Surfaces on Aluminum

This article is another in the series of posts featuring notes from the staff on their favorite finish. Today, I have the pleasure of presenting my favorite finish. Although there is a wide array to choose from, below is my current favorite.

		Kelly Kjos Marketing and Social Media Manager My core roles include: overall knowledge of product and process in order to best determine what a customer is searching for, updates to social media feeds, and blog writing and posting.
My favorite finish is the NWG-694-R. I prefer this finish due to my love of cars. Motor vehicles have come a long way from using the wood grain on exterior panels to creating a sense of luxury by strategically placing wood grain on the interior. There are several automakers offering the wood grain as an option for upgrades. This detail gives the interior a warm color palette as well as a distinction from other models of the same vehicle. While there are several shades and styles, the darker shades are especially appealing to me.

Wood with Metal Inlay Gallery

This series of aluminum accent trim takes inspiration from the unique designs found in pool cues.  The works of arts are created by craftsmen who combine exotic woods, precious stones, metals and other materials to create unique cue designs.  The detail found in the pool cues was the starting point for combining multiple finishes together onto a decorative trim piece.  The versatility of aluminum as a decorative allows wood finishes to be printed in precise alignment with brushed accents, gold details and matte black inlays.  The translations found here include a variety of woods from the faux finishes in our pattern library.

Pool cues are one source of inspiration.  Fountain pens, watches and nature are some more.  However, the items and surfaces around us only become inspirational when looked at from a different perspective, one of curiosity and inquisitivity.  I find myself continually asking how this or that might translate into a pattern or texture.  Then when I think about combining the finishes to tell a story of elegance, simplicity or toughness... I find no shortage of possibilities.  We started with a cue stick and asked what if.  Where will you start? 

Request a disc collection to begin exploring the variety of finishes available for panels, overlays and decorative trim.

Metal Ceiling Panels

Custom ceiling tiles are a versatile option for creating high impact designs to enhance your space.  The designs utilize standard processes used in the manufacturing of automotive trim and nameplates.  Options range from the diverse offering of finishes in our pattern library to custom designed tiles.  Brushing, printing and mechanical finishes combine to create bold designs or subtle statements.  The richness and depth of aluminum ceiling tiles enhances office spaces, casinos, hotel lobbies, institutional settings and restaurant/bar areas.

This article covers aluminum ceiling tiles manufactured and designed for Gage Architectural Products.  The finishes can be customized in color, scale and process to meet your design intent. 

Ceiling Tile Design Options

1. Brushed Aluminum - overall or selective
2. Mechanical Finishes - engine stripe or organic
3. Woodgrain - burl or straight grain
4. Marble - overall or inlaid
5. Patinaed - brass, bronze, steel or copper
6. Custom - bold or elegant
7. Perforated - rectangles, circles or squares

Brushed Aluminum Ceiling Tiles

The design possibilities available to you when combining bright aluminum with a horizontal and vertical brush are endless.  Mitered corners create coffered effects.  Transparent tints of color are printed creating mixed metal looks.

Mechanical Finishes on Aluminum Ceiling Tiles

Mechanical finishes emphasize the metal surface adding depth and dimension to the tile.  Directional and non-directional patterning catches and reflects light.  Whether refined linear designs created with the engine stripe process or the hand crafted look of organic structures takes, all can be customized in subtle or vivid color. 

Woodgrain Ceiling Tiles

High resolution printing is used to reproduce exotic woodgrains, burls and straight grains on aluminum.  Woodgrain ceiling panels combine multiple woodgrains to create inlaid looks.  Coffered designs add dimension to the tiles.

Marble Ceiling Tiles

Process color is used to capture the detail and subtle color in marble and granite tiles.  Inlaid effects are created when combined with bright aluminum and woodgrain.

Patinaed Metal Ceiling Tiles

Distressed and aged metal surfaces add hand crafted warmth to spaces.  Surfaces range from gunmetal greys and mixed metal designs to antiqued brass and copper finishes.

Custom Ceiling Tiles

The photos above really say it all.  If you can imagine it, we can create it on aluminum.  Mix and match.  Make it your own.  Combine finishes or create custom graphics.

Perforated Ceiling Tiles

Now that you've explored the options in decorating aluminum panels, consider adding a perforation.  Round, square or rectangle.

Request aluminum finish samples to begin exploring the options available to you in surface design.

Organic Finishes on Aluminum

Blend polar extremes.  Balance is found between modernity and gathered natural references.  Ancient crafts and advanced technology combine.

The Origin mood board includes organic structures based on the familiar colors and structures in woodgrains.  The video summarizes the inspiration and processes behind the woodgrain-like aluminum finishes.  The finishes can be integrated into decorative trim for automotive, appliance and electronic applications.  Request samples to see the subtle effects in the woodgrain-like finishes.

Straight Grain, Burl and Exotic Woodgrain Finishes

Woodgrains offer extraordinary surface realism and a new feeling of luxury with richly figured detail and elegant natural looks.

Woodgrains can be printed selectively and complimented with a bright accent bead or brushed aluminum.  Whether looking for sycamore, eucalyptus, and ebony macassar or birdseye maple, walnut and ash, a library of woodgrain finishes is available to be integrated into trim or customized.  Samples are available to assist you in exploring the various grains, colors and gloss levels.  Once a structure or grain is chosen, the overall color of a woodgrain can be adjusted to meet your final design intent.  Custom woodgrain finishes can be matched based on real wood surfaces. 

What trends in woodgrain trim are you are seeing used in products?  Do they vary across industries?  Across cultures?

Developing finishes with the familiar color and structure of a woodgrain without setting out to duplicate or imitate a woodgrain is the common theme of these aluminum finishes.  The trend toward authentic materials and surfaces is reflected in the series.  The foundation of the woodgrain-like finishes idea is based on the thought that if woodgrain trim is needed... it should be real wood.  There is no room for imitation woodgrain surface.  However, if a finish is developed with the warmth and character of a woodgrain without imitating a woodgrain then this finish is an interesting and unique finish in its own right.  It isn't an imitation.

India ink, brushes and paper were used to capture the linear quality of woodgrains in both of these finishes.  The warm woodgrain tones used in printing the aluminum finish help to create a familiar surface which is still unique. 

Woodgrain structures were the foundation of these finishes.  However, the process used is not a traditional woodgrain development.  The organic woodgrain detail is layered on to the aluminum using a combination of selective brushing and transparent colors.  The result is finishes with a familiar woodgrain structure that are obviously not real wood finishes.  The surfaces have depth, movement and metal quality.

The familiar woodgrain colors are used again in these finishes with a structure more organic, definitely not linear.  The ethereal quality is comforting like the surface of a favorite desk.

These same finishes would look fantastic in a completely different colorway.  The woodgrain quality would disappear and they would take on a entirely different character.  How would you like to see these finishes explored?  What other ideas do you have for creating a woodgrain-like surface?

Eucalyptus Woodgrain | Chrysler Pacifica Interior Trim

Our library of woodgrains on aluminum includes a wide variety of woods and woodgrains.  We have decades of experience interpreting the different types of woods in the world and their characteristics in terms of grain, texture, color and figure on to aluminum.  Designers can work from any of our existing woodgrain finishes to customize a woodgrain surface for their aluminum trim.  Custom matched woodgrains using real wood as a starting point are also an option.

The eucalyptus woodgrain chosen by Chrysler design for the Pacifica aluminum trim is unique in that it is has the same depth and movement seen in real wood.  The eucalyptus woodgrain had crossfires which are a reflection of light.  Matching this effect required a layering of printing to create the movement. The finish was included on door rails and across the dash. 

The finished parts include the wood grain accented by a satin silver finish.  There is a debossed bead between the two finishes giving the illusion of being two separate trim pieces.  This option allowed the designers to meet the design intent while staying within budget.

Interest in aluminum woodgrains reflects an increased need for cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternatives to native and exotic hardwoods.  The printed woodgrain also allows flexibility unmatched in real wood.  For example, the structure of this woodgrain was curved slightly to follow the arching line of the instrument panel.  The result is a woodgrain finish that flows naturally with the shape of the part.  The Chrysler designer chose the exact area of the woodgrain for optimum aesthetics.  Our designers then gently altered the woodgrain. 

See for yourself the depth in this aluminum woodgrain finish by requesting samples.  Explore the possibilities of woodgrains on aluminum. 

What are the trends in woodgrain colors and strucures that interest you? Can you see these being integrated into trim?