If you print wallcoverings on a VUTEk M3h, you’ve probably experienced it at least once. Everything looks great coming off the printer, but during installation, the seams are trimmed and the ink begins to chip, crack, or lift. Suddenly, a beautiful print turns into a costly reprint.

While every production environment is different, we’ve found that many adhesion issues can be improved by adjusting print settings and taking a closer look at your printing process before assuming the material is at fault.

The Problem

One of the most common complaints with UV-printed wallcoverings is poor ink adhesion at the seams. This issue often doesn’t become apparent until installation, when the installer trims overlapping panels with a sharp blade. If the ink hasn’t bonded well enough to the substrate, it can lift or flake away along the cut edge.

Because the prints may look perfect during quality inspection, this problem can be especially frustrating to diagnose.

A Setting That Made a Difference

One adjustment that has helped us improve adhesion is changing the smoothing setting within the VUTEk M3h.

Previously, we printed using:

• Heavy Smoothing
• Delicate print mode

To improve adhesion, we switched to:

• Ultra Smoothing
• Delicate print mode

This change does reduce print speed, but we’ve found the slower output provides noticeably better adhesion performance, particularly on wallcovering materials where seam durability is critical.

As with any production change, results can vary depending on your specific material, ink set, and environmental conditions, but it’s a worthwhile adjustment to test if you’re experiencing similar issues.

Why It Helps

Higher smoothing settings generally allow the printer to build the image more gradually, improving ink laydown consistency and helping create a more uniform cured surface.

Although this increases production time, the tradeoff can be worthwhile if it reduces installation failures and costly reprints.

In many cases, a slightly slower print is far less expensive than replacing an entire wallcovering installation.

Other Things to Check

If changing the smoothing setting doesn’t completely resolve the issue, consider reviewing these areas as well:

• UV Lamp Performance

As UV lamps age, they produce less energy, which can affect ink curing. Verify that lamp hours are within specification and ensure reflectors are clean.

• Material Compatibility

Not every wallcovering accepts UV ink equally well. Test new media before committing to production, and confirm that the manufacturer’s recommended print profile matches your application.

• Printhead Health

Missing nozzles or inconsistent ink laydown can create weak spots in the printed image. Perform regular nozzle checks and maintenance to ensure consistent coverage.

• Environmental Conditions

Temperature and humidity can influence both the media and the curing process. Maintaining a stable production environment helps improve consistency from job to job.

• Cure Settings

If your RIP or printer allows adjustment of UV curing parameters, experiment carefully. Too little curing can reduce durability, while excessive curing may make the ink film more brittle on certain materials.

Don’t Judge a Print Until It’s Installed

Wallcoverings present a unique challenge because the real test happens after printing. A print that appears flawless on the production floor may reveal adhesion problems only after trimming during installation.

Whenever you introduce a new material, profile, or printer setting, consider performing a simple installation test. Print a small sample, allow it to cure fully, install it, and trim a seam before approving the settings for full production.

Final Thoughts

The VUTEk M3h remains a dependable production printer, but like any UV printer, it benefits from fine-tuning based on the application. For us, moving from Heavy Smoothing / Delicate to Ultra Smoothing / Delicate has improved adhesion on wallcoverings, even though it comes with a slower print speed.

Sometimes the best solution isn’t replacing equipment or changing materials. It’s making a small adjustment that leads to more reliable results where they matter most: on the wall.