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The etching process creates plaques with 2 levels of graphics--recessed and raised................. Etched plaques are ideal for reproducing images with fine detail and small lettering. ADA compliant graphics can be created through deep-etching metal plaques............The etching process creates plaques with 2 levels of graphics--recessed and raised.............. Etched plaques are ideal for reproducing images with fine detail and small lettering............ ADA compliant graphics can be created through deep-etching metal plaques..................

General

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   Etching creates plaques with 2 levels of graphics--recessed and raised. Graphic images and text are generally recessed on an etched plaque and infilled with a painted color. Small lettering with fine serifs is not recommended for raised graphics.

   Brass alloys may be chemically oxidized with the recessed areas appearing as a darker color. ADA compliant graphics can be created through deep-etching metal plaques. Deep-etching to comply with ADA requirements is .032" and may be accommodated, depending on the artwork, in all metals except aluminum.

Stencil Cutting

   To accommodate backlighting or expose the installation wall, waterjet-cut letters may be cut from the background of a sheet of metal. Other applications may be logos or plaques that require precision joining of two different materials, and instrument and control panels with stencil cut shapes and pierced holes.
 

                 

     

 

Etched Portraits

 

   Portraits of people, places or events may be incorporated onto a plaque using a variety of techniques. The best method depends upon many factors including the artwork available, the final appearance, the installation location and budget. This process utilizes a halftone dot pattern acid-etched on a metal plate. The dots are filled with black to contrast with the satin-finished background. Standard etching depths range from .007 to .020” depending upon size and detail of artwork and material selected. Halftone photographs have a shallow etching depth of .003”-.007”.

   The best photographs for etched portraits have high contrast tones with bright white areas, dense black areas, and minimal gray tones. Photos that are monotone or have muted colors will produce poor halftone etchings. Etched portraits are suitable for interior and exterior use. Halftones are not recommended for aluminum etched plaques.

PhotoCeramic Portraits

   PhotoCeramic portraits use a standard-sized ceramic blank as its base material. A photograph is scanned at high resolution and a digital transfer is produced and applied to the ceramic. A clear glaze is applied over this transfer, and the ceramic piece is cured in a kiln. The resulting product is an exact color (or black & white) permanent reproduction on a ceramic base. While this product is suitable for interior or exterior applications, the ceramic base itself is not vandal-resistant.

MetalPhoto™ Portraits

   MetalPhoto uses a photosensitive aluminum sheet, available in either satin aluminum or gold-tone aluminum. The sheet is exposed using a film negative made from a photograph using a UV light source. The image is produced in a permanent black image on the plate. The largest size available is 20" x 24".

   MetalPhoto is recommended when the only art available is extremely detailed or the image itself does not have a lot of contrast (old photos, for example). This method can be used in interior and exterior applications.