Full Version: Go for The Bronze
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1]
14 Oct 2006
To: ALL
From: JHayes55 [#2]
15 Oct 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 15 Oct 2006
It's morning here - where are the photos? :P Your post is quite the tease.
Since you mentioned bronze and "middle of the night" - could it be that you have joined the ranks of those who are using the night hours to procure bonze from public places in an effort to increase you bank account??? (devil)
Hope you know I am kidding. :-)
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#3]
15 Oct 2006
To: JHayes55 [#2] 16 Oct 2006
I apologize in advance for the poor quality of the photos (out of focus) in this post, but it's the color that I'm bringing to your attention.
This isn't the highly-prized bronze that's been in the news of late, but it was a very valuable discovery, based on a theory I had.
The first photo is for a color comparison, between the satin brass plate (gold) to the left of the plaque header, the header itself (bronze) and the brushed (silver) aluminum plate at the right-hand side.
Never mind the raindrops. :-)
The second photo is more representative of the bronze color of the plates, as compared to a piece of brushed gold aluminum.
Hate to continue with the tease, but I have something to attend to, before I can follow up with the story behind the creation of the plaque.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#4]
15 Oct 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#3] 15 Oct 2006
I like that bronze colored plate. I use that color of material any time I sell the bronze coated resin awards. They are a perfect match.
I'm anxious to hear the rest of the story.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#5]
15 Oct 2006
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#4] 15 Oct 2006
Is there a bronze sublimatable aluminum that can withstand a direct imprint, as in, not through the plastic masking?
The straight-to-the point version of the story is, I made my own bronze plates, by using ink jet sublimation, with brushed silver aluminum as the base metal.
Using ArTainium ink with the following color values:
R=78
G=49
B=46
or
C=11
M=43
Y=33
K=65
I created a field of color to produce the bronze material.
I then used laser sublimation (very opaque black) for the lettering.
The breakthrough, as I see it, was creating a bronze finish, every-bit-as-credible, if not more so, than standard bronze aluminum.
Obviously, if you're looking for colored sheet stock, it's more cost effective to buy bronze aluminum, but I'm think more along the lines of bronze accents, borders etc., on award plaques, signs, nameplates and name badges.
In this case, not having bronze aluminum sheet stock, wasn't enough to keep me from completing the job. :-)
From: logojohn [#6]
15 Oct 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#5] 15 Oct 2006
code 3038-1
We use it in 2" discs for inserts on 3rd place bronze medals to.
The sub paper sticks real bad to the real satin copper.
8021-1
I had better luck with the real satin brass with OEM laser transfer
but haen't had a need to try the copper yet.
EDITED: 15 Oct 2006 by LOGOJOHN
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#7]
15 Oct 2006
To: logojohn [#6] 15 Oct 2006
I had my doubts, as to if standard bronze would work well, which is why I tried this method.
Even though I used a two-system (ink jet and laser) sublimation approach, I'd see this as a viable way of producing a substitute for bronze discs and plates, using only ink jet sublimation.
From: logojohn [#8]
15 Oct 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#7] 15 Oct 2006
We had some older pieces mixed in with a newer shipment of the real satin copper.
On the older pieces which were a slightly different shade the sub paper did not stick. But on the newer batch it stuck even will short press times. Some of the discs were pressed on the same transfer at the same time.
It might be possible to find some that would work from another source.
but the satin copper aluminum is foolproof and is acceptable for most things.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#9]
15 Oct 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#5] 15 Oct 2006
David,
That is certainly an innovative way to create your own bronze look to aluminum plates. I can see it as a way of custom tinting brushed silver aluminum whatever color tone you want, not just bronze.
As you know, inkjet sublimation is not my friend, but for those who are equipped with the equipment and patience to do so, this arms them with new knowledge for new product offerings.
Thanks for sharing!
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#10]
15 Oct 2006
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#9] 16 Oct 2006
I've been using silver and gold aluminum as the canvas for award plates.
I don't think it's possible (or at least easy) to get smooth transitions of gradients with laser sublimation, because laser printers rely on redepositing of toner to the rollers, as opposed to the ink jet's single pass operation.
Ink jet sublimation isn't as scary as it once was, mainly because the ink is much more stable than in its early days.