Almost any type of product can be decorated with graphic images imprinted on a hydrographic film, and this, thanks to a procedure named water transfer printing, that allows the images from the film to be transferred onto the surface of the product that is being personalized. This procedure can be applied to metals, plastics, fiberglass, ceramics, wood, and many other materials.
Almost any type of product can be decorated with graphic images imprinted on a hydrographic film, and this, thanks to a procedure named water transfer printing, that allows the images from the film to be transferred onto the surface of the product that is being personalized. This procedure can be applied to metals, plastics, fiberglass, ceramics, wood, and many other materials. Just like other procedures, hydrographics or immersion printing has several phases, such as: sanding the product that will be personalized, cleaning it with the help of a silicon remover, applying a primer, then a base color, preparing a vat of water and placing the film at its top, applying the activator that will dissolve the film, immersing the product into the water, and applying a clear coat for protecting the design against sun exposure.
It is important to sand and clean the product, to be certain that the primer will adhere perfectly to the surface of the product. Even if the product that needs to be personalized is new, it has to be cleaned, to get rid of the dust that is most likely present in the product’s small crevices. When the product is like taken out of the box, a primer is applied, to make sure the design from the hydrographic film will be properly transferred onto the piece. Sanding the piece, cleaning it, and applying the primer are operations included in a special phase of printing a product with the help of hydrographics, phase known as "pre-treatment". This pre-treatment ends with applying the base color, which is a coat material that changes the exterior appearance of the product, preparing it for the image or pattern that will be transferred to it from the film.
The next phase of the water transfer printing process is very important as well, as it deals with the vat of water where the piece that needs to be personalized will be immersed. Professionals use dipping machines where they immerse large products; individuals who want to use hydrographics for personalizing their items are recommended to use pails of water and try to customize only small or very small products. Once the vat is filled with water, the film has to be placed at the top of the vat. Carefully place the film at the top of the pail of water, in order to avoid air bubbles, that could create problems when transferring the graphic image from the film onto the surface of the product. Once the film is placed in its correct position, an activator has to be used to dissolve the film and help your product get personalized very quickly. Depending on activators, you have to wait for a minute or so to have your film dissolved by the activator.
When the film is dissolved, take the piece that you want to personalize and start immersing it into the water at a 45° angle, to avoid air bubbles. Depending on the size of your product, it takes around several minutes to immerse a product into the water and leave it there to make sure the design adheres very well to its surface. Do not use your bare hands when immersing the product into the water, because that water contains all sorts of chemicals, that could harm your skin. So before proceeding with this method of personalizing your items, purchase a pair of gloves too. In about several minutes after starting to immerse the product into the water, take it out, and leave it to dry. Finally, apply a clear coat to make sure the design will last for many years.
Water transfer printing http://www.hgarts.com is a process helping professionals and individuals alike to transfer graphic images from a hydrographic film http://www.hgarts.com onto the surface of a large range of products, including metals, plastics, fiberglass, ceramics, and wood. If you are interested in high-quality immersing printing services, machineries, or tools, visit our website today.