Direct Purchase of UV Printers from China ARTJET 2025

• I received a text from an unknown number asking about ink and the head. When I called back, they said they had imported a printer directly from China and visited us shortly after.

Specs of the imported model:

• Print size: 600 x 900mm
• Two XP600 heads — one for CMYK + WW, the other for all six channels of Varnish
• RIP software: ChinRIP
• Supports Photoshop files only — AI files are not supported

2_1. One head split between CMYK and White

• When printing White simultaneously, the head is split in half — two channels for White, four for CMYK.
• Splitting the head in half cuts print speed in half.

2_2. Only two channels for White

• White is used to mask the base color of colored materials, or to create a white background on transparent materials to enhance color vibrancy.
• Even when two dedicated White heads are used, insufficient White density is a common complaint.
• When printing on black materials, White must sometimes be printed separately to cover the base color.
• When printing on transparent materials, low White density leads to frequent complaints.
• With only two channels for White, diagonal spray or clogged nozzles produce streaks in the White layer.
• Using only two channels for White creates multiple disadvantages.

2_3. Six channels for Varnish, only two for White

• White and Color are the core channels in UV printing. Varnish is used far less frequently.
• Assigning six channels to Varnish — which is rarely used — is excessive.
• Even for UV DTF, White needs to be thicker than Varnish to produce effective results.
• There should always be more White channels than Varnish channels.

2_4. ChinRIP only — no AI file support

• ChinRIP is RIP software bundled with the Chinese board company’s printer software.
• It was difficult to use in our own testing.
• Color matching is limited to the ICC profiles provided by the manufacturer.
• The biggest drawback: it only supports Photoshop files, not AI files.

• Purchasing directly through Alibaba means a much lower price than buying from a local dealer.
• For consumables, you can try the cheapest option and discard it if it doesn’t work. Equipment is different — if something goes wrong, you can’t throw it away, and you lose the full amount.
• Even I, with over 15 years in the UV printer industry, imported laser cutting equipment through a trusted Chinese partner — and chose the most expensive model.
• The company that exports the most is the one with the most accountability.
• That company’s product was the most expensive — and it was still the one we chose.
• When importing UV printers through Alibaba, remove price from your list of priorities.

The basics to check:

• What head is being used?
• How many heads are there?
• Are there enough White heads or channels?
• Does print speed decrease when printing White simultaneously?

• UV printer specifications cannot be fully understood from brochures or promotional materials alone. Focus on the factors above and make your own assessment.
• Many customers prefer the bottle jig option. We recommend reviewing how the bottle jig works before making your purchase decision.

• Most printers listed on Alibaba are priced with a Chinese-developed proprietary RIP software bundled in.
• RIP software is critically important — it determines color output and the file formats the printer can accept.
• Always ask whether Sai RIP — an affordable and globally recognized RIP — is supported.
• If Sai RIP is available, it means the manufacturer built the model with export in mind.
• If only a China-developed RIP is available, the product was made for the domestic Chinese market — it is safer to avoid such models.
• Choosing Sai RIP will increase the price, but it is a far better choice than the default Chinese RIP.

• There are countless manufacturers in China, each with different models. Some develop and manufacture UV printers themselves, some assemble components purchased from the market, and some are simply trading companies that buy in bulk and sell under their own brand.
• Without visiting in person, you cannot know which type of company you are dealing with.
• Even my Chinese colleagues always check whether a company is a trading company or manufacturer before purchasing a new product.
• If the model looks the same but the price is set unusually low, it is likely a trading company model.
• Because the selling price was set without factoring in after-sales service costs, problems with support are highly likely.

• If you purchased through a trading company, the seller likely doesn’t know the equipment well — proper after-sales service is difficult to expect.
• Even if purchased from the actual manufacturer, a single representative handling many customers cannot provide the best support to everyone.
• Purchasing through a local dealer in your country is always the safest option. But if you must import directly, prepare to handle after-sales issues yourself.
• Ask for the manual first and assess its quality.
• Is there a YouTube video manual?
• At the very minimum, confirm that a video manual exists before making your purchase decision.

• He had placed a UV DTF order with us and later purchased an A3 printer on his own. After seeing our UV DTF sample, he had a lot to say.

• “Actually, I bought an A3 UV printer on AliExpress.”
• “When did you buy it?”
• “It’s been about three months, and I’ve already spent 1 million KRW fixing it. I was so stressed at one point I felt nauseous. I have a laser cutter and other equipment, and I thought I could handle it — but UV printers are really difficult.”
• “People who are good with cutters often assume UV printers are just as straightforward, but UV printers involve ink and a head — they’re a completely different level of difficulty.”
• “I just wanted to try it out, but it’s been so hard.”
• “Even we, with 20 years of UV printer experience, are too cautious to buy through AliExpress. Is it a real manufacturer? Or a trading company? And we still wouldn’t know what problems might come up.”

• This conversation was a while ago, so I’m not sure how things are going now.
• I also tested the Vasco Cut and AOL sheet cutters and found post-processing equipment relatively easy to use — but they didn’t reach a sales level, so I stopped after testing.
• With patience and learning, you can get used to any equipment — but that time and effort is also a real cost. The company may eventually close, or the model may be discontinued.
• Considering these factors carefully before importing directly from China makes the whole process far less daunting.