Is it or some other process?

[letterman7]

Hi gang,
One of my clients is looking to mimic a set of signs that are at another location. The signs are created with a process that I'm not familiar with - it almost looks like they've been direct printed, but I've never seen it on metal before. The signs are .040 aluminum with a dull finish, but that could be a sprayed topcoat. It's definitely not a laminate... but the process I can't figure out. It's a straight black copy with toned photographs - I couldn't detect any halftone patterns in the photos. When I ran my fingers over the copy and photo it was perfectly smooth - I'd expect a print or etching to have some ridge to it, but this is flat as paper. Now, I admit I haven't seen a direct print item before, so I don't have anything to compare that to, but anyone have an idea of how this was done?
Thanks,
Rick

 

[ChicagoGraphics]

Probably done on a flatbed printer

 

[letterman7]

That's what I'm thinking, but I'd like to have someone that has done this on aluminum to confirm. Then I'll check with the S101 vendors for some pricing!

 

[petepaz]

hard to tell with out looking in person but could it be metal photo
what color is the aluminum, satin finish or white?

 

[VizualVoice]

could it be lasered?

 

[thinksigns]

maybe try pellaengraving.com

 

[Gino]

We did the first signs by printing and laminating. They lasted Okay out in the weather, but kids picked at them. We did them again with the flatbed and we sprayed a liquid lam of polyurethane on it.

The photos were scanned by them and given to us on a CD and we just printed the finals in a kinda sepia tone.

 

[CanuckSigns]

Sublimation maybe?

 

[letterman7]

Pete, the signs are matte natural aluminum. They aren't lasered or subbed. I think Gino has the answer with the flatbed print and liquid overlam... is that one of yours, Gino?

 

[petepaz]

if it's natural alum it could be metal photo process also but with out seeing it couldn't be sure (could also be the flat bed)

 

[p3]

My guess would be sublimation. That's what we did at one of the old places i worked at. did it on a lot of plaques and trophies and someone brought some other signs like that for us to do it on and it came out pretty good. No edges, no little lips and is in there pretty good.

 

[Gino]

Pete, the signs are matte natural aluminum. They aren't lasered or subbed. I think Gino has the answer with the flatbed print and liquid overlam... is that one of yours, Gino?

Is what one of mine ??

 

[SignManiac]

I direct print on DiBond all the time and use uv matte clear coat. The sepia tint is just a photoshop effect.

 

[letterman7]

That sample - it came from your area at one of the county parks. I'll have to do a little more research into the sublimation process...that sounds interesting as well. Thanks for all the input - at least it gives me some ideas to start with.

 

[Gino]

That sample - it came from your area at one of the county parks. I'll have to do a little more research into the sublimation process...that sounds interesting as well. Thanks for all the input - at least it gives me some ideas to start with.

Oh, yeah. That's some old land, donated to the borough, now dedicated to people walking around, bicycles, summer concerts and just some nice places to go. It's like a park, but it's changed over the last 150 years or so.

We made the prints to be mounted to a piece of wood the first time around [their idea]. The second time we did it on dibond and then they put it into a routed frame and put a piece of clear plexi about an inch away but still in the routed area. The reason for the extra space was to prevent moisture, mildew and mold buildup. If you don't leave enough breathing room, you'll start growing a little colony in a place like that..... kinda like a terrarium.

 

[digitalwoodshop]

This is a old thread but I have been gone a while... I believe this printing is the Open pore Anodized printing.... Print on open pore then dip in hot water bath to close the pores.... If the link gets cut, it's part of the Direct Color Substrates.

http://www.directcolorsystems.com/printer-applications/anodized-printing.php

AL