5 Ways to Print on Acrylic (And My Preferred Method!)

If you've been wanting to customize acrylic for keychains, ornaments, or other crafts, you're probably wondering - how exactly do you get designs onto acrylic?

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I'm showing you FIVE different methods for printing on acrylic! Some of these involve printing directly on the acrylic, while others use transfers or stickers. Whether you have a sublimation printer, UV printer, DTF printer, white toner printer, or print and cut machine - there's a method that will work for you!I'm going to link to each method of printing on acrylic throughout and you can also learn more about each method in this Youtube video.

Method 1: Sublimation on Glitter Acrylic

The first method is sublimation! You can sublimate directly onto special sublimation acrylic. I'm using glitter sublimation acrylic here, which creates a beautiful sparkly effect.

I cut the acrylic using my laser, then printed the design with my Brother SP-1 sublimation printer and heat pressed it directly onto the acrylic. The result is STUNNING and completely permanent!

Full Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Sublimate on Acrylic

Method 2: UV Printing Directly on Acrylic

If you have a UV printer, you can print DIRECTLY onto acrylic. This method works on all kinds of acrylic - different thicknesses, clear, mirror, and opaque.

I've used both my Eufymake E1 and Epson V1070 UV printers for printing on acrylic. It's easier on the Eufymake due to the camera. You just place your acrylic piece directly on the flatbed of the printer and print. The UV ink cures instantly and creates a permanent design that won't come off!

I printed this one in all white on mirror acrylic and it came out really really beautiful. UV printing gives you incredible detail and durability!

Beginners Guide to UV Printing on Acrylic

Method 3: DTF Transfers on Acrylic

This is one of my favorite methods and most people don't even realize it's possible. You can apply DTF transfers to acrylic.

You print the transfer on your DTF printer, then laser cut your acrylic to perfectly match the transfer size, and heat press the transfer onto the acrylic. The result is incredibly detailed and vibrant.

I love using my xTool Apparel printer and xTool P2 laser for this because there's no concern about file size- it's just one fluid workflow all using the same file and software.

This same method also works beautifully on wood if you have a diode laser instead of a CO2 laser!

Complete Tutorial: How to Put DTF Transfers on Acrylic

Method 4: White Toner Printer Transfers

If you have a white toner printer, like the iColor 560, you can create gorgeous transfers for acrylic! White toner printers allow you to print transfers that are literally just print and press.

You can apply the white toner transfer to either the front or the back of the acrylic for different effects.

If you apply a white toner transfer to the back of clear acrylic, the design shows through beautifully, creating a stained glass look.

You can also apply a pattern to a sheet of acrylic and then laser cut shapes!

That's what I did here with this school logo and merch.

Step by Step Tutorial: How to Put White Toner Transfers on Acrylic

Method 5: Print and Cut holographic stickers

This method is perfect if you have a print and cut machine like a Roland BN2-20a! Print holographic sticker designs and apply them to your laser-cut acrylic.

This method doesn't print directly to the acrylic but it does allow you to customize it with a printer that both print and cut.

Which method is most permanent?

Sometimes it comes down to what equipment you have, but sometimes it comes down to the durability you need!

If you want something that's going to be really durable - something you can't wipe, scrape, or pick off - then you want either sublimation or UV printing. These methods create permanent designs that are part of the acrylic itself.

Keep in mind though, sublimation requires a lot of heat for a lengthy period and that makes the acrylic pliable. There are some workarounds for this.

DTF transfers and stickers can potentially be removed with enough effort, though DTF transfers are pretty durable. White toner transfers fall somewhere in between depending on the specific transfer paper and application method you use.

For that reason my #1 preferred method for printing on acrylic is with a UV Printer.

Do you need a CO2 laser for acrylic?

If you're going to make acrylic a core part of your business and you want to cut it you really do need a CO2 laser.

All of the acrylic pieces I showed you were contour cut to match the designs perfectly. A CO2 laser cuts all colors of acrylic with ease.

You can try to cut dark core acrylic with a diode laser, but my advice to you is if acrylic is going to be a significant part of what you make, invest in a CO2 laser.

The good news is there are affordable CO2 lasers on the market, like the Flux Beamo 30W CO2 laser, that you can get into under $1700!

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!

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