Artistic question

[][FëaNarO][]

I wanted to know if it’s possible to print an image on paper(laser printing) and then apply it on a metallic surface like it was directly painted on it.

[The Modfather]

You mean like a transfer or just glue it to the surface?

Transfer, no, not really.

Glue, yes, but it won't exactly look like a paint job or anything, you can use 3M Super 77 spray glue to afix it to the surface but it'll always just be a piece of paper.

[][FëaNarO][]

Not even if you varnish it? I say this because I've seen some country art that has this kind of things on wood boxes and it wasn't very notorious, but I don't know the process.

Thanks for the answer.

[Rankenphile]

You can use a shellac finish, or a mod-podge, for this type of effect, but I wouldn't recommend it. In my experience, it still ends up looking like paper, no matter how well you disguise it. On wood boxes and such, you can sand down the edges and smooth it out to blend it a bit, but on metal the edges would be very pronounced and obvious, especially with a gloss finish. Even on wood it isn't hard to tell.

You'd be better off using a waterslide decal, a silkscreen transfer or a printed vinyl application.

Who knows, though. Give it a try on some scrap, experiment. prove me wrong! :D

[punish3r]

Um...I don't know if this occured to anyone else, but TTSes (Toner Transfer Sheets) are designed to do exactly that (i.e. transfer a printed image to a metal plate from a laser printed image) and I imagine with a spray on clearcoat or laminiation or something to protect the toner once it was on the plate, it would stand up quite well to the elements.
Although some might have qualms with using a product for what it's actually intended for... (I shudder at that thought...)

For anyone interested, Toner Transfer is a process used to make individual/small batches of PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) by hobbyists and professionals alike. There is a way to do the process with standard paper, but it hardly ever comes out perfect, and the TTSes are about $1 US each right now, so the cost isn't too huge. They are available from a number of sources, and my only recommendation would be to check the surplus houses BEFORE going through someone like Mouser or DigiKey (both of which sell TTSes incidentally) as the big boys mark up their 20 sheet packs by about 400%

[BuzzerMan]

Thread stealer:
How would one go about making your own custom waterslide decals?
What's the price rates on such things?

[The Modfather]

The best way to do this is still to use a case skin, here's some resources.

From Xoxide:
http://www.xoxide.com/caseskin.html

From FrozenCPU:
http://www.frozencpu.com/scan/se=Case%20Accessories/se=PolyGFX%20Case%20Skins/mp=menu_search.html

From PCX:
http://www.pcextreme.com/catalog/case_accessories/polygfx_case_skins.html

And many will do custom designs.

[][FëaNarO][]

This case skins are some kind of printed adhesive plastic? Because if it is just that maybe I could do it myself with my own design.

[The Modfather]

It's printed on a vinyl adheasive but the process makes the printed media much more resilliant than anything you can do with a home printer of any kind. I don't know if it's in the inks they use or if they're treated after printing but they don't run or fade very easily, inkjet printouts would though.

You can get your own design printed onto a case skin, they do that, or most of them do at least.

[Rankenphile]

I'm almost positive most case skins are sublimation printed.

[][FëaNarO][]

I thinks that’s the best option, I’ll have to look for some place that does that and start plotting desings, thanks for all the feedback

[The Modfather]

Good luck and don't forget to post pics of the project.