Printing on glass

[RFPhotography]

I've had a request about producing a print on glass.  This isn't possible with inkjets, at least not the kind of inkjets most of us have access to. 

I know it can be done as a wet print but that's not viable for me.

I also know there's a type of printer called a GlassJet that prints on the glass then the glass gets fired to seal the inks.  I can't find anyplace that uses one; however.

Anybody got any thoughts on printing on glass?  Anybody done it?  Where'd you get it done if you have?


Thanks

[Randy Carone]

One option is to have a solvent printer mirror-print it on clear adhesive-backed vinyl and laminate it to the reverse side of the glass. I'd probably laminate the clear just to make certain that it is protected. The vinyl and laminate should be optically clear, which simply means they are on a clear plastic liner, rather than a paper liner. This will insure that the adhesive is smooth and, as a result, will be optically clear. The toughest part of this method is making certain that there is no dust, dirt, cat hairs, etc. in the vicinity of the mounting process.

[jdemott]

There are three artists (Schminke, Krausse and Lhotka) who work under the name Digital Atelier who specialize in methods of transferring inkjet prints to various other surfaces and materials.  I know they print on metal, wood, and ceramics, so I assume they may do glass also.  If you do a search on Digital Atelier you'll find their site with links to their book and other instructional materials.  You might try contacting them.

[dgberg]

I've had a request about producing a print on glass.  This isn't possible with inkjets, at least not the kind of inkjets most of us have access to.  

I know it can be done as a wet print but that's not viable for me.

I also know there's a type of printer called a GlassJet that prints on the glass then the glass gets fired to seal the inks.  I can't find anyplace that uses one; however.

Anybody got any thoughts on printing on glass?  Anybody done it?  Where'd you get it done if you have?


Bob,
Just to clarify.
Do you think they meant plexiglass rather then real glass?
Many problems with real glass,breakage,injury liability and weight.
If your talking plexi now thats another story.
With what I have seen done with plexi mounts they would have to have a real good reason to go with straight glass?

Thanks

[RFPhotography]

I'm familiar with Bonny and Digital Atelier.  I've bought her DASS precoat for printing on metal.  I'll check them out.

[RFPhotography]

Dan, the prints this fellow has seen have been C-prints on glass.  Entirely different process and, as noted earlier, not an option that's open to me. 

At the end of the day I think plexi or some form of clear acrylic would be better.  There are issues with that as well in terms of scratch resistance, fade resistance, etc.  But I expect those can be sorted.  If you've got some information on printing on plexi or acrylic, lay it on me.

[Sven W]

I recently worked for an artist, and produced a quite impressive "Superslide", 10 x 12 feet.
The image divided in 30 squares, each printed on Epson Display Backlight film (24" roll),
mounted with opitcally MacTac adhesive on ordinary glass. The glass-side facing down in the room.
(a waiting-room at a hospital, see attached image)

/S

[dgberg]

Sven,
Beautiful job!

Bob,
Check out optimount and then google plexi mounts on you tube. Several good videos showing the process.

[RFPhotography]

That is slick, Sven.  Very cool.

Thanks, Dan.  I'll look into it.  A mac-tak type of product like Sven used then laid onto glass might work as well.  Flip the image so that it printed backwards, put it on the glass then flip the glass to the front.  

I need to talk to him more about it but I think he might be wanting the 'see through' look of the glass.  He's sent me some links to artists doing the c-prints but there's no other information. 

[NWFAP]

Recently we have been printing on our flatbed printer in a Fine Art mode.  After the image is printed (reversed in photoshop for viewing through the plexi) we flood a white ink.  Finally we router cut the prints and they are quite stunning. 

Hard parts:
- Finding a high quality flatbed printer (we have an Oce Arizona GT350 - with a white ink add on)
- Finding the right plexi for direct digital printing (most Plexi's have chemical reactions with the ink/uv and don't produce good results)

[BobDavid]

Damn! That is super cool, Sven.

[deanwork]

Yea, very cool Sven.

Thanks for sharing and giving us good ideas.

Last month when I was inquiring about backlit display material you suggested the Epson backlit transparency. I tried it on the HP Z and it works very well. I quickly was making good prints with it.  I had no issue with either gamut or dmax. I couldn't profile it in the printer like paper media so I used the HP canned profile for clear film and damn the color of the Atkinson target was right on, just needed a slight levels adjustment to darken it half a stop. This is quite sharp stuff. I'm going to do more with it with some of those thin profile light boxes.

john

[dgberg]

John,
Are you making the light boxes or buying?
Would be interested in your source.
Thanks

[deanwork]

Dan,

Someone recently gave me this source. I haven't used one yet.

 http://www.lightboxes.us.com/cat3.asp?ID=21270

They ain't cheap with a $500.00 price tag for a 30x40! But they appear to be well made.

If I really go down this road for a major project I'll look into having some custom made or try it myself. There is a lot for me to learn in that regard.

Anyone making their own? Sven might speak up here. Apparently his project was custom installed ceiling 5000 k tubes with a diffuser between the transparency and the light source. This should work on the wall vertically as well for such an installation.


John

[Sven W]

Dan,

Someone recently gave me this source. I haven't used one yet.

 http://www.lightboxes.us.com/cat3.asp?ID=21270

They ain't cheap with a $500.00 price tag for a 30x40! But they appear to be well made.

If I really go down this road for a major project I'll look into having some custom made or try it myself. There is a lot for me to learn in that regard.

Anyone making their own? Sven might speak up here. Apparently his project was custom installed ceiling 5000 k tubes with a diffuser between the transparency and the light source. This should work on the wall vertically as well for such an installation.

John

You're right, it's very custom. But it's not a diffuser between, it's the Epson film with it´s milky back mounted on the glass.
The tubes are made in Italy and connected in one long series, dimmed by an electronic device following the 24h light circle.
Brighter at daytime and duller during nighthours.
Speaking about lightboxes, I've made some tests with LED-light, and they give a beautiful approach. (very ugly frames, though).
See attached image. Look out for uneven light, the one that found best, was manufactured in Germany and, of course then, the most expensive. Example; 27x39", $450. The other two tested was from China.
The Epson Trans Backlight film is something in its own class. Extremely large gamutvolume and high sharpness. Also very special when printed as B&W, as in my test. Perfect shine for my winter scenes !
/Sven

[RFPhotography]

I've made a lightbox.  Making the box isn't difficult.  Used LED rope light inside it.  I'd printed on Pictorico white film which didn't work.  There wasn't enough diffusion and the individual LEDs were visible behind the print.  Need to work on refining that aspect of it.

I think I may try the Epson backlight film on clear acrylic.  It would essentially be a form of diasec.  Hopefully a bit less fuss than a real diasec.

[MichaelRomano]

We have the only way to truly print to glass.

www.iceprints.com

email me for more information!

[email protected]

Thanks,


Michael

[Ernst Dinkla]

There are more ways to print truly on glass. It can be done with Durst UV curing inkjet printers, it can be done with true frit inkjet printers and melting the image to the glass, it can be done with soluble glass as the medium and a lower temperature curing: Sol-Gel.


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla



New: Spectral plots of +250 inkjet papers:

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm

[ToniF]

Hi Sven,

Do you have a source for the German Box ?

Since i live in Switzerland i would like to try this.

Thank you,
Toni

[Sven W]

I bought it from a Swedish reseller
They promote it as the "Rolls Royce" of LED lightboxes
You can use Google to translate.
The box said "Made in Germany", and that's all I know.

/Sven