Inkjet Metal Prints

Lesser Scaup Print

The colors of this print are beautiful.  The metal paper makes them sparkle.  My granddaughter said to me this past weekend, "Grandpa, wouldn't it be wonderful if everything in the world sparkled?"

Print Separation

I have been noticing print separation on the earliest of these prints that I made.  Initially, I sprayed only the backing with adhesive.  I decided that I wanted a permanent bond so I sprayed also the back of the printing paper.  You can imagine, I am sure, that that process can get messy and out of hand.  The other possible cause for the separation that I have thought of is the Sharpie permanent marker on the edges might be causing the separation.  Sharpie has an acid free marker that is water based paint.  It just came today so I will use it from hence fourth.  

Darkening the Edges

My friend, Paul, suggested that I might want to darken the edges.  I had a Sharpie permanent marker in the jumbo size on hand so I used that.  I really like the result except I have the haunting feeling that the chemicals might damage the longevity of my print.  

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Metal Inkjet Prints

Eulalia Grass Print

This shot was inspired by my daughter, Carrie.  She really likes the grass inflorescences as I do.  I will need to make this print again after I have developed the process and when I do I want to bring up the mid-tones to emphasize the blurry background slightly more. 

The edges need to be discussed at length.  After using the bone on them, I used a sanding block and a grinder.  I am still not sure which if both will be retained in the overall process, yet.  

Edges Before Smoothing With Bone

Edges After Smoothing

I am surprised at the similarity of working with paper and metal.  In both cases, burrs must be removed.

Cleaning the Edges with a Grinder

I used the grinder on the first one I did.  It gets a little touchy because of the wheel on the other end of the grinder.  The larger the print, the more difficulty with the other wheel.  I could also remove the other wheel.  Incidentally, I use the course wheel.  I am pleased with what it does.  I think that I still like doing the first rounding of corners on the grinder.

Rounding Corners on the Grinder

I rounded each corner twice at first.  I did it from both sides on the grinder.  That required supporting the corner of the print on the grinder rest which sort of offends my sensitivities to protecting the printed surface.  I don't remember it damaging the print but I have decided to do the second rounding by hand.

Sand Grinder Burrs from the Back

This produces a smaller radius corner and I can have more control over different local spots.

I think that I should be very careful not to abuse the corners.  I am experiencing some print separation at the corners and am unsure what is causing this.  More about that later.

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Standoff Mounted Metal Prints

Eulalia Grass Double Triptych

I love grass inflorescence's!  I love the way light plays on them.  I think they make great subjects on which to explore light and composition.  I agree with my daughter Carrie that the blurry background is the best.  Then you have the contrast between blur and sharpness to add to the images.

This print is a compilation of images of the same inflorescence captured during the period of sunrise.  I think it interesting.

Bee Image with Protectant

 Since these prints will not me mounted under glass I decided to protect them for longevity.  I had Premier Art Print Shield here.  I have used it on canvas prints and other prints which are not protected by glass or acrylic.  Atlex.com carries it and provides a how to video.  He sprays with the print horizontal.  The can directs that you spray with the print vertical.  The issue which gives me trouble is that it tends to run if I spray too close or too heavily.  I was able to learn the technique quickly.  I, as the can directs, leave five minutes between coats.  I spray about three coats turning the print 90 degrees after each coat.  I remembered that I should let my print "gas out" for 24 hours before sealing it.  I sprayed some prints that where not gassed out and so far have not noticed any bad effects.  Since we are concerned about longevity, I think that patience is a virtue in this step.

Trimming Off Edges

I let everything cure for a day and then trim off excess paper at the edges.  Since I am cutting a print mounted on mat board, I use my Alto's T-square Cutter.  I try to keep a sharp blade in it.  A slip here would ruin all my previous work.  I try to be careful while sliding the print under the cutter.  I lift it so that it does not scratch the print.  I decided that putting the part to be trimmed off under the cutter was a better procedure.  The edge of the print makes a great guide for alignment of the cut. 

Smoothing Edges with a Bone

 I use my bone to smooth the cut edges.  They tend to be pushed up when the blade passes.  My friend Paul told me it was important for the edges to be clean.  I spend some time on this stage.  I have been experiencing paper separation at the corners so I try to take it easy there or skip using the bone there.  I can fix them in later steps.

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Home Made Metal Prints With Inkjet Printer

Lesser Scaup "Metal" Print

Recently, I decided to see if I could make prints on metal inkjet paper.  I started with Simply Elegant Metallic Chrome Gloss paper.  I really liked the appearance of my images on this paper and I thought that it compared very favorably with "real" metal prints from Bay Photo.  I was so excited to see if I could do it, that I began using materials I had on hand.

Edges Not Glued Perfectly Square

I decided that it did not matter whether I was able to adhere the paper and backing together exactly since I planned to trim later.  I found the limiting factor to be getting it though a printer with a 13" maximum width.  I had to trim some slivers off so it did not bind passing through.

Tissue to Protect Unprinted Surface from Adhesive

I later discovered that I would need to use the maximum adhesion by spraying the backing and the paper.  That presented the issue of protecting the unprinted surface of the paper.  I was working with materials at hand and found that the tissues I used in my portfolio worked well to protect the paper.  I had to use a fresh one each time I sprayed the paper.

Epson R2880 Printer

My printer had several ways of feeding paper.  One is the front manual feed shown above.  Be sure that you choose the wide setting for the platen during printer setup.  The mounted paper is pushed back through the starts with the front edge next to the arrow on the guide.

Completed Honey Bee Print

As it was in the Chemical Darkroom days, It is exciting to see the print emerge from the printer.

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Metal Prints

Dandelion Print 12x12

I gave Megan a metal print of this image for Christmas.  It was printed by Bay Photo on metal in 16x16 size.  I gave Carrie the same size metal print of an image she liked.  It was as much a gift to me as it was to them.  I really wanted to see how my images would look on metal.  I liked what I saw.  

Before the metal prints arrived, I had already purchased Simply Elegant Metallic Chrome Gloss inkjet paper which is on sale at Atlex.com currently.  I had ordered the standoffs to go with the metal prints and wanted to see if I could produce something like that here with my equipment.  I had initially ordered the 10 sheet sampler size (see link above).  The largest print that I could make on them, of course, was 8 in wide.  It is good that I started with the smaller paper because the smaller ones are easier to do when starting out.

Paper and Backing

I had a friend who was really up on the traditional mounting mode of hot press and/or cold press.  He wanted to show me but I guess I was too busy to learn.  I have used spray adhesive occasionally and was so anxious to get started that I used that to mount the paper.

Backing and Spray Adhesive

I had 3M "77" adhesive on hand and started with that.  I have since looked into "acid free" adhesive and discovered that 3M (Scotch) has one or more available.  I am currently waiting upon its arrival.  I started by spraying the backing only and then laying the back of the paper into it.  That went fairly well but I have since decided the adhesive must be sprayed onto both the back and the print paper.  That is a much more difficult process!

Attaching Back to Paper

I knew that I had some leeway in getting in attached squarely since I planned to trim down to the edges of the actual print.

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Birthday Visitors

Larry and Grandchildren

Many of you wished me a Happy Birthday recently.  Thanks for your well wishes. 

I had a marvelous time!  We went to Lowe-Volk Park on Saturday for the Rock and Fossil show.  I think that everyone enjoyed the show as much as I did.  How wonderful!

We then went to our house to view a show about termites.  Caleb has been studying them at school.  It was on the Science Channel and was one of a series called "Mutant Planet."  It was about the Brazilian Cerrado.  Wikipedia states that the Cerrado is "a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil, particularly in the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais."  One of the principle inhabitants of this area is the termite.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the show and they are going to check and see if they can get the Science Channel.

Next, we went to the home of Lucas and Loudon where we celebrated with a fine meal.  Carol made Lasagna and Megan made a salad and a most tasty birthday cake.  It was frozen.  I received a gift certificate for a flight at U-vary Aire.  I love aerial photography.  I can't wait to decide what to do.

Sunday, the actual day, we were treated to breakfast at Cracker Barrel by Andrew and Carrie.  My favorite place for breakfast.  I, of course, love fried eggs and bacon.  On the side I had grits and biscuits with gravy.  I went back over to Chad and Megan's afterwards but was so exhausted that I had to go home to rest.  

Left to right row 1 above are Loudon, Evie, Lucas and Caleb.  Second row:  Larry and Reed.

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