Geneva Olson
Expert Storyteller
Has anybody had any experience of printing on chrome?
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printing on chrome
- Thread starter Geneva Olson
- Start date
Notarealsignguy
Arial - it's almost helvetica
Not saying it wont work but I tried it on our mimaki with Oracal cut vinyl 631/651 or something like that. It looks like its gonna work then a few seconds later it looks like oil on water. I didn't dig into it at all from there cuz it was small and I wasnt going to waste my time. I think thermal printing is how it is usually done on a smaller scale?
SignMeUpGraphics
Super Active Member
We use our UV to print onto (R-tape/Nekoosa) chrome then laminate with optically clear. Works perfectly and can even cut through the bleed without curling.
Haven't tried with our Epson ecosol as we haven't had an order for a while, but our old Roland would *always* curl if cutting through bleed no matter how long it sat to dry... even 3 months wasn't enough.
Haven't tried with our Epson ecosol as we haven't had an order for a while, but our old Roland would *always* curl if cutting through bleed no matter how long it sat to dry... even 3 months wasn't enough.
artofacks1
New Member
Print chrome a lot but using my edge fx
ActionGraphics
New Member
or you can laminate it, if your laminate is printable (many are), then print.
Decal Dude
New Member
do it all the time. Have a Summa.
tulsagraphics
New Member
Yes, you can print on chrome film with Eco-Solvent (probably UV and latex too, but I only have Eco). It's been a while, but I remember going through 3 or 4 brands/series til I found one that worked well (and labeled as "printable") -- ended up being the really pricey stuff. It was probably the Avery mentioned by jfiscus. Also worth mentioning that it does a number on your plotter blade (I also use a Summa), so it's a good idea to build in blade replacement costs into your work. Weeding can be a pain, so you gotta dial in that blade pressure and make adjustments more frequently.
vondegroot
New Member
Have done many prints on cheap chrome with ecosol printer. You just gotta allow ample drying time, and be careful with it after it comes off the printer.
Albert Cyrus
New Member
Metallized PVC chrome usually works ok with solvent printing. Like someone said already, RTape chrome is good. You have to be careful with it though. Metallized polyester chrome (Oracal 351) is a disaster with solvent printing.
This article goes into some detail. https://expresssignproducts.com/blog/post/11_solvent-printing-on-chrome-vinyl.html?page_type=post
This article goes into some detail. https://expresssignproducts.com/blog/post/11_solvent-printing-on-chrome-vinyl.html?page_type=post
Geneva Olson
Expert Storyteller
Are you talking about the 3m metallic vinyl?
Geneva Olson
Expert Storyteller
No, i've printed on that.
I'm talking about actual chrome.
We've actually decided how/what to do. We are going to wrap the car in chrome and them print on clear and place it over the chrome wrap.