"Printing" on to wood

[Wardy]

I was hoping for some advice please with regards to putting images onto wood (colour rather than engraving).
We've had a demo from The Magic Touch with their special papers which use a toner printer and heat press to do so.
Is this the best route to go for being able to put lasting images onto various different surfaces rather than standard sublimation or is there other ways and means?

[Justin]

UV is a fantastic option but not cheap by any means! if you have the market I'd be seriously looking at this....and am.

What are you looking to print? Photographic quality, words etc?

[Coops]

I don't know if it's the same as the magic touch paper but I saw some good results using tattoo paper. I don't have a link but if you Google "tattoo paper onto wood" it should bring up a few things for you. I hope it helps.

If you do find another way then please share it with us, I would be interested in this as it's quite a creative media to use.

[Justin]

I am aware of a company coming to market with wooden products that have a clear sublimation coating. I have tested samples and whilst the products themselves need a little work the process should prove to be very good.

[GoonerGary]

Chromaluxe have wood panels and European company I was looking at last night do a laminate.

http://www.thetransferpress.co.uk/chrom ... 2x17720576

[Wardy]

UV is a fantastic option but not cheap by any means! if you have the market I'd be seriously looking at this....and am.

What are you looking to print? Photographic quality, words etc?

We already do a lot with wood as we have a laser for engraving into wood, lots of ways I think we can go with adding colour onto wood.
We are wanting to be able to do it on any wood rather than being limited to specially coated wood which is why we had been looking at the special papers offered by TMT. UV printing looks great, but like you say the price isn't cheap, thanks for pointing me in the right direction of this option! The LEF-12 looks like an introductory sized machine, do you have any other suggestions you've been eyeing up?

[logobear]

Magic Touch CMP paper will stick to wood, and just about anything .... if you can get it under your press.
looks good, but you should/must trim it tight or you will see a polimer 'window'

[Wardy]

Magic Touch CMP paper will stick to wood, and just about anything .... if you can get it under your press.
looks good, but you should/must trim it tight or you will see a polimer 'window'

Thanks for the reply. Do you have insight on how long lasting it is, we've seen it up close when recently applied but obviously that doesn't help with what it will be like a few years down the line? Is it quite robust once applied?

[Wardy]

Magic Touch CMP paper will stick to wood, and just about anything .... if you can get it under your press.
looks good, but you should/must trim it tight or you will see a polimer 'window'

What printer are you using with the CPM paper? The printer TMT are suggesting costs £2400 and you get use of their software if you buy it through them.

[logobear]

CPM will go through the oki c610 which is under £300
it's CMYK - which is fine for most situations
The £2000 plus vat printer is the oki 711w which is CMTwhite - it has a white toner - but no black
it is impractical as an everyday printer, - as the only way to print black is to do 100% CMY - which is expensive, and a bit thick on toner too.
BUT - the white does alow you to do some special situations, and tricks using some of their (&others) papers that open new doors.
I suggest learn stuff on a c610 well before thinking of the 711w - it's a bit of a head F*** getting your head round some advanced application proceedures, - and will probably p*** you off before you master the tricks.
CPM will probably go through many other laser printers (especially older ones with polimer toner instead of wax) - its been about for ages, - but magic touch can only test and approve a few modern ones. You do need to be able to specify HEAVY paperweight to slow the machine down do the fuser can do its thing properly.