Thread: Water transfer printing

Fascinating stuff. It's like a combination of photo development, electrostatic process and silk screen printing. Techno meets art.
I wonder how long it lasts ?

TT

From what I understand, its an oil based paint, which is why it sits on the surface of the water bath. Once transferred, they bath it and apply clear seal coats.

That's interesting Glenn. Whats the stuff sprayed on the water then? I see the tank has been prepped with an under coat, I thought that aided the transference.

TT

It's some sort of activation medium. What that is exactly ... I do not know.

Here's one where they print complete images rather than repeating designs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlUhPrAqiY0

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

Here's one where they print complete images rather than repeating designs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlUhPrAqiY0

Thanks Geoff. Looks like the image is transferred to to a water soluble film which then dissolves, leaving just the image sitting on the water.

TT

I've done it with the enamel paint you buy for model kits.
You warm the water to 26 degrees (and it has boron in it).
Then drip oil paint on the surface, it will spread, add other colours, swirl it around with a stick if you like.
The paint seems to partly set on the warm water, it like a skin on the surface.

Then slowly dunk your item into it, the paint wraps itself around the object.

Once its fully under, use newspaper to collect up the rest of the paint on surface.
Then pull your item out of the water and let it dry.

Here's a guitar done with this method.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmSV2l6JFt0