What is Silk Screened Glass?
Silk screened glass is produced by depositing a controlled ink layer onto a glass surface through a patterned screen. The process can create permanent borders, graphics, logos, symbols, conductive features and opaque or semi-transparent areas as part of the finished glass component.
Why Use Screen Printing on Glass?
Fabricated glass often needs functions that the glass substrate itself cannot provide. A finished display cover, control panel or instrument window may require hidden graphics, decorative borders, conductive bus bars or permanently printed identification.
Screen printing adds these functions directly to the glass surface, enabling:
- Permanent borders and graphics
- Logos, symbols and instructions
- Dead-front illuminated interfaces
- Conductive bus bars
- Edge printing
- Custom color matching
- Opaque or controlled-transmission areas
What We Do: Glass Printing Capabilities
Custom glass printing can be configured around the required graphic resolution, ink thickness, durability, transparency and final glass-processing sequence.
Printing Ink Systems
Epoxy / Polyester Ink
Epoxy and polyester inks are used for high-resolution decorative and functional printing where fine printed features and custom colors are required.
- Standard colors: Black & Silver
- Custom color matching available
- Minimum printed feature: 0.127 mm [0.005 in]
- Single-pass ink thickness: 10–12 μm
- Double-pass ink thickness: 25–60 μm
Ceramic Frit Ink
Ceramic frit provides a more durable and scratch-resistant printed surface than epoxy/polyester inks and is used where the printed layer must tolerate more demanding service conditions.
- Standard colors: Black & Silver
- Custom colors available
- Minimum printed feature: 0.305 mm [0.012 in]
- Total thickness requirement: <0.051 mm [<0.002 in]
- Single-pass ink thickness: 35–60 μm
- Higher scratch resistance than epoxy/polyester ink
Specialty Printing Methods
The printing method and platform are selected according to part size, glass thickness, required graphics and the function of the printed area.
- Standard silk screen printing
- Dead-front printing
- Etching & conductive bus-bar printing
- Edge printing
- Large-format printing
- Multi-pass printing
Printed Glass Cases
Custom screen printing can be integrated into the finished glass component after cutting, CNC machining, edge finishing and strengthening.
Dead-Front Panels
Printed glass interfaces that hide icons, logos, buttons and instructions when unlit and reveal them when backlit.
Printed Cover Glass
Borders, graphics, logos and opaque masking areas for displays, sensors and protective cover glass.
Conductive Bus-Bar Glass
Silver epoxy or conductive ink printed on ITO or IMITO surfaces for electrical connection and transparent-conductor assemblies.
Edge-Printed Glass
Ceramic frit or epoxy printing applied along the glass edge for functional, decorative or assembly requirements.
Glass Printing Production Capabilities
Different printing platforms are available for small precision components through large-format glass.
| Printing Platform | Glass Thickness | Printing Tolerance | Minimum Part Size | Maximum Part Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ekra 4 | 0.76–12.7 mm | ±0.13 mm | 76.2 × 50.8 mm | Platform-specific |
| Argon — Large Format | ~1–19 mm | ±1.016 mm to ±0.4 mm | 460 × 460 mm | 1828 × 1371 mm |
| Cameo / Saturn | 0.76–25.4 mm | ±1.016 mm to ±0.25 mm | 7.6 × 7.6 mm | 457 × 609 mm |
| Custom Press | 0.76–25.4 mm | ±1.016 mm to ±0.25 mm | 7.6 × 7.6 mm | 914 × 609 mm |
Large-Format Printing
Maximum large-format screen printing reaches:
1828 × 1371 mm [72 × 54 in]For epoxy edge printing, the maximum part size is also approximately:
72 × 54 inwith edge-print tolerance up to:
±0.25 mm [±0.010 in]Applications of Silk Screened Glass
Control & Cockpit Panels
- Dead-front printing for cockpit control panels
- Illuminated symbols, instructions and status indicators
- Monochrome or colored interfaces
- Typical dead-front transmission levels of 5% or 10%
Appliance & Touch Interfaces
- Appliance indicator panels
- Touch keypads
- Hidden graphics and illuminated controls
- Decorative borders and custom colors
Automotive Displays & Indicators
- Vehicle indicators
- Control interfaces
- Printed display-cover borders
- Backlit symbols and graphics
Conductive Glass Assemblies
- Silver epoxy printed over ITO or IMITO
- L-shaped and U-shaped bus bars
- Conductive edge-printing configurations
Display & Cover Glass
- Printed borders
- Logos and branding
- Functional opaque areas
- Printing on strengthened and ultra-thin cover glass
Frequently Asked Questions
Printing can be applied to ultra-thin glass, chemically strengthened glass, tempered glass and float glass. Strengthened cover glass is also commonly used for printed display and interface components.
Epoxy/polyester printing can produce features down to approximately 0.127 mm [0.005 in]. Ceramic frit printing can produce features down to approximately 0.305 mm [0.012 in].
Black and silver are standard colors for both epoxy/polyester and ceramic frit systems. Custom color matching is also available.
Epoxy/polyester supports finer printed features, while ceramic frit provides greater durability and scratch resistance.
Epoxy/polyester is typically 10–12 μm for a single pass and 25–60 μm for a double pass. Ceramic frit single-pass printing is approximately 35–60 μm.
Dead-front printing hides icons, logos, buttons or instructions when the panel is not illuminated. When backlit, the graphics become visible through controlled-transmission areas.
Typical transmission levels are approximately 5% or 10%, depending on the required appearance.
Yes. Silver epoxy or conductive inks can be printed on ITO or IMITO surfaces, including L-shaped and U-shaped bus-bar configurations.
Yes. Ceramic frit edge printing is available for small and medium parts. Epoxy edge printing can be produced on parts up to approximately 72 × 54 in with tolerance up to ±0.010 in.
Customize Your Printed Glass
The printing process is configured around the glass material, artwork, color, printed feature size, ink system and final application. Printing can also be coordinated with upstream CNC machining, custom edge finishing and glass strengthening.
For dead-front, conductive or edge-printed components, the print geometry and transmission requirements can be matched to the finished glass assembly.
Contact Us Today
Need custom printed glass for a display, control panel, conductive interface or other fabricated glass component?
Send your artwork, glass type, dimensions, color and printing requirements for review.