FineArt Paper for acrylic silicon coating

[MonsterBaby]

mornin.. i need to make some prints for a customer who wants them under acrylic glass.

his framer uses the silicon method.

has anybody made some testing with different papers?.. the matte papers seem to be ok but i need pearl or glossy for the prints!.. lumijet pearl worked well but gloss differential was to big in black /blue..

any ideas? using a z3200. thnx

[Clearair]

I had some done and supplied the acrylic framing firm with sample prints on papers I use, as their stock was not to my taste and I do all my own printing.
Some they were happy to use and they then had paper info for future business.
But it only worked on matte.
Why must you use glossy if the acrylic finish increases contrast and is a gloss finish?

[MonsterBaby]

simply because the gamut is a lot larger on glossy or pearl.

im having to do a very blue dark saturated image.. it doesnt come up on matte compared to glossy

[dgberg]

My paper tests for face mounting have come up with the following.
The Mitsubishi hi gloss Pictorico was our #1 choice due to its smooth texturless finish.
For certain images the Lexjet and Photochrome metallic papers look great face mounted.
All our efforts have been to create the smoothest texturless finish possible.
Just to be clear I am face mounting with a roll laminator not the silicon process.

Clearair,
Just curious who told you their process only worked on matte papers?
I think Lamont Studios in NY uses a matte paper with their silicon process.

MonsterBaby,
Who is the framer that is using silicone?

[Johnny_Boy]

lumijet pearl worked well but gloss differential was to big in black /blue..

Gloss differential will go away, if you are using the silicone method. Probably also go away if you use the double sided adhesive. Plexi on the top will ensure you have even gloss across your image.

[Clearair]

Hi Dan

It was a framing company based in Brighton UK that was doing the work.
They had set up a separate workshop for this finish only and were going by their experience with their own process and materials that they used.
They were 20% cheaper and easier for me to deal with than London based companies at that time although now I believe it's finished as even at their prices
there were not enough customers.
Non of the mail order and most of the companies that do face mounting offer a choice, other than their own printing using, wait for it, Lamba printing.
I dream of the greater range of choices you appear to have across the pond.

Regards

[JimT]

What type of "acrylic silicon coating" are people using to mount to plexi?  I've seen some videos where they have used adheisve film for mounting but would like to give this a try myself using somewhat of a more economical cost factor if possible.

[Clearair]

I don't know the details ,trade secret, of the process. But it was described to me as not sheet adhesive, a liquid bonded process using some pressure as well.
The edges are then cut and polished. Looks good after 2 years.

Regards

[OSP]

What type of "acrylic silicon coating" are people using to mount to plexi?  I've seen some videos where they have used adheisve film for mounting but would like to give this a try myself using somewhat of a more economical cost factor if possible.

I also would like to know what type of silicone adhesive, besides diasec, people use. I searched the net  for a purpose-specific silicone adhesive for face mounting with no luck.

[Brian Gilkes]

The Diasec trade name is protected, not the process which has been out of patent for some years. Details are quite easy to find on the internet. The silicone part is easy. I used it 30 years ago. There has been little refinement since. The tricky bit is keeping everything clean including removal of static from the acrylic. A clean room will set you back a lot of dollars or quid.
Brian (Chartered Chemist for what it's worth)