Direct UV Printing on Mirror Glass for a Contemporary Art Project
Prolab recently worked with Brisbane artist Ziggy Crook on a striking set of custom mirror glass prints. The project combined portrait photography, reflective mirror surfaces and direct UV printing to create a bold contemporary artwork with both image detail and reflective negative space.
The final result was a set of three 300 × 400 mm mirror panels, each printed directly onto supplied mirror glass. The artwork used a clever mix of printed portrait areas and knocked-out sections, allowing the mirror to remain exposed and interactive.
Printing Directly Onto Mirror Glass
This project required a careful production setup. Rather than printing onto paper or acrylic, Prolab printed directly onto the supplied mirror panels using UV printing technology.
The artwork files were prepared so that the white or knocked-out areas remained unprinted, allowing the mirror surface to show through. The visible portrait sections were printed with a white ink backing to improve opacity and help the image areas hold their colour and density against the reflective substrate. The files were also set up to the final 300 × 400 mm glass size and assigned an sRGB profile for natural colour rendering.
This approach gave the finished works a layered effect: part photographic print, part mirror, part sculptural object.
White Ink Underprint for Stronger Image Detail
When printing onto clear, metallic or reflective materials, white ink plays an important role. Without a white backing layer, colours can appear too transparent or lose strength against the surface underneath.
For this artwork, Prolab used white ink behind the portrait/image areas to support opacity, while leaving selected mirror areas unprinted. This allowed the reflective sections to remain open and visible, while the printed areas stayed strong and readable.
The result was a clean contrast between the printed portrait and the exposed mirror.
A Custom Hanging System for Mirror Panels
Once the printing was complete, Ziggy asked Prolab to help with mounting options for the three mirror panels. The goal was to keep the front presentation minimal while giving the panels enough support for transport, handling and exhibition display.
After reviewing the panels, Prolab recommended fitting each mirror print with a backing and hanging system. This provided a more secure structure and allowed the works to hang more easily, without interrupting the clean front-facing presentation.
The finished backs included a rigid backing panel, protective bumpers and an aluminium hanging rail, giving each mirror artwork a practical and professional display solution.
Clean, Minimal Presentation for Exhibition Display
The finished mirror prints have a sharp contemporary feel. From the front, the viewer sees a bold portrait image interrupted by reflective mirror sections. These exposed areas change with the surrounding room, making the artwork interactive and responsive to its environment.
From the back, the panels are fitted with a simple hanging system designed for secure wall display. This keeps the front clean while making the pieces easier to install.
For artists, designers and galleries, this type of production opens up creative possibilities beyond standard photographic printing. Mirror, glass, acrylic and other rigid surfaces can all create unique results when paired with direct UV printing.
Custom Mirror Printing in Brisbane
Prolab offers direct UV printing and custom mounting solutions for artists, photographers, designers and commercial clients. Projects can include printing onto mirror, acrylic, aluminium composite panel, glass and other rigid substrates.
This project shows how direct-to-substrate printing can transform an artwork from a flat image into a finished exhibition piece. By combining UV print technology, white ink underprinting and a custom hanging system, Prolab helped produce a clean, durable and visually engaging set of mirror glass artworks.
