Why UV Printing / Drip Off Printing Is Rising Over Traditional Offset Printing

Dwipal U Patel Updated on Apr 15, 2025

In recent years, many packaging companies in Ahmedabad — including us at Printwell — have witnessed a remarkable increase in UV printing and drip off printing jobs. In fact, the demand continues to grow every quarter.

Earlier, clients mostly asked for drip off finishes. But now, businesses seek full-fledged UV drip off printing in Ahmedabad that delivers consistent colour quality and precise texture — something only achievable with new-generation printing machines. The days of retrofitting old 6-colour machines with UV setups are behind us. Today, quality matters more than ever.

Here’s why more companies are moving their packaging and commercial printing to UV printing and drip off UV:

1. Cost Advantage

Whether it’s mono cartons, pharma packaging, cosmetic packaging, laminate catalogue titles, or brochures, most premium print jobs include finishing like UV or lamination.

Let’s compare two methods:

Conventional Offset Printing + Lamination + Spot UV
Modern & UV Printing (includes Spot UV + Drip Off effect)

While UV printing may cost Rs. 1 more per sheet at lower volumes, it saves up to 2 full days of production — a clear win in today’s fast-paced marketing cycles.

2. One-Step Efficiency: Spot UV + Protective Drip Off Layer

In conventional printing setups:

Sheets need 6+ hours to dry
Lamination takes 1–2 days for 3,000 sheets
Spot UV requires another full day

With UV drip off printing, these steps are done simultaneously on press. This:

Cuts production time by 2 days or more
Minimizes handling and reprocessing
Delivers sharper, consistent results
Reduce paper wastage by lot

A real time-saver for urgent packaging and catalogue jobs.

3. Custom Drip Off Patterns for Visual Appeal

The drip off effect in printing isn’t just cosmetic — it’s branding.

With drip off, you can:

Highlight design elements on paper boxes, rigid boxes, catalogue titles, or even brochures & catalogues
Apply security-style coatings that are hard to replicate
Leave a lasting impression with textures and sheen

Sample Patter of UV Drip Off Patters for more impressive finish of paper

At Printwell, we’ve helped brands create unique drip off finishes for product launch kits, pharma packaging, and real estate brochures that stand out.

4. Met pet Sheet Printing/Silver Sheet Printing

What Is Met Pet Printing??

Met Pet printing (also called metpet printing) refers to UV printing on metalized polyester film — typically gold or silver foil laminated paper.

Used widely for:

Pharma packaging printing
Cosmetic boxes
Premium mono cartons

Why brands love it:

Beautiful reflective finish
Tear-resistant construction
Can skip foil stamping when printed with white ink

Combine Met Pet with white ink + drip off UV coating and you get a visually rich, strong, and efficient print product.

Met Pet Paper Printing sheet for UV pritning or Drip Off Pritning with white ink.

5. Long-Lasting Durability & Scratch Resistance

UV printing inks and drip off coatings are:

Naturally scratch resistant
Fade-proof, thanks to UV curing
Ideal for packaging that sits on retail shelves for months

That’s why UV coating printing has become the default for high-end FMCG, pharma, and real estate marketing collaterals.

Printwell’s Komori 6 Colour Plus Coater Printing Machine

6. Better for the Environment

Conventional offset printing uses inks with high VOC content (volatile organic compounds).

In contrast, UV inks:

Emit 75–80% fewer VOCs
Reduce the need for plastic film-based lamination
Are safer for people and the planet

A smart, eco-conscious move for any brand looking to lead responsibly.

Real Costing Comparison: Why UV Printing Makes More Sense

When it comes to comparing UV printing with conventional offset printing, it’s easy to get stuck on the per-sheet price. But smart brands know that real savings come from time, efficiency, and consistency.

For example, in conventional printing, a job of 1,000 sheets involves three separate processes — offset printing, lamination, and spot UV — which adds up to nearly 3 full days of production time. Even for 3,000 sheets, it still takes 4 days. The per-sheet cost may look marginally lower, but the additional time, labour, and vendor handling increase hidden costs.

Now compare that to UV printing. The same 1,000-sheet job is completed in just one day with UV drip off coating and spot UV applied in a single pass — no waiting for drying, no separate lamination needed. Even better, the cost per sheet for 3,000 sheets drops to Rs. 4 with only one day of production.

So, the equation is simple: UV printing gives you faster turnaround, better finish, and fewer complications — all while delivering higher visual impact and durability.

For brands that value time, quality, and flexibility, UV printing isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a smart decision.