What designers and brand owners should know before printing on glass

Gold isn’t always gold. Not in glass decoration.

Sometimes its precious metal. Sometimes its ceramic ink made to look metallic. Sometimes its UV ink cured with UV lights.

Here’s a breakdown of the 3 main ink systems Monvera works with — and how to choose the one that best fits your brand.

Precious Metal Gold Ink

Real gold. Real luxury.

• Contains actual gold particles
• Rich, reflective finish — unmistakably premium
• Often used on luxury spirits and premium wines

Consider if: You’re building a high-end product that should look and feel expensive. This is the real thing — not an imitation.

Ceramic Inks

The cost-effective option.

• Ink mixed with glass frit.
• Textured feel, depending on the ink.
• Offers great opacity, color stability, and durability.
• Ideal for detailed logos, text, and full wraps.

Consider if: You want an inexpensive alternative to precious metal gold. Used heavily across all product categories.

UV Inks

Offers the broadest color palette with the lowest carbon footprint.

• Cured with ultraviolet light.
• Not bonded to the glass like ceramic or precious inks.

Consider if: Your design requires vibrant attention-grabbing colors.

So which ink is right for your project?

That depends on what you're optimizing for:

• If you're going for ultimate luxury and shine: Choose precious metal ink. It's the real thing — real gold fired into glass for a rich, reflective finish.
• If you need durability and detailed precision: Go with ceramic ink. It's long-lasting, inexpensive and perfect for fine detailed designs.
• If you need bold bright vibrant colors: UV ink is your best bet.

At Monvera, we don’t just print. We help you choose the right process — because the ink is part of the brand.

And if you want your packaging to hold up — on the shelf, in the hand, and in memory — the material matters.

Want to know what your artwork would look like across all three ink types? Contact us and we’ll walk you through it.