Details about SemiFaux Photo finish

[sameold...@my-deja.com]

First, I received another response on rec.crafts.misc about some
possible places to find woodgrained paper, so maybe we are still alive
on this. I will check them out.

This post is to cover the details of what I have been doing. Then I will
only have to send one e-mail with the samples to those who are
interested.

I scanned a piece of wood , put it into PhotoDeluxe, adjusted Contrast,
Brightness and Color until I had an image that had dark brown grain
lines with a very light background. Printed out six copies.

First I stained a couple with thinned down wood stain. Then used less
thinned down stain on another. Went back to the first two and stained
them again. This deepened the color. A little more experimenting with
stain and I had a nice piece that could be used on a radio. Then I began
using artist's oil paints and Winsor Newton's Liquin. Mixed Liquin and
a little oil color with stain on one and only oil color and Liquin on
another. Applied a second thin transparent glaze of oil color and Liquin
over these. I just have to tell you , THIS WORKS!

My problem was that I needed a piece larger than my printer can give.
Took a print to a local place and enlarged it. Now my grain lines are
black. It still looks black under thin glazes. If I can get this guy to
change a copier to sepia ink for my printing, my concerns about
woodgrained paper are over. Anyway, first I tried going over the grain
lines with a crow quill pen and sepia ink. Tedious, but I am used to
this kind of work. Looking for something easier, I tried colored
pencils. A good solid coat works great. Overlaying colors works better.
Adding an oil paint and Liquin glaze on top works even better.

Using colored pencils- If it isnt' going well- Wrong color maybe- Wipe
it down with paint thinner. You'll have a nicely toned paper that you
can still work on.
Paper- I used the plain printer and copy paper for experimenting on. I
will find archival paper for final work.
Woodgrain- Light, soft, fuzzy grain will not print very well unless you
have a graphics program that can create the contrast you need.
Pencils- I used Berol Prismacolor pencils. These have the fat lead.
Berol makes a Verithin line, but don't buy these or any other thin
leads. Buy only in an art supply store.
Other materials- Pencils, ink, crow quill pen, Liquin and oil paint are
all available in art supply stores. Don't buy the cheapo oil paint at
Kmart and Walmart. Look for Grumbacher or Winsor-Newton oil paints. Used
only for glazes they will last a very long time.
Liquin- I wish I could convince everyone to use Liquin and oil paints
for staining and glazing. In combination with wood stain or not. It
dries overnight, it is perfect for wiping on with a rag and it can give
you nuances of color that is impossible to do with woodstain and
commercial toners. I have used it on furniture I restored at least 25
years ago. Two are vanished with poly and one with lacquer. None have
shown any problems. For those that have seen photos of the Silverton
R111 I restored, I can only say that I couldn't have done it without oil
paint and Liquin.

I think that covers it. I will be glad to help anyone who tries any of
this. Don't hesitate to e-mail me.

Stewart

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[Robert A. Murrell]

Alps makes a printer, MD-5000, that uses waterproof thermal inks. There are
a few manufacturers that make waterslide decal blanks for this printer. I
have the lesser resolution MD-1000 printer. I tried basically what you are
doing and it almost worked. My printer only has 600 DPI, and the halftoning
was too noticable (the matrix of pure color dots that are intermixed to
simulate in-between colors). My printer is good to reproduce pure color
decals, but not natural woodgrain. The MD-5000 is not too expensive, around
$450+ as I recall. But that is too much for me to pay for an experiment. I
can buy a lot of radios for that kind of money.

[sylvain]

Can you get "glossy" gold ink to replicate words and logos, for that printer?

Sylvain

[Robert A. Murrell]

Yes. The MD-5000 has "shiny" gold foil. My MD-1000 has a softer gold that
is almost perfect for the big decal on the side of the Radiola III. They
both also do white.

"sylvain" <sva...@concept-allegro.com> wrote in message
news:39D53C8D...@concept-allegro.com...

[sylvain]

Ok, one last question before I rush out to buy one,
can you print on acetate -so I can do my own dial repro?-

Thanks, it's becoming quite interesting...

[sameold...@my-deja.com]

In article <39D53C8D...@concept-allegro.com>,

sylvain <sva...@concept-allegro.com> wrote:
> Can you get "glossy" gold ink to replicate words and logos, for that
printer?
>
> Sylvain
>
> "Robert A. Murrell" wrote:
>
> > Alps makes a printer, MD-5000, that uses waterproof thermal inks.
There are
> > a few manufacturers that make waterslide decal blanks for this
printer. I
> > have the lesser resolution MD-1000 printer. I tried basically what
you are
> > doing and it almost worked. My printer only has 600 DPI, and the
halftoning
> > was too noticable (the matrix of pure color dots that are intermixed
to
> > simulate in-between colors). My printer is good to reproduce pure
color
> > decals, but not natural woodgrain. The MD-5000 is not too
expensive, around
> > $450+ as I recall. But that is too much for me to pay for an
experiment. I
> > can buy a lot of radios for that kind of money.

Robert,

In PhotoDeluxe I set the dpi at 300 and printed it out. My printer is a
Canon BJC 4300. I will send you an e-mail of samples I did

[sameold...@my-deja.com]

In article <39D54885...@concept-allegro.com>,

sylvain <sva...@concept-allegro.com> wrote:
> Ok, one last question before I rush out to buy one,
> can you print on acetate -so I can do my own dial repro?-
>
> Thanks, it's becoming quite interesting...

> Sylvain
>
> "Robert A. Murrell" wrote:
>

> > Yes. The MD-5000 has "shiny" gold foil. My MD-1000 has a softer
gold that
> > is almost perfect for the big decal on the side of the Radiola III.
They
> > both also do white.
> >
> > "sylvain" <sva...@concept-allegro.com> wrote in message
> > news:39D53C8D...@concept-allegro.com...

Robert,

I tried to e-mail you, but it wouldn't go through. Others have tried to
e-mail me and couldn't get through. Please send me your e-mail address.

Stewart
ge...@ncweb.com

[Robert A. Murrell]

Yes, it prints transparencies, as well as most other media a standard
printer does. You can get special papers for the Alps printer below. Along
with waterslide decals, you can get bumper sitcker, temporary tattoo, and a
few other unusual media. If you get an MD-5000 (the MD-1000 is no longer
available), let us know how good the output is. By the way, the MD-5000
also does dye sublimation with the optional print head. Alps printer
homepage is http://www.alpsusa.com/Product/MDP/index.htm

http://www.papilio.com/paper1.htm
http://www.beldecal.com/decals.cfm
http://www.micromark.com/
http://swiftsite.com/rosemonthobby/index.htm
http://www.tangopapadecals.com/page2.html

I keep thinking about that Philco cathederal radio that you always see half
stripped because the original owner thought the finish was real.

"sylvain" <sva...@concept-allegro.com> wrote in message

news:39D54885...@concept-allegro.com...

[Robert A. Murrell]

By the way, the Alps printer feed path is not flat, its about 135 degrees.
So whatever you print, it has to be somewhat flexible.

"Robert A. Murrell" <murrell...@ameritech.net> wrote in message
news:BtrB5.231$iO3.1...@nntp0.chicago.il.ameritech.net...

[sylvain]

Thanks a zillion...

Let's see if I can get that printer approved monday at the office...;-)

I DO approve 33.33%, now have to convince the other 2 partners...

Sylvain