Can UV-Sensitive Invisible Ink Be Used on Skin and Fabric with Epson Printers Like the ET-8550?

Question:

I'm a textile designer and printmaker interested in your UV-sensitive ink, particularly for use as a temporary tattoo on human skin. Does the dye fade quickly when exposed to UV light? Also, I'm curious about using this ink to print on fabric, either with or without an Epson printer. I currently use an ET-8550 wide-format model. Would it be better to have a separate printer dedicated to UV ink, or could I swap out just one tank of dye when needed?

Answer:

1. Use of UV-Sensitive Ink on Human Skin

The product you linked—Concentrated Invisible Re-Entry UV Stamp Ink [https://bch-youtube-fan-store.myshopify.com/products/concentrated-invisible-re-entry-uv-stamp-ink-by-bch-for-event-admittance-sublimation-dtf-dtg-fabric-registration-skin-safe-with-aloe-vera-extract-75-ml-2-5-oz-invisible]—is formulated specifically for manual application, such as through a handheld sprayer or rubber stamp, and is commonly used for event re-entry marks on skin. It is skin-safe, containing aloe vera extract, and is designed to be visible under UV (black) light.

However, this version is not suitable for printer use. For skin-based applications, it’s not meant to be used with piezo or thermal inkjet printers due to viscosity and formulation. And to answer your question—the ink doesn’t fade quickly under UV light itself; instead, it's invisible under normal lighting and fluoresces under blacklight. Over time, it will fade naturally from the skin due to washing or skin exfoliation, but UV exposure alone won't “burn” or degrade the ink quickly.

2. Printing on Fabric (With or Without Epson Equipment)

If you plan to use UV-sensitive ink for textile or fabric printing, you’ll want our invisible UV printer ink, which is a different product from the one linked above. This version is compatible with Epson inkjet printers using Micro Piezo technology—like your ET-8550—and is designed for direct-to-fabric (DTF), sublimation, and experimental textile applications.

Here’s the catch: UV-sensitive inks are not universal, and their use in textile printing can be tricky:

• They may not bond permanently to fabric unless fixed using sublimation or heat pressing.

• Their visibility under UV may diminish with laundering unless proper fabric pretreatment is used.

• Since the ink is transparent under regular light, alignment and precision printing become more difficult unless you use visual guides or underlayers.

3. Using the Epson ET-8550 for UV Ink—Separate Printer or Switchable Tanks?

Your Epson ET-8550 is a capable wide-format printer, and while it’s possible to swap individual tanks to use specialty inks like UV ink, we strongly recommend dedicating a separate printer if you plan to use UV ink regularly. Here’s why:

• Cross-contamination is very likely, especially when switching back and forth between UV and pigment/dye inks.

• Residual ink in the printhead, dampers, and tubing can cause clogging or unpredictable results.

• Ink waste during the flushing process makes switching impractical unless you’re using bulk tanks with dedicated lines.

So, if you’re running frequent print jobs with UV ink, investing in a separate ET-series printer (even a used model like the ET-2650 or ET-2800) as a dedicated UV setup would offer cleaner results and avoid damage to your primary ET-8550.

If you only plan to experiment occasionally, you can try flushing one tank, line, and color channel for UV ink use—but do this with caution and be ready for significant cleanup when switching back.

Explore More Resources

For demonstrations, tips, and user-submitted ideas involving invisible ink, printing on fabric, and converting printers for specialty inks, check out our YouTube channel homepage [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Use the search function to look up terms like “invisible ink,” “UV printing,” or “Epson ink conversions” to see real-world applications and printer modifications.

Need In-Person Help or Consultation?

Troubleshooting specialty inks and conversions often involves trial and error. Because these projects are so hands-on, we unfortunately can’t provide remote guidance or real-time repair assistance. That said, BCH Technologies offers professional evaluation and repair services through our local diagnostic facility [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Due to high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. If you choose to bring in a printer, please note that we repair both whole units and specific parts, with clear processes in place.

We understand our services may not be the most budget-friendly, which is why we also encourage users to explore self-help through platforms like YouTube. Our channel has over nine years of archived tutorials. Use the search tool near the “About” tab for best results—and let YouTube’s algorithm recommend other helpful creators too.

Thank you again for your curiosity and creativity—it’s truly exciting to see artists exploring new media like invisible UV ink. Please keep us posted on your progress, and don’t hesitate to reach out with more questions or ideas!