Using the Roland LEF-12i Flatbed UV Printer

The Roland LEF-12i Flatbed UV Printer is a digital printer that can print high-quality images on a wide range of materials, including plastics, metals, and glass. The printer uses UV technology to cure ink as it is printed onto a material. It features a flatbed design, which allows users to print on a wide range of materials, including plastics, metals, glass, and even three-dimensional objects.
This document provides instructions for using the printer with the Roland VersaWorks software and Adobe Illustrator.

The printer uses several UV-LED lamps to cure the ink, which enables it to print on non-porous and uneven surfaces that traditional printers cannot handle. The UV-curable ink also provides a high level of durability, making it suitable for outdoor applications and products that will be exposed to wear and tear.

Users load their material onto the flatbed and send their design file to the printer using the Roland VersaWorks software. VersaWorks provides a range of tools for color management, print quality, and media selection, allowing users to achieve high-quality results with minimal effort.

Using the Roland UV Printer with Roland VersaWorks is a powerful and flexible way to create high-quality prints on a variety of materials. By following these instructions, you should be able to produce great results with your printer.

UV printers use ultraviolet (UV) light to cure or dry ink as it is printed onto a material. This allows for printing on a wide range of surfaces, including uneven or non-porous materials that traditional printers cannot handle. The ink is typically applied to the material in layers, with each layer building up the image or design. The UV light cures the ink by polymerizing it, which means that it solidifies and adheres to the material.

The ink used in UV printers is specially formulated to cure when exposed to UV light. This type of ink is made up of a combination of monomers, oligomers, photoinitiators, pigments, and other additives. When the ink is exposed to UV light, the photoinitiators start a chemical reaction that causes the ink to harden and bond to the material.

Because the ink cures almost instantly when exposed to UV light, it can be printed in very thin layers, allowing for highly detailed images and designs. The ability to print in multiple layers also enables UV printers to produce three-dimensional effects and simulate embossing or texture.

To print an image or design using a UV printer, the design file is typically prepared using specialized software, such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW. The printer software then translates the design file into a series of instructions that control the movement of the print head and the application of the ink.

As the ink is applied to the material in layers, the printer software ensures that each layer is printed accurately and precisely. Once all of the layers have been printed, the material is exposed to UV light, which cures the ink and fixes the image or design onto the surface.

  1. Download the Swatch Pack and unzip this file on your computer.
  2. Once the file is downloaded and unzipped, open Adobe Illustrator.
  3. From the "Swatches" panel menu, choose "Open Swatch Library" and select "Other Library" from the drop-down menu.
  4. Navigate to the location where you saved the downloaded swatch library file, unzip the folder and select it.
  5. The swatches should now be loaded into the Swatches panel in Illustrator.
  6. To use the swatches, simply select the object you want to fill with a swatch and click on the swatch in the Swatches panel.
  1. Download the Swatch PackSwatch Pack and Unzip the file
  2. Windows: Copy & Paste or drag the unzipped folder to this location: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 20XX\Presets\en_US\Swatches
  3. Mac: Copy & Paste or drag the unzipped folder to this location: Applications > Adobe Illustrator > Presets > en_US > Swatches
  4. The Swatches should be avaialble to use from the Swatch Library: Window -> Swatch Library -> Roland VersaWorks
  1. Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document that matches the size of the material you want to print on.
  2. Import or create the design you want to print.
  3. Create a new swatch using the "Swatches" panel. Choose the "Color Type" as "Spot Color" and name the swatch something descriptive.
  4. Double-click the swatch to open the "Swatch Options" dialog box.
  5. Choose "Color Mode" as "RGB" and enter the values for the desired color.
  6. Save the swatch and ensure that it appears in the "Swatches" panel.
  7. In the "File" menu, select "Print".
  8. Choose the Roland LEF-12i Flatbed UV Printer from the list of available printers.
  9. In the "Output" panel, select "Vector" as the output type.
  10. Select the appropriate media type and size in the "Media" panel.
  11. Choose the swatch you created earlier as the color for your design.
  12. Preview the print job to ensure that it appears as expected.
  13. Send the print job to the printer using the "Print" button.
  1. Launch Inkscape and create a new document with the dimensions of your material.
  2. Draw your design or import it from another file.
  3. Once you have your design ready, select "File" from the menu bar, and then choose "Print" or press "Ctrl+P" on your keyboard.
  4. In the Print dialog box, select "Roland VersaWorks" as your printer.
  5. Click on the "Properties" button to open the VersaWorks settings.
  6. In the VersaWorks settings, choose the appropriate print mode and quality settings for your material.
  7. Select the "Media Type" for your material. This will depend on the type of material you are printing on.
  8. In the "Color Management" section, select the appropriate color profile for your material.
  9. In the "Layout" section, adjust the size and position of your design on the material.
  10. Once you have selected all of the appropriate settings, click "OK" to close the VersaWorks settings window.
  11. Back in the Inkscape Print dialog box, make sure that your printer is set to "Roland VersaWorks" and click "Print" to send your design to the printer.
  12. The VersaWorks software will automatically open and display your design. Follow the prompts to set up the printer and begin the printing process.
  1. Find the laptop which is connected to the Flatbed UV Printer and make sure it is connected using the USB cable.
  2. Open Roland VersaWorks software on the laptop computer. The shortcut should be situated on the Laptops Desktop
  3. Launch VersaWorks and select the printer from the list of available devices.
  4. Load your design file into VersaWorks using the "File" menu or by dragging and dropping the file into the VersaWorks window.
  5. Configure the print settings, including color management, print quality, and media type.
  6. Preview the print job to ensure that it appears as expected.
  7. Send the print job to the printer using the "Output" menu or by clicking the "Print" button.
  1. Make sure the printer is turned on and connected to your computer.
  2. Open the Roland VersaWorks software on the workshop laptop.
  3. Click on the "Printer" menu and choose "Job Settings" to open the Job Settings dialog box.
  4. In the Job Settings dialog box, select the appropriate printer, print mode, and media type for your material.
  5. Click on the "Layout" tab and adjust the size and position of your design on the material. You can also choose to mirror or rotate your design if needed.
  6. Prepare the sheet of paper fixed down on the flatbed of the printer with masking tape. This will help with the alignment of final object.
  7. Close the printer cover and click on the "Print" button to send the job to the printer to start the printing process.
  8. Once you are happy with the layout (mirrored) repeat from step 5 if unhappy.
  9. Prepare the material for printing. Make sure the material is clean and free of any debris or dust.
  10. Place the material on the flatbed of the printer, making sure it is aligned properly with the guides and is centered on the printing area. If a small object then use double sided tape to secure to the flatbed.
  11. Adjust the print head height to the appropriate level for your material. This can be done using the printer control panel or software.
  12. Close the printer cover and press the print button to start the printing process.
  13. Once the printing is complete, carefully remove the material from the printer and allow it to dry or cure as needed.
  1. Swatch Files - Link
  2. Printing on Transparent Objects (Printing White Ink on the Base) - Link
  3. Printing on a White Background - Link
  4. Improving Ink Adhesion by Primeing - Link
  5. Glossy Printing - Link
  6. Making Uneven Surfaces by Embossing (Thick Gloss Printing) - Link
  7. Printing Simultaneously with White Ink and CMYK Ink - Link
  8. Reducing Output Time using Bidirectional Printing - Link