Surfaces on Aluminum

Thinking Big

A new series of decorative aluminum and steel surfaces created for Gage Corporation explores linear structures on metal.  This exploration includes traditional pinstripes and organic linear finishes.

Inspiration

This finish, from the Northern Engraving pattern library, was the inspiration for one of the new metal finishes.  Finishes in the library can be customized in color, scale and process to create a custom surface for decorative trim or to be integrated into nameplates.  The result can be a subtle change or completely new look. 

Twist | Metal Finish

Increasing the size of the aluminum finish results in an eye-catching dramatic surface for architectural surfaces such as walls, elevators and column covers.  The contemporary metal finish is bold and futuristic.  The large scale graphic elements give the metal a new life.  The exaggerated surface features printed metallics held together with an authentic metal background finish.

Trends

Ability to apply decorative finishes to large format aluminum and steel opens the possibilities for application not only in architectural settings but in consumer products.  Large appliances are starting to explore refreshing options in color and more recently in pattern. 

What innovative applications for large format metal would you suggest?

Textured Finishes on Aluminum

Texture adds visual and tactile dimension to finishes while adding to the perceived value of a finish.  Printed texture gives you control over not only the look but the feel of your custom finish.  Use texture on geometric and technical finishes to add a look and feel of precision.  Or add texture to distressed metal surfaces to add to the realism of the finish.  The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. 

Process Options

Adding texture to aluminum finishes is a versatile option.  It is available colored or clear in high or low gloss.  The options are multiplied when you consider the endless possibilities in pattern design.  Some refer to printed texture as puff ink.  It is a urethane screen printed on the metal and cured. 

This is the fourth article in a series of articles focusing on designing custom finishes.  In this article I will cover options for integrating texture into aluminum finishes.

Clear Texture

Clear textures are available in high or low gloss.  When printed over colors they create a tone on tone effect. 

Colored Texture

Colored textures are available in high or low gloss.  They can be used to create subtle or high contrast looks.  

High and Low Gloss Textures

Carefully consider the gloss level of the background finish when choosing the gloss level of the texture.  Use similar gloss levels for subtle effects.  Contrast the gloss levels for more definition of the pattern.   

Hard and Soft Textures

Hard or rubber soft texture is available on aluminum finishes.  The rubber soft texture can be used to create a contrast between the soft feel of the texture and the cold look of metal.  You can also use the soft feel texture over opaque color to give the look and feel of fabric.

Additional information on options in designing a custom finish are available in the following articles.

How to Design a Custom Finish - 3 Building Blocks of Aluminum Decoration
How to Add Depth and Movement to a Finish - Understanding Options in Brushing on Aluminum
How to Add Color to an Aluminum Finish - Options in Printing on Metal

Request samples of aluminum finishes to begin exploring your choices in adding tactile dimension to surfaces.

Printing on Aluminum

Finishes printed on aluminum build on a layering of process to create surfaces with depth.  Printed colors are one of the basic options in creating these finishes. Combinations of transparent tints, opaque color and metallics are available to be integrated into custom finishes.  All can be combined with brushing and texture to add visual and tactile depth.

This article, the third in a series of articles focusing on designing a custom finish, focuses on your options in printed color on metal. 

Transparent Tints of Color on Aluminum

In printing on aluminum, we often take advantage of the reflective nature of the substrate using transparent tints of color.  A tint of color applied to a selectively brushed background gives you a tone on tone effect as the color is printed on both bright and brushed aluminum.

Spot and Process Color on Aluminum

Faux finishes such as marble, woodgrain and leather are simulated on aluminum using process color or spot color.  Virtually any surface can be duplicated on metal.

Combination of Transparent and Opaque Colors on Aluminum

Layering transparent tints of color with opaque color results in an endless range of possibilities in surface design. 

Metallic Colors Integrated into Aluminum Finishes

Metallics are one more option in printed color used to create eye-catching finishes.  An attractive option is to match a color as both a transparent tint and a metallic color combining them into one finish.

Additional information on your options in creating aluminum finishes is available in the following articles:

How to Design a Custom Finish - 3 Building Blocks of Aluminum Decoration
How to Add Depth and Movement to a Finish - Understanding Options in Brushing on Aluminum
How to Add a Tactile Dimension to Aluminum Finishes - Choices in Textures

Explore your options in printed color when designing aluminum finishes by requesting samples of aluminum finishes.

Brushed Aluminum

A brushed aluminum surface is a popular option for aluminum trim and nameplates because it is an authentic metal surface.  The brushing process is a mechanical process which abrades the surface of the metal.  When combined with a resist or mask, brushing can be applied selectively to the surface of the metal. 

This article, the second in a four part series on designing a custom finish, focuses on your options in adding brushing to aluminum finishes.

Brushed Aluminum

Selective Brushing

A selective brush takes on the character of the printed resist.  The resist can be used to create an endless variety of structures ranging from technical to organic.  The resulting combination of brushed and bright aluminum catches light and reflections creating movement in the surface of the metal.

Selective Brushing on Aluminum

Carbon Fiber, Patina and Organic Structures Brushed on Aluminum

Graphic Image Brushed on Aluminum

Multiple Direction Brush

Spin, Engine Stripe, Engine Turn

Other mechanical finishes available to be incorporated into finishes are spins, engine stripe and engine turn.

Mechanical finishes are the first step in building a decorative finish on aluminum.  They can be layered with printed color and texture to create precise geometric structures or aged patinaed surfaces.  The abraded surfaces are one of the tools available to you in designing a custom finish on aluminum.

For further information on your options in decorating aluminum read the following articles:

How to Design a Custom Finish - 3 Building Blocks of Aluminum Decoration
How to Add Color to an Aluminum Finish - Options in Printing on Metal
How to Add a Tactile Dimension to Aluminum Finishes - Choices in Textures

Request a disc collection, a sampling of aluminum finishes, to begin exploring the depth and movement that brushing brings to aluminum surfaces.

Aluminum Finish Decoration - Beginning to End

This article is the first in a four part series on aluminum decoration.  In this article, I will offer insights into the steps involved in designing a custom aluminum finish.  Aluminum is a versatile substrate which can be decorated in an endless array of finishes.  This is a quick checklist for reference when developing a new surface or pattern. 

Aluminum Finish Design Checklist 

Consider these questions as you begin the design process:

1. What is the overall feel or mood of the finish?
2. What type of structure will it be?
3. Will the finish be overall?
4. Will the structure be applied selectively or in combination with other finishes?
5. Will the pattern be developed to relate to the overall shape of the trim piece, evolving as it moves across the trim?
6. Is movement and depth an important part of the structure?
7. What color will the overall finish be? 
8. Do you want a high contrast print?
9. Will the finish be tone on tone?
10. Will you incorporate texture into the structure?

Aluminum Finish Process Steps - The Building Blocks of Aluminum Decoration

There are many options available in the development of custom finishes on aluminum.  Simplifying the process into the most frequently used basic steps you get the following list:

1. Brushing:
   overall or selective
   in one direction or multiple directions
2. Printed Color:
   transparent tints
   opaque colors
   metallics
3. Texture: 
   clear or colored
   high or low gloss
   hard or soft

The basic processes are layered together to create a finish.  All of these process steps are optional.  A structure might rely on only one of the steps to create a finish or a combination of two of the steps.  All three steps can be used in combination to create endless finishes.   

Brushing, a mechanical process which abrades the surface of the metal, is the first step in the decoration process.  A printed resist or mask protects areas of the metal during the brushing process allowing a combination of bright and brushed aluminum.  Printed color is the next step in the decoration process.  It can be a simple overall tint of color or a complex layering of multiple colors to create finishes with depth and complexity.  Texture is the final step in the decorative process. 

Explore each of the process steps in the following articles. 

How to Add Depth and Movement to a Finish - Understanding Options in Brushing on Aluminum
How to Add Color to an Aluminum Finish - Options in Printing on Metal
How to Add a Tactile Dimension to Aluminum Finishes - Choices in Textures

Request samples of aluminum finishes to begin exploring the possibilities available to you in design custom finishes on aluminum.

In honor of St. Patrick's day and as a reminder that aluminum finishes are available in color, we're sharing this series of metal finishes in green.  Mechanical finishes, transparent tints of color and printed texture are used to create this group of  finishes.  A simple technical or geometric structure takes on a bold new look when printed in bright colors.  A low gloss finish on a tinted brush takes on the richness of anodized finish.  The options in structure are as varied as your options in color. 

A full palette of custom colors are available on aluminum trim.  Red, blue, white or green, in vivid brights or muted pastels, finishes are custom matched to meet your project needs.  While grey, gold, copper and bronze may be seen most often... think about the alternatives.  How would use a vivid color in product trim?  What product would be a good fit for this bold treatment? 

Piano Black Finish

Piano black, the smooth lustrous finish found on the finest of grand pianos, is a stylish option in decorative trim for luxury automobiles.  Northern Engraving uses traditional decorating processes to achieve the gloss black finish on aluminum.  Aluminum trim allows the premium finish to be incorporated into dash panels, switchplates and consoles creating a look of elegance.  

Why Aluminum?

One of the attractive qualities of aluminum trim is its versatility in finish options.  Finishes taking advantage of the real metal character of the material feature brushing and transparent tints of color.  Textures are printed adding further detail.  Other patterns reinvent the metal surface matching faux finishes or interpreting your vision.  Piano black is only one example from the library of aluminum finishes.  The main advantages of working with aluminum finishes are:

• Finishes can be customized to meet the design intent for your product
• Most finishes can be applied selectively to trim or nameplates
• Finishes can be applied in combination with other finishes
• Your trim can be cost-effectively updated with a new finish

What other applications do you see for a piano black finish?  Consumer products?  A nameplate? 

Request a sample of this piano black finish on aluminum to begin exploring the possibilities available to you in decorative trim design.

This aluminum finish from our trend presentation takes inspiration from shibori, the famous "shape resist dyed" cloth of Japan which is akin to tie-dyeing.  We focused on dark near black colors and layered offset lithography with selective gloss to create an aluminum pattern with depth and movement.  This finish is created on recycled aluminum and is one example of what can be done with this substrate. 

The large scale finish compliments larger aluminum trim pieces.  In addition, detailed areas can be selected for use in small inserts or appliqués.  Transparent inks and selective gloss work together to create an interactive finish that "flips" changing appearance depending your angle of view. 

There are many different knots and ties used to create different  shibori patterns on fabric.  The technique can be used to make striking and detailed images.  These images can then be interpreted with endless possibilities on to aluminum.  Using a resist or mask to protect areas of the aluminum while brushing a pattern into the metal is one option for creating a unique metal surface.  Layering offset lithography and brushing adds further depth.  Dramatically different effects can be achieved by altering the size of the image. 

I could see this finish printed in an earthy copper color or for a very different effect a vibrant red.  What color would you like to see this pattern in?  What application do you see for a surface like this?  Request a sample of this unique aluminum finish to see our interpretation of the traditional Japanese shibori design.

Custom Knurled Finish on Aluminum

The custom knurled finish created for this series of Harley-Davidson badges and gauges was designed to coordinate with actual knurled parts on the bike.  The aluminum finish uses a screen printed texture to create the diamond-shaped pattern.  The black and silver finish is complimented by embossed bright graphics.

Inspiration for custom finishes comes from all around.  This is an excellent example of picking up on detailing elsewhere in the product.  It may be a direct interpretation or a starting point carrying a common theme across the trim and badging.

The high end aluminum speedometer gauge includes the knurled finish laminated to a backlit polycarbonate dial.  The aluminum and polycarbonate gauge offers the decorative options of metal with the functionality of a plastic gauge.  

What detail in fabric, leather, plastic or metal would you pick to carry a theme across your product branding?  

Large Scale Ornamental Graphic

This aluminum trim piece features a large scale ornamental graphic flowing across the edge of the part.  The bold graphic is applied using selective brushing.  The background is brushed horizontally.  The next step is to print a resist to protect the background.  A second brush is applied diagonally.  The resist is removed and the entire finish is coated with a transparent red tint of color.  The result is a subtle effect using the large scale bold graphic.  It has movement and depth.  The design element can be made more obvious or more subtle by altering the process.  The process allows for alignment of graphic elements across mating parts.  The design can be created to flow across trim in a vehicle or on a product.

This concept features an ornamental design but the idea works just as well with the popular tattoo and tribal images seen in fashion and print.  Integrating the image into the metal with the brush process creates a graphic with natural highights and reflections.  The image has the appearance of being two unique colors.

What types of images would you like to see treated in this process?  What type of products would you put this type of trim on?  Laptops?  Cell phones? Automotive interiors?

Request a sample to see the subtle movement created by the two direction brush in this finish.