What is UV DTF printing?

UV DTF stands for UV direct to film. A logo is printed with UV ink onto a film, cured straight away under UV light, then transferred onto a surface. Only the ink and a thin layer of adhesive are left behind.

Which products have UV DTF logos?

The Box Cube covers for the Shure SM7B and SM7dB and the Shure MV7, MV7i, MV7+ and MV7X, and the logo option on the SM7B / SM7dB mic sleeve and the MV7 mic body cover.

UV DTF printing: how a full colour logo is made

Some of our mic covers carry your logo as a UV DTF print instead of a 3D printed one. Here's how it's made, step by step.

Watch it in 27 seconds

What UV DTF printing is

UV DTF stands for UV direct to film. Your logo is printed with UV ink onto a clear film, and the ink is cured hard straight away under UV light. The print is then pressed onto your 3D printed cover and the film is peeled off, so only your logo is left on the surface.

Each print is made of four thin layers:

Adhesive on the film, which grips the cover.
White ink, so the colours stay bright on a black or dark cover.
Full colour ink, for your logo exactly as you send it.
Gloss varnish, which gives a slightly raised, glossy finish and protects the colour.

How a UV DTF logo is made

Step 1: a UV DTF print head prints white ink, full colour and gloss varnish onto adhesive film — **1. Print onto film.** White ink goes down first, then the full colour, then a gloss varnish.

2. Cure with UV light. The ink sets hard as it prints, so there's no drying time.

Step 3: a roller lays clear transfer film over the UV DTF print — **3. Cover with clear film.** A transfer film is rolled over the print to carry it.

Step 4: the UV DTF transfer is cut to size and the backing film is peeled off — **4. Cut and peel.** The logo is cut to size and the backing is peeled off, leaving the sticky side open.

Step 5: the UV DTF transfer is pressed onto a black 3D printed mic cover with a squeegee — **5. Press onto the cover.** The print goes on your cover and is pressed down firmly.

6. Peel the film away. The clear film comes off slowly, and only your logo is left behind.

The finished cover

SM7B Box Cube

MV7i/MV7X Box Cube

UV DTF or a 3D printed logo?

Most of our logo covers have the logo 3D printed in coloured filament, raised from the background. UV DTF is for the times that can't do what you need.

	UV DTF logo	3D printed logo
Colours	Full colour, including gradients, shading and photos	Our 34 filament colours, one per part of the logo
Fine detail	Small text and thin lines stay sharp	Best with bold shapes and simple logos
Finish	Smooth, glossy and very slightly raised	Raised, solid and part of the cover
Dispatch	Usually within 5-7 days	Usually within 48 hours

Why we use UV DTF

Full colour: it isn't limited to our filament colours, so your exact brand colours print as they are.
Fine detail: small text and thin lines that would be lost in a 3D print stay crisp.
No sticker edge: there's no vinyl or paper base, so there's no clear border around your logo.
Hard wearing: the cured ink and varnish stand up well to everyday handling.

Products with UV DTF logos

Shure SM7B / SM7dB Box Cube cover: a logo on each side, with an optional logo on the base.
Shure MV7 / MV7i / MV7+ / MV7X Box Cube cover: a logo on each of the four sides.
Shure SM7B / SM7dB mic sleeve: add your logo, placed front and centre.
Shure MV7 mic body cover: add your logo, centred on the front.

Getting your logo ready

File type: an SVG gives the sharpest result. A high-resolution PNG or JPG works too, ideally at least 1000 pixels across.
Background: we print your logo without its background, so only the logo itself sits on the cover. A PNG with a transparent background is ideal.
We check it first: one of our designers looks at every logo before it's printed, and tells you if anything won't come out well.

There's more on sizes and lead times in the UV DTF section of our 3D print process.

Questions

Is a UV DTF logo a sticker?

No. A sticker has a vinyl or paper base with a visible edge around the design. A UV DTF transfer has no base, so only the logo itself sits on the cover, with no clear border around it.

Can you print any colours?

Yes. UV DTF prints in full colour, so gradients, shading, photos and exact brand colours all print as they are. A white layer under the colour keeps it bright on a black or dark cover.

How long does a UV DTF logo take?

Each logo is printed and applied by hand, so products with UV DTF logos are usually dispatched within 5-7 days.

How do I look after it?

Wipe it with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid solvents, abrasive cleaners and picking at the edges of the logo.

See the SM7B Box Cube cover