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Process
| Seven Steps: Stand Out |
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- Pick a Pattern: Immersion Graphics
offers hundreds of patterns that range from Realtree camouflage
to wood grains, marbles and metallics. If you can’t find
one you like, Immersion will design a pattern for you. Once a
pattern is chosen, it is digitized and printed as an exact replica
on film.
- Prep a Product: Most product surfaces
are generally cleaned before the typical application of a basecoat
material which adheres to the product surface and accepts the
inks of the printed decoration. Basecoat colors are either prescribed
or chosen depending on the design pattern used and are an inherent
part of the final decoration color scheme. Basecoats can be waterborne
or solvent-borne, some examples being lacquers, poly-urethanes,
or a powder coating. The choice of basecoat is dependent on its
compatibility with the product material.
- Image Orientation: Printed film for
decorating a part is placed on water in a dip tank designed for
the Final Finish® process. This part of the process is managed
either manually or is automated. Sliding baffles are used to keep
the printed film in a fixed position to help achieve a good decoration.
- Activation: Printed film is properly
sprayed with a chemical activator, which through multiple reactions
promotes the transfer of the decorative image to the part being
decorated during immersion.
- Immersion: Activation having been completed,
the product is immersed in a predetermined manner into the printed
film media. When this is done water follows the contours of the
part and forces the inks to penetrate the basecoat. After being
fully immersed, the part is removed from the water and it can
be immediately seen that the part has taken-on the color and design
of the original pattern. Because the graphic is only a few microns
thick, decoration is possible for flexible plastic products such
as ski goggles, and even molded parts including ATF hoods, fenders
and related components. Many sizes and shapes can be decorated
from firearms and instrument panels to radio bezels.
- Rinsing and Drying: After immersion,
product is removed for rinsing which can be done manually or automatically
based on the equipment used. The product is then dried prior to
the next step.
- Clear-Coating: In the final process
step, the decorated product has a clear-coat applied for durability
and UV protection.
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