Nameplate Blog

Holiday Match Box Covers

Etching can be used in nameplates for industrial applications or to create a premium look as shown here in the aluminum match boxes.  Our series of match box designs which feature mechanical finishes and etching are some of my favorites.  The surface of the aluminum comes to life dancing with movement.  All the designs take advantage of the metal character featuring two direction brush and engine turn.  Intricate details are etched into the aluminum contrasting matte silver against bright highlights.  The etched details add a slight tactile quality to the match box.

This holiday match box cover features the same process as above.  Larger areas of brushed aluminum are used in the design for a slightly different overall look.  Engine turn is used in borders and outlines.  The overlapping spins are no longer recognizable.  Instead, the mechanical finish catches light bouncing highlights and shadows off the metal surface.  The horizontal and vertical brush also reflect light differently depending on your angle of view.  The surface of the aluminum has an almost jewel-like quality to it.  The match boxes are an example of elevating the aluminum substrate to a premium look.  The metal substrate is a chameleon, changing appearance to meet your needs whether industrial, technical or premium. 

How might you use etching in your next product branding project?  Do you like the tone on tone look that is achieved when etching is combined with mechanical finishes?

Color Matching on Aluminum

Color is typically added to aluminum nameplates, labels and badges using lithography, screen printing and coating.  This article covers basic guidelines in specifying and submitting colors to be matched for your nameplate project.

Our process engineers will determine which process is best suited to your nameplate application.  Certain types of colors are better suited to specific processes.  Your graphics or part requirements might also dictate the best process.  Considerations taken into account when determining the appropriate manufacturing process are:

   •lithography - needed for fine detail and halftones
   •screen printing - needed for metallics and textures
   •coating - provides overall color (opaque or transparent)

Specifying Color

Custom color matches can be specified using one of the following:

   •PMS color - specify coated or uncoated color
   •other color system - submit color chip
   •custom color master - submit target master

Color Specification Checklist

	color application
	graphics
	background
	background color
	over brushed or bright aluminum
	over white
	other color
	gloss level
	high
	low
	custom
	type of color
	opaque
	transparent
	metallic
	light source
	daylight
	cool white
	other

Color Application

Matching a color sometimes requires multiple impressions of the color or an underprint of white.  Understanding how a color is used helps to minimize critical registration.

Background Color

The substrate or base color a color is printed over may impact the color.  Colors are matched over the color or substrate they will be printed on in manufacturing.

Gloss Level

The gloss of a color or pattern will have an effect on the perceived color of an object.  The same ink or coating coated with different gloss levels of coating will look different.  The lower the gloss the lighter the color will look.  This is most evident on dark colors.

Type of Color

Not all colors can be matched exactly on all substrates.  Bright colors and pastels do not always translate well to transparent colors.  This is especially true for colors that have a lot of white in them.  Metallics are screen printed with a coarse mesh and may not be a good fit for fine graphics.

Light Source

Consider where your product will be used.  Color matches should be viewed under the same light source.  A color may match under one light source and not under another.

Common Color Terminology

• Hue- the quality of color which describes the color, red, green, blue, etc.
• Value- the quality that describes the lightness or darkness compared to a gray scale  
• Chroma- the quality that describes the saturation or percentage of a color
• Chromatic - perceived as having a hue; not white, gray or black
• Flip/Flop- pertaining to the appearance of a material when viewed from a direction far from the viewing angle, evident when a sample is turned in the light and it may look light when held one way and dark when turned
• Saturation- the attribute of color perception that expresses the degree of departure from the gray of the same value
• Metamerism- a condition when colors match under one light source but do not match under another light source
• Opaque- ink that does not allow light to pass through it and it has a good hiding power
• Transparent- inks which lack hiding power and permit transmission of light thus allowing previous printing or substrates to show through
• Tint- a transparent layer of color (see "Transparent")
• Metallic- inks which contain various sizes of flakes which have reflective properties and change the optical characteristics of the color
• Pearlescent- colorant containing various pigments and exhibiting various colors depending on the angles of illumination and viewing
• Shade- adding black to a color
• PMS- Pantone Matching System; a standard for color reproduction allowing a color to be specified by a name and number. It assures the right color when a job is printed
• Munsell- identifies color in terms of three attributes: hue, value and chroma. Recognized as a standard color specification in the U.S., Japan, Germany & Britain
• Light Sources- a standardized source of light for performing visual color evaluations and assessing levels of metamerism
    •Daylight (simulates natural light) 
    •Horizon (simulates early morning or late evening sky)
    •UV (ultraviolet light)
    •"Illuminant" A (incandescent light)
    •Cool White Fluorescent (commercial lighting) 
    •U30 (energy efficient fluorescent standard used commercially in U.S.)
    •TL84 (energy efficient fluorescent standard used commercially in Europe)
• CMYK- an abbreviation for cyan, magenta, yellow and black; a standard for offset printing in full color; also referred to as "four-color" process
• RGB- stands for "Red Green Blue", refers to the three hues of light that can mix together to form any color
• LAB- a color model used to describe all colors visible to the human eye; a uniform lightness scale
• Colorimeter - an instrument designed for the direct measurement of color
• Spectrophotometer - an instrument that measures light at many points on the visual spectrum which results in a curve
• Densitometer - a sensitive, photoelectric instrument that measures the density of images or colors

Request samples of aluminum nameplates to begin exploring the possibilities available to you in your product branding. 

Dimensional Emboss

The sculptural dimension of a 3-D emboss is the perfect fit for many logos.  The Ford, Mustang engine cover nameplate is an example of the detail which can be achieved when embossing aluminum.  The Mustang logo is bright aluminum with a metallic silver background.

A 3-D emboss requires forms with gradual changes. Abrupt changes in height could cause the aluminum to break out.  The Harley Davidson, Screamin' Eagle insert features a 3-D emboss on a slight contour.

Applying an adhesive to a nameplate with a 3-D emboss is typically done after the embossing operation helping to maximize detail in the emboss.  The Mack Trucks nameplate is manufactured with a foam adhesive laminated to the part for assembly.  The bulldog logo is bright aluminum with a brushed background.

The 3-D emboss on these nameplates is further enhanced with selective brushing and printing.  Critical alignment of printing to the emboss is achieved through a print development process.  Decorated aluminum is embossed.  The artwork is adjusted to allow for any distortion of the metal which occurs during the embossing process.  The final distorted artwork is pulled into alignment during the embossing process.  The Lancome rose logo has intricate detail embossed into the metal. 

The embossing tools for these nameplates were handcrafted by toolmakers working from large scale visual models.  CAD data can also be used in the development of a 3-D emboss.

Do you have a logo that is a good candidate for a 3-D emboss?  Would you like samples of a 3-D emboss to see the detail and depth available to you in nameplate design?

Metal Greeting Cards

The 2009 holiday greeting card is in process.  Many of our customers look forward to receiving the card each year.  Aluminum holiday card collections have been started across the country.  We've put together our collection for you to see.  Many of you will recognize several of these.  We've even found some that you may not have seen.  There are cards on aluminum and on plastic.  Many feature mechanical finishes. 

Do you have a Northern Engraving holiday card that we could add to the collection?  We'll photograph and post it for all to enjoy.  Everyone has their favorite.  What is yours? 

Small Nameplates Making a Big Impression

Bigger isn't always better as is illustrated in the nameplates, inserts, badges and labels shown here.  All are big on impact but miniature in scale measuring in under one inch.  As electronics, cameras and mobile devices become increasingly smaller products have less room for branding.  Many of todays products demand small nameplates with a premium look.   

Whatever your product, aluminum nameplates offer sharp detail, depth and movement.  The nameplates shown here rely on standard decorative aluminum processes such as diamond cutting, doming, spinning and embossing to create an attention getting look. 

Request nameplate samples to see the detail available to you on fine graphics.

Designer's Reference Guide | Nameplates & Trim

Understanding the options available to you in designing your nameplate, label or badge can be overwhelming.  The Northern Engraving Designer's Reference Guide is an educational set of four pages which briefly explain the various nameplate processes.  Nameplates on metal and plastic substrates are attached further illustrating the processes and options available to you.  The metal and plastic substrates include:

   •metal:  aluminum, brass, stainless steel and cold rolled steel
   •plastic:  polyester, polycarbonate and vinyl

The first page covers basic options and processes in decorating metal.  These include:

   •color: metallic, opaque, transparent and process
   •gloss: low, medium, high and selective
   •enhanced: doming, pattern and texture

The second page covers basic options and processes for plastic nameplates and labels.  These include:

   •color: metallic, opaque, transparent, process, back lit and deadfront
   •enhanced: doming, brushed, serialization, hardcoat, pattern and texture

Page three features additional decorative metal processes and options.  These include:

   •mechanical:  diamond cut, engine stripe, engine turn, brush, spin, laser etch
   •chemical:  anodize, chemical etch, and etch and fill

The final page focuses on nameplate tooling options on metal and plastic substrates.  These include:

   •aluminum: coin, deboss, emboss, form, Singular ID and Nova Trim
   •plastic:  emboss, form and NecoDome

We offer the guides to assist you in your next product branding project.  Request the Designer's Reference Guide to begin exploring the options available to you in nameplates and labels.  Additional resources available include a nameplate resources section on our web site and a nameplate FAQ.

Aluminum Greeting Card

Metal holiday cards have been a long tradition at Northern Engraving.  This holiday card from our archives features bright transparent tints of color and embossing. 

In celebration of our one hundredth anniversary the classic card design was dusted off and recreated.  The original card was printed in 1967.  Staying true to the retro design, we added a little selective brushing and screen printed texture.   

Any of you have both holiday cards?  How big is your metal holiday card collection?  Tell me which of the cards through the years is your favorite and why. 

Etch and Fill Process

Etching is a chemical process using chemicals to cut into the surface of metal creating graphics or a design.  The etch and fill process starts with a screen printed chemical resist on the front of the metal.  Everything covered by the resist will be protected from the chemicals during the etching process.  The fill process involves depositing an opaque color into the etched areas of the metal.  The etch and fill process is available on aluminum, brass and stainless steel.

Rating and serial tags use the etch and fill process because of its timeless nature.  Etched graphics stand up to the test of time, chemical abuse and weather leaving the etched copy legible.  The etch and fill process is also a durable option for nameplates.

Etched and Filled Aluminum Nameplates

The Concept Seating nameplate features etched text and background on brushed aluminum.  The etched areas are filled black. 

Etched and Filled Stainless Steel Nameplates

Skilcraft Security Equipment uses the etch and fill process in the background of the nameplate.  The graphics are brushed stainless steel.

Etched and Filled Brass Nameplates

The Jasper Cabinet graphics are etched and filled black on brass.

What applications do you see as a good fit for etch and fill nameplates or tags?