UV Technology — Saturday, October 10, 2026
Gloss, matte, texture - stacked in one build.
UV printing builds an image in layers. Master the layers and you can put decoration on things a garment printer can't touch — and charge accordingly.
This session covers both UV platforms we run: the Grando for TPU, and the Mimaki UV printer for rigid and flat stock — skate decks, stickers and posters.
This is not a beginner class
It assumes fundamental Adobe Illustrator ability. The whole day turns on proper art setup: building textures and layers using white and clear inks so the press can actually leverage what UV does. If your Illustrator layer work isn't solid, this session will move faster than is useful to you.
Grando — TPU
Layered TPU patches: gloss layer, matte layer, texture layer, clear and white ink. TPU patches are heat-applied, so the technique runs straight back into your existing embroidery and apparel work. It is a production technique, not a novelty.
Mimaki UV — hard goods and flat stock
The same layering discipline applied to rigid substrates: skate decks, stickers and posters. Where the money is, what the press will and won't hold, and how to set the file up so the result is repeatable.
Who it's for: Decorators who are already comfortable in Adobe Illustrator and want to sell product a garment printer cannot produce. Not a beginner class.
Taught by: Dave Cardona
What's included
- Hands on production DTG, DTF + hybrid machines
- Lunch included
- Samples to take home
- Leave with a print path for your product
What the day looks like
One thesis runs through the whole morning: hybrid is the advantage. DTG is the premium print for cotton; DTF reaches everything cotton can't. Knowing how to run them together is the edge single-method shops don't have. Every demo below is a piece of that.
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1
Hybrid is the story
The spine of the day. DTG = premium hand-feel on cotton. DTF = strategic print for polyester, hard substrates, neck labels. The combo we innovated is the competitive advantage.
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2
Hybrid applications, live
Walk the demos we patented and pioneered — printing shoes (high-tops, skaters, even the tongues) on our AccuLine system, under-the-bill on hats, framed canvas, and skateboards with the right sanding + pretreat.
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3
DTF deep-dive + strategy
The Kern DTF lineup, the platen systems (including the shoe platen we built and the vacuum platen), and the real difference between a basic bin-and-oven setup and a professional Schultz powder/dryer/pretreat workflow.
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4
Pretreat, dialed in
Live calibration — grams per LMS by shirt color and weight, sanding grits for decks, and the do's and don'ts of DTF on leather. You leave with the cheat sheets.
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5
The shop ecosystem
Not maintenance — leverage. How we build a contained, climate-controlled environment (Corplast, the right humidifier) so your prints stay consistent batch after batch.
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6
What you take home
Clear DTG / DTF / Hybrid definitions, the tools and systems for each, printed cheat sheets, pre-printed Kern DTF samples in your swag bag, and a direct line for follow-up.
Before you come
Who is this for?
Anyone decorating apparel — from people just getting started to shop owners who want the hybrid DTG + DTF edge. You tell us your experience level when you reserve, and we pitch the room accordingly.
Do I need to bring anything?
Just yourself. Everything you need is on the floor. If there's a specific garment or substrate you want to try a print path on, bring it — we'll work it into the demos. Full details land in your confirmation email.
Is lunch really included?
Yes — lunch is on us, and you tell us about any dietary needs when you reserve so there's something good for everyone.
Where do I park?
We're at our Santa Fe Springs showroom. Parking and arrival directions are sent in your confirmation email a few days before the workshop.
What if I can't make it?
Reach out and we'll sort out a transfer to a future date. Refund and transfer terms are confirmed at checkout and in your confirmation email.