More DIY Panel Methods to Explore

creatorlars

I'm getting very tired of screenprinting panels -- it is an exhausting, expensive process and I rarely get a print that's as close to perfect as I'd like. So I've been digging around trying to find alternative methods for making high quality frontpanel printouts and thought I'd share a couple links related to printing onto Aluminum with an inkjet.

Booksmart Fine Arts Metals:
http://site.booksmartstudio.com/products/view/15_booksmart-fine-art-metals

inkAID:
http://www.inkaid.com/

I may give these a try soon. I really like the idea of 1) print it and you're done -- no exposing, no screenprinting, no decal transfer, etc, and 2) bright multi-color prints. You need a printer that will feed a flat piece of paper, but I guess most photo printers would do this.

Horizon Sig also offers an aluminum dye to go with their ID-Mark photo-sensitive aluminum sheets which I know a lot of you are familiar with. It's meant to dye the exposed aluminum various colors. I'm thinking about trying this out as well.

creatorlars · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:43 am Post subject:

I would also like to note that Horizon Sig, who make the ID-Mark product, also offer an Inkjet-printable aluminum called Aluma-Jet. This product seems far less expensive than the Booksmart Fine Arts metals.

The inkAID seems the most intriguing to me -- it would be nice to be able to print directly onto a drilled, pre-cut panel, rather than fixing a thin aluminum sheet onto a thicker piece of aluminum. You would need a printer that could handle it, though.