How Hydrographic Transfer Printing Works

• 1. Pick a Pattern
  Camouflage, Wood grain, Carbon fiber, Marbles, Metallic’s
• 2. Preparation
  Successful prep work has everything to do with adhesion. Prior to any transfer of the pattern such as scotching, sanding, priming, heat treating, texture leveling and cure times for shrinkage.
• 3. Base Color
  Applying the base coat is very important for smoothness in feel and even mill thickness for longevity and ink penetration especially for exterior products with heavy exposure conditions.
• 4. Masking
  Masking certain areas is a must on products that require multiple dips as well as installing hold jigs to stabilize the item for entry decoration.
• 5. Evaluation Geometry
  Some products are very complex in shapes and draws understanding entry points and positioning the product for ink transfer allows for maximum image clarity.
• 6. Film Activation
  Printed film is placed on the water surface area allowing the film to float on the water for recommend dissolve time at a certain water temperature at that point it is sprayed with a chemical solution which allows the pattern with its inks to become liquid form with the water while still floating on the surface area.

• 7. Immersion
  Entry of the part into the dissolve pattern slowly with the film penetrating into the contours after removing the item the image is transferred to the product taken on a whole new look.
• 8. Rinsing and Drying
  After the immersion process is completed the product must be rinsed thoroughly to remove any hanging film and residue or PVA known as polyvinylacctate.
• 9. Top Coating
  Apply the urethane clear coat that protects the pattern as well as base coat. The clear coat can be high gloss or low gloss know as matte finish helps with UV Ray protection and normal wear on surface area.
• 10. Buffing and Polishing
  In some cases the clear coat high gloss finish may need to be wet sanded for a more slicker finish or specks of trash heads that may have settled on the clear coat this process ends with polishing out any imperfections in the clear coat to complete finalization.