Full Color. White Ink. Varnish. 3D Texture. One Compact UV Printer That Does All of It.
The OMTech Spectra A3+ is a dual-head A3+ flatbed UV printer with two Epson F1080 printheads, CMYKWW + Varnish ink channels, localized gloss coating, 3D embossing up to 5mm, IR automatic height sensing, a vacuum hold-down table, and automated maintenance.
Built for personalization businesses, print shops, laser businesses, sign and award makers, and production studios that want one platform for full-color, white-ink, and premium-finish UV printing without the overhead of industrial-scale equipment.
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Why Dual Printheads Matter for Production Quality
The OMTech Spectra A3+ is available in both single-head and dual-head configurations. The dual-head version is the right choice when white ink, varnish, and color need to print simultaneously in a single pass — and when production output speed matters.
Two Epson F1080 printheads: Each printhead has 1080 nozzles per channel, firing at 46 kHz with a minimum 4.5 pL droplet size. Two heads running simultaneously double the effective nozzle count across the print zone — supporting the channel configuration that makes the Spectra A3+'s most distinctive finishes possible.
CMYKWW + V ink channels: The double W (white) channels support concurrent white ink layering — enabling vibrant white underprinting on dark or transparent materials (acrylic, glass, dark wood) and white overprinting for contrast effects, all in the same print pass as full color. The V (varnish) channel handles localized gloss coating from the same printhead system.
For a personalization or print business where the premium finishes — spot gloss, raised texture, white-on-dark printing — are the product differentiation that justifies higher retail prices, the dual-head configuration is the one that makes those finishes production-practical rather than theoretically possible.
What the Spectra A3+ Actually Prints — The Full Finish Spectrum
Full-color CMYK printing (720 × 1440 DPI): 99% true-color reproduction for branded products, artwork, photographs, and detailed graphics. At 4.5 pL minimum droplet and 720 × 1440 DPI maximum resolution, the output handles fine text, photographic detail, and smooth gradient transitions that lower-resolution UV printers struggle to reproduce cleanly.
White ink printing (WW channels): The double-white configuration enables white underprinting on transparent and dark substrates — the step that transforms a direct print on clear acrylic or dark wood from a washed-out result into a vibrant, opaque-looking image. White overprinting enables frosted glass effects, bright white text, and color isolation layers.
Localized varnish / spot gloss: Apply gloss selectively to logos, text, patterns, and decorative details rather than flood-coating the entire print surface. Spot gloss creates a tactile contrast between matte and glossy areas — a premium finish that commands higher retail pricing on awards, signage, packaging, and branded merchandise.
3D embossing up to 5mm: By building stackable ink layers through guided OMTech Print workflows, the machine creates raised lettering, tactile graphics, dimensional logos, and textured surfaces. At up to 5mm depth, the tactile difference is visible and perceptible — transforming flat printed products into dimensional premium goods.
13.8" × 17.7" + 5.5" Height — What Fits on the Print Bed
The 13.8" × 17.7" (350 × 450mm) printing area provides more usable space than a standard A3 platform — the A3+ designation reflects this expanded field, which accommodates wider individual pieces and more efficient multi-piece layouts per pass.
The 5.5" (140mm) maximum media height is the specification that defines the Spectra's versatility beyond thin sheets and panels:
- Assembled gift boxes and packaging prototypes
- Finished award components and trophy pieces
- Thick jig-mounted production blanks
- Pre-assembled product samples
- Thick glass tiles, stone coasters, and ceramic tiles
Materials that fit inside the height envelope and survive UV printing conditions can be printed directly on the Spectra A3+ — the 300+ compatible material list reflects the breadth of what that means in practice.
IR Height Sensing + Vacuum Table — Consistent Setup on Every Material
Two production-critical setup features that work together:
IR automatic height sensing: The machine automatically detects the material height and positions the printheads at the correct working distance before printing. For a production shop printing different material thicknesses throughout the day — 3mm acrylic, 6mm wood, thick tiles — this eliminates the manual height measurement and adjustment step that's both time-consuming and error-prone on other UV flatbed printers.
Honeycomb aluminum vacuum table with ruler: The vacuum bed holds flat materials stable and aligned during printing — preventing the movement, slippage, and misalignment that causes registration errors on UV prints. The ruled grid provides reference points for consistent positioning across repeat jobs and batch setups.
For a business producing branded merchandise where print registration on every piece determines quality — the combination of IR height sensing and vacuum hold-down is the workflow infrastructure that makes batch consistency achievable.
Automated Maintenance — The Machine That Takes Care of Itself
Printhead maintenance is the most common cause of UV printer downtime and quality issues — particularly white ink, which settles and clogs more aggressively than CMYK channels. The Spectra A3+ addresses this with automated maintenance systems:
12-hour automatic cleaning cycle: The machine runs a scheduled cleaning routine every 12 hours — reducing the manual maintenance burden and keeping nozzles clear without requiring operator attention between every job.
Moisturizing-fluid injection: During idle periods, the system automatically injects moisturizing fluid to keep printhead nozzles hydrated — preventing the drying and blockage that occurs when printers sit unused for extended periods.
White-ink circulation and agitation: Continuous white-ink circulation and agitation keep the pigment suspended and prevent the settling that causes inconsistent white output and nozzle blockage. This is the maintenance challenge that frustrates many lower-cost UV printer owners — the Spectra A3+ manages it automatically.
One-click ink filling with low-ink alerts: Touchscreen-controlled ink filling and automatic low-ink notifications simplify daily ink management. The open ink platform allows compatible industrial UV inks to be used — reducing ongoing ink costs by up to 75% compared with proprietary cartridge systems.
OMTech Print + Laser-to-UV Production Workflow
OMTech Print software handles the workflows that make the Spectra's premium finishes practical in daily production:
Auto-layer mapping: Automatically detects and generates the white and gloss channels from your artwork — without requiring manual layer creation in design software. Upload your design, and OMTech Print handles the channel separation.
3D texture preparation: Convert 2D artwork into layered tactile effects through guided embossing workflows.
Front-and-back workflow support: Coordinate front-and-back printing effects in a streamlined software workflow for products that require two-sided output.
For laser businesses adding UV printing to their workflow: Combine laser cutting or engraving with UV color, white, varnish, and gloss printing to produce complete sale-ready products — cut the acrylic shape on the laser, print the full-color graphic and spot gloss on the UV printer, and deliver a finished product that commands a significantly higher retail price than either process alone.
Supported file formats: TIFF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, PDF, EPS. Connected via Ethernet.
300+ Compatible Materials — What You Can Actually Print On
Acrylic and plastic (signs, ornaments, displays, phone cases, keychains), wood and coated board (plaques, decor, packaging, gifts), metal and coated metal (awards, tags, panels, promotional blanks), glass and ceramics (tiles, coasters, decorative items — adhesion testing required), leather and coated fabrics (patches, accessories, personalized goods), canvas, PVC, and cardboard (art panels, packaging, prototypes).
Surface preparation note: UV printing quality depends on surface preparation, adhesion, ink configuration, curing, and environmental conditions. Test every material and finish before production.
The Maker's Chest Difference
The OMTech Spectra A3+ Dual-Head is available from OMTech directly and from other resellers. Here's what changes when you order through The Maker's Chest:
- 🛡️ 75-day returns — significantly longer than OMTech's direct return window. Enough time to receive and set up the printer, run it through your actual materials and finish workflows, confirm the dual-head CMYKWW+V configuration delivers for your business, and make an informed decision before you're committed
- 🇺🇸 Expert USA-based technical support — our team can help with OMTech Print setup, white ink and varnish workflow configuration, material profile development for your specific substrates, and any issues that arise during ramp-up
- 📞 Dual lines of support — phone and email, so when production is running and something needs attention, you have a direct path to a real person
- 🔧 Straight configuration guidance — single-head or dual-head Spectra A3+? Not sure which configuration fits your production volume and finish requirements? Talk to us before ordering. We'll give you a direct recommendation
Frequently Asked Questions About OMTech Spectra A3+ Flatbed UV Printer — Dual Printhead
Q: What's the difference between the single-head and dual-head Spectra A3+?
A: Both use Epson F1080 printhead technology and the same CMYKWW + V ink configuration. The dual-head version runs two F1080 printheads simultaneously — providing higher production output (up to 2.4 m²/h), better white-ink coverage through concurrent WW channels, and the ability to print color, white, and varnish in a single coordinated pass more efficiently. For businesses producing premium-finish products at regular volume, the dual-head is the configuration that makes those finishes production-practical.
Q: What does white ink actually do?
A: White ink serves two main functions. White underprinting on transparent or dark materials (clear acrylic, dark wood, colored substrates) creates an opaque foundation that makes the full-color CMYK layer appear vibrant rather than washed out. White overprinting creates frosted effects, high-contrast white text, and color isolation layers. Without white ink, printing on anything other than pure white or light substrates produces underwhelming results.
Q: Can it print on items thicker than flat sheets?
A: Yes — the 5.5" (140mm) maximum media height accommodates assembled boxes, thick tiles, thick wood blanks, jig-mounted production items, and other flat objects within the height envelope. IR automatic height sensing adjusts printhead positioning for different heights automatically.
Q: What is the open ink platform advantage?
A: The Spectra A3+ accepts compatible industrial UV inks rather than requiring proprietary cartridges. This can reduce ongoing ink costs by up to 75% compared with cartridge-based systems. Follow the required ink specifications and maintenance procedures for any third-party ink used.
Q: How does it integrate with a laser cutter or engraver?
A: The Laser-to-UV workflow is one of the most commercially valuable applications of the Spectra A3+. Cut or engrave your acrylic, wood, or metal shapes on the laser, then print full-color graphics with white ink and spot gloss on the UV printer. The finished product — a laser-cut acrylic ornament with UV-printed photographic detail and localized gloss, for example — commands a retail price that neither the laser or UV printer can achieve independently.
Q: What file formats does it support?
A: TIFF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, PDF, and EPS — the standard design file formats used in print, design, and production workflows.
Q: Does it require special ventilation?
A: The printer includes a built-in fan with a replaceable activated-carbon filter and uses GREENGUARD Gold-certified low-VOC UV ink. Operate in a well-ventilated workspace and maintain the filtration system. Follow all UV ink handling, storage, PPE, and disposal requirements.
Q: Why buy from The Maker's Chest instead of directly from OMTech?
A: Our 75-day return window gives you real production evaluation time — enough to run the Spectra A3+ through your actual materials, finish workflows, and production volume, and confirm the dual-head configuration delivers before you're locked in. Our USA-based expert support team is reachable by phone and email for OMTech Print setup, material profile development, and production troubleshooting throughout your ownership.
