UV-Printed Medals: Why the Colors Pop and How to Keep Them 🌈
UV ink cures hard within seconds, sits flat on metal, and renders gradients that traditional enamel cannot touch. Three rules keep those colors looking new for years.
UV ink cures hard within seconds, sits flat on metal, and renders gradients that traditional enamel cannot touch. Three rules keep those colors looking new for years.
Specify Two-Pass Printing
Single-pass UV looks fine until you photograph it under flash — the ink is translucent and the metal base shows through. Two-pass printing (white underlayer + color top layer) gives full opacity and lab-perfect color match. The upcharge is small (about ฿4–6/medal) and the difference in photos is night and day.
Clear-Coat the Print Layer
UV ink is hard but it is still a polymer — fingernails, keys, and other medals scuffing in transit will leave marks within months. A clear UV varnish over the print layer locks the color in and adds a subtle sheen that reads premium. Standard practice for premium running medals; ask for it by default.