, metal and some plastics may need a suitable primer or another surface treatment; the correct approach must be verified on the actual material.

Using material from the same batch, compare direct printing after an agreed cleaning procedure with a compatible primer process where appropriate. Record the preparation method, ink configuration and test timing. Check that the primer does not create an unacceptable change in appearance or interfere with later processing.

Choose checks that reflect the intended use, such as routine rubbing, contact with cleaning products or later bending. A simple hand-rub check can screen initial results. Where customers specify adhesion, abrasion or weathering requirements, agree on test methods, conditions and acceptance criteria in advance. One demonstration cannot establish durability in every environment.

4 Validate the complete production workflow

Once a single sample is acceptable, request a continuous batch that more closely represents a real order. Check output across different positions and consecutive batches, and count acceptable finished pieces. For small items, also assess how easily operators can load, locate and remove them.

Measure the full cycle: cleaning or priming, loading, positioning, file preparation, printing, unloading and inspection. Record the actual white ink and varnish layers and print mode. Measuring only the time when the printer is applying ink can underestimate the time needed to complete an order.

When comparing machines, use the same artwork, final dimensions, material and acceptance requirements. Speeds measured at different quality modes or white ink coverage levels are not directly comparable. Also record operator count, rejected pieces and any reusable fixtures required.

5 Match the printer to your products

Start with material format, print dimensions and positioning needs before comparing print width or printhead count. Discuss these MYJET equipment categories as possible directions; confirm capabilities against the specific model and configuration.

· Small UV flatbeds: evaluate for small-format customization, checking the usable print area, product height and space for fixtures.

· 6090 UV flatbeds: consider for small and medium-format rigid products, with attention to batch layout and loading procedures.

· 1860 hybrid UV printers: evaluate when your business handles both rigid sheets and roll media, testing each workflow separately.

· Vision positioning systems: consider when locating small items takes significant operator time. Test recognition and registration with actual product shapes, reflective surfaces and placement arrangements.

6 Frequently asked questions

Can a similar material replace my actual substrate in a sample test

It can support an initial assessment, but final approval should use the material you intend to purchase whenever possible. Revalidate when the coating or material batch changes.

If the sample needs no primer will production also need none

Not necessarily. First confirm that the substrate, ink, cleaning procedure and acceptance conditions remain consistent before reusing the same process.

Does vision positioning remove every need for fixtures

No. A camera helps identify position, but products must still remain stable. Items that roll, warp or vary in height may require additional support or fixing.

What records should I keep after approving a sample

Keep material details, artwork, print mode, white ink and varnish settings, surface preparation steps, full batch time and test results. These records make the approved result easier to reproduce.

Discuss your sample requirements with MYJET

Send MYJET your material photos, product dimensions, artwork and expected output. Tell us whether you need white ink, varnish or vision positioning. We can help assess suitable equipment options and discuss testing on your actual material, so you can review both the print result and the production workflow before buying.