Buyers who run UV DTF (crystal label) printing buy ink as a repeat consumable, but the SKU choice is often where orders stall. This guide covers the UV DTF ink formats ChromaBind stocks — 1L and 500ml Vikas bottles and CMYK/white/varnish set cartons — and what to confirm before you commit.
What UV DTF ink does in crystal-label printing
In UV DTF printing, the printer lays UV-curable ink onto the A film, the ink is cured under the printer's LED lamp, and a B film is laminated on top to protect the printed layer. The finished label is peeled and pressed onto a rigid surface. Because the ink carries both the colour image and the white underbase, ink is a direct part of print quality, not a passive consumable.
Industry guides stress the same three checks when choosing UV DTF ink: it has to match your printhead, cure fully under your LED UV lamp, and hold adhesion on the substrates you print most (Alpha Print Supply, "How to Choose the Right UV DTF Ink for Your Printer"). For a fuller walkthrough of the film-and-ink pairing on cups and hard goods, see our UV DTF film and ink pairing guide.
UV DTF ink formats: bottles vs full sets
ChromaBind's UV DTF ink comes in four active SKUs — two Vikas bottle formats and two complete CMYK/white/varnish set cartons.
| SKU reference | Pack format | Carton packing | Gross weight | CBM (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB-UVINK-VIKAS-1L | 1L Vikas bottles | 20 bottles / carton, 51 x 40.8 x 21 cm | 22 kg | 0.0437 |
| CB-UVINK-VIKAS-500 | 500ml Vikas bottles | 20 bottles / carton, 37 x 30 x 19.5 cm | 12 kg | 0.0216 |
| CB-UVINK-SET-20C | CMYK / white / varnish set | 20 kg / carton, 0.47 x 0.36 x 0.24 m | 22 kg | 0.0383 |
| CB-UVINK-SET-10C | CMYK / white / varnish set | 10 kg / carton, 37 x 30 x 19.5 cm | 12 kg | 0.0216 |
The HS reference recorded for the UV DTF ink line is 3215902000. HS references are a quoting aid, not a final customs commitment — the importer or customs broker confirms classification for the destination. Printing inks fall under HS heading 3215 (Flexport, HS 3215); plastic films such as AB film fall under heading 3920 (Flexport, HS 3920).
Carton quantity is packing information, not a commercial MOQ. Price and exact MOQ are confirmed per SKU, quantity and destination in the formal quotation.
Bottles vs sets: which to start with
- Vikas bottles (1L or 500ml) suit shops that refill by colour and want to control stock per channel. Both cartons hold 20 bottles; the 500ml carton is roughly half the gross weight (12 kg vs 22 kg) and half the CBM (0.0216 vs 0.0437) of the 1L carton.
- CMYK/white/varnish sets (10kg or 20kg cartons) are a balanced starter for a new crystal-label line: you get all channels in one carton and one CBM figure to plan freight around.
CMYK, white and varnish: what each channel is for
- CMYK carries the colour image.
- White is the underbase that gives opacity. You lean on white ink most when printing on a clear-based A film or on transparent or coloured substrates.
- Varnish (gloss) is printed as a protective top layer that adds gloss and helps the label survive handling.
If your A film is a white thick base (paper-based), the film itself supplies the white backing, which changes how much white ink you need. That choice is covered in our white thick base vs double clear base guide and the AB film buyer's guide.
How to match UV DTF ink to your printer and film
The most common cause of a UV DTF ink order going wrong is compatibility. Inks differ by printhead and by the LED curing system in the machine, so the ink must be confirmed against your specific printer before a bulk order — treat blanket "works with all printers" claims as a red flag.
- Printer: give the supplier your printer model and printhead when you ask for a quotation or sample.
- Film: a clear-based A film relies on your white ink for opacity; a white thick base (paper-based) A film brings its own white layer. Matching ink to the base you run avoids re-tuning later.
- Substrate: the label is pressed onto hard surfaces — tumblers, mugs, phone cases, acrylic and metal. If your mix is mostly curved or clear items, that changes the white and varnish balance.
What to confirm before ordering
Because ink is a liquid consumable, a few commercial and document points need to be on the table before you commit:
- Packing references: carton size, gross weight and CBM are available per SKU from the live catalog, so you can plan freight and mixed loads.
- Documentation: inks are liquids and shipping conditions differ by mode. SDS/MSDS status and sea-vs-air transport appraisal are verified for the selected product and destination and shared with the quotation. For the full picture, read our guide to importing DTF inks and cleaning liquids.
- Sample route: samples are a practical way to validate ink on your printer and film before a bulk order; the sample SKU, quantity, fee, freight and timing are confirmed case by case in the quotation.
- MOQ, lead time and price: these are not published. They are confirmed per SKU, quantity, packing and production schedule in the formal quotation.
How to start
Pick your starting format — a CMYK/white/varnish set carton if you are setting up a new line, or Vikas bottles if you are refilling a known channel — then send your target SKU, printer model, monthly volume and destination port through the RFQ form. That is enough for the supplier to confirm packing, documents and a sample route for your exact combination.
FAQ
What is UV DTF ink used for?
UV DTF ink is printed onto the A film of a UV DTF (crystal label) system, cured under the printer's LED lamp, then laminated with the B film and applied to hard surfaces such as tumblers, phone cases, acrylic and metal.
What is the difference between the 1L and 500ml bottles?
Both are Vikas-series bottles packed 20 per carton. The 1L carton (51 x 40.8 x 21 cm, 22 kg) holds more ink per carton, while the 500ml carton (37 x 30 x 19.5 cm, 12 kg) is about half the weight and volume for lighter freight.
What is the varnish channel for?
Varnish is a gloss top coat printed over the colour and white layers to protect the label and add a glossy finish.
Do I need white ink for UV DTF?
Usually yes. White is the underbase that provides opacity on clear-based A film and on transparent or coloured substrates. On a white thick base (paper-based) A film, the film itself supplies the white layer, so you may need less white ink.
Is UV DTF ink the same as DTF ink?
No. DTF ink is used for fabric transfers printed on DTF film and pressed onto garments. UV DTF ink is UV-curable ink for hard-surface crystal labels. They are separate product lines in the ChromaBind catalog.