<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Bruce,<div>I'm not sure if this has already been shown to you but there are inks that essentially set when exposed to the laser like we have in the lab.</div><div>One such product is Thermark. </div><div><a href="http://www.thermark.com/content/view/35/78">http://www.thermark.com/content/view/35/78</a></div><div>You essentially spray paint it onto the substrate and expose.</div><div><br></div><div>Something I would try. Different colours as well.</div><div>A more durable product is mentioned as well: Cermark</div><div><a href="http://www.thermark.com/content/view/36/78/">http://www.thermark.com/content/view/36/78/</a></div><div><br></div><div>Of course you will be limited in size to the bed of the laser machine.</div><div>There are some bigger machines in Ottawa that have friendly owners.</div><div>/Mike</div><div><br><div><div>On 2012-06-21, at 12:44 AM, Bruce wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div>Thanks for all the replies. To be specific, I'm not looking for etching. I'm <br>looking to print a photo on aluminium with dimension of gallery size prints. <br><br><br>Again thanks to all for taking the time to reply.<br><br><br>-- <br>Bruce Harding<br>Information Broker<br>Member: IEEE, SPIE, IACR<br><br>On June 20, 2012 04:19:57 PM Jason Cobill wrote:<br><br><br> Here's a link to an acid etching process.<br> <a href="http://www.nontoxicprint.com/etchzincsteelaluminum.htm">http://www.nontoxicprint.com/etchzincsteelaluminum.htm</a><br><br> Note that their process is somewhat toxic - but less toxic than the <br>standard acid bath etching.<br><br> -Jason Cobill<br><br><br>On Wed, Jun 20, 2012 at 4:17 PM, Paul & Andrea Mumby <<a href="mailto:themumbys@gmail.com">themumbys@gmail.com</a>> <br>wrote:<br><br>You can mark annodized aluminum quite easily using a laser cutter/engraver <br>(such as the one at modlab). Resulting in a nice permanent and durable image.<br><br><br>See <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-Etching-Anodized-Aluminum/">http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-Etching-Anodized-Aluminum/</a> for one <br>example (using an epilog laser same as modlab). <br><br><br>- Paul<br><br><br><br>On Wed, Jun 20, 2012 at 4:11 PM, Bruce <<a href="mailto:lists@faintfuzzies.ca">lists@faintfuzzies.ca</a>> wrote:<br><br>Bruce Harding<br>Information Broker<br>Member: IEEE, SPIE, IACRHello,<br><br>I'm doing research into printing (photos) on aluminium. I'm looking at a<br>number of questions.<br><br>- Ink types.<br>- longevity.<br>- methods and materials.<br>- processes if more than one.<br>-Also interested in what is being used as a varnish or sealer.<br><br>My understanding of aluminium is that it corrodes easily so how do that effect<br>the final product?<br><br><br>If you have any information on this I'd really like to hear from you.<br><br><br>PS. I've talked to a few printers that do this, they are understandably or<br>not, quite closed mouthed about the above questions.<br><br>--<br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Lab mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Lab@artengine.ca">Lab@artengine.ca</a><br>http://artengine.ca/mailman/listinfo/lab<br></div></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>