San Antonio - Printing on Wood - dry-mount on MDF, Direct Print on Flatbed printers and Dye-Infused wood printing

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PRINTING ON WOOD

The growing demand for unique, artistic reproductions of photographs has led to a number of exciting options for consumers. Prints on canvas, metal, and glass ensure the customer receives exactly the look and feel they want with every print. Wood Prints are another great option. Much like the other choices, there are a variety of ways to display an image on wood.

Prints can be heat-mounted on medium density fiberboard (MDF) and laminated for a clean, frameless look that retains the color of the original image. Printing directly to a smooth sheet of wood offers a unique appearance with warmer tones and visible wood grain. Alternately, dye-sublimation involves printing the image on transfer paper with a special type of ink, then infusing the picture into the wood using a heat press.

Whatever your desired product, there is a wood print for you. Check out the table below, summarizing the options, then read on for an in-depth look at each.

SUMMARY

SUMMARY	DRY-MOUNTING ON WOOD	DIRECT PRINT TO WOOD	DYE-INFUSED WOOD IMAGING
HOW IT WORKS	A paper or canvas print is attached to an MDF wood backing using a process called dry mounting.	The digital image is printed directly onto the wood base using a flatbed printer.	The digital image is printed on transfer paper, then infused into the wood panel using a heat press.
MAXIMUM SIZE	Subject to the surface area of the heat press, up to 40x60".	Subject to the surface area of the flatbed printer.	Subject to the surface area of the heat press, up to 40x60".
AVAILABLE SHAPES	Primarily square and rectangular shapes.	Primarily square and rectangular shapes.	A wide variety of shapes, from square, to circular, to arches or ogee edges.
QUALITY	The paper/canvas print is available in archival quality; the laminate prevents the paper from detatching from the wood.	UV-resistant inks and the rigid wood substrate result in long-lasting prints.	Inks are UV-resistant, and wood has been shown to last for many decates.
FINISHES	Determined by substrate choice (paper, fabric, canvas); a matte lamination will affect the finish. Many edge colors are available.	No options, image will show the wood grain through whites and lighter colors.	Depending on the saturation of the ink, the wood grain may show through whites and lighter colors.

PRINTS DRY-MOUNTED ON WOOD

The Process

Essentially an alternative to ink placed directly on wood, mounting prints onto wood panels begins with an image printed on paper. Created from a digital file with a high-quality inkjet printer at 300 DPI (dots per inch), this image is then affixed to the MDF panel using a dry-mounting procedure. The finished product is also called a Plaque Mount.

MDF stands for medium density fiberboard, and is made by contensing a mixture of left-over wood fibers, wax, and a resin binder with extremely high pressure and heat. Denser than plywood and particle board, because MDF has no real wood grain, it cannot break along the grain. MDF is made from recycled materials, and is recycleable.

A piece of mounting tissue (a very thin, heat-sensitive adhesive) is placed between the printed image and the wood panel. When squeezed within a heat press, the print adheres completely to the wood. A UV-resistant, matte laminate is then applied to the surface to protect the image from scratches, temperature changes and fading.

Shapes and Sizes

The most common shape of wood panel for a dry mount is square or rectangle. The edges of the board are neatly bevelled, serving as a subtle decoration around the image. At KeenART Media, we offer dry mounts on wood in any size up to 48x72".

Finishes

The bevelled edges of the wood panel can be painted in a wide variety of colors, from muted black to eye-catching gold. The stippled texture of the board is visible beneath the paint.

Several display options are also available for plaque mounts. All options have a routed keyhole slot for easy hanging.

Standard/Flat Mount: The image is displayed on a on a basic, 1/2" deep panel from edge to edge, with a bevelled border.
Matted Mount: The wood panel is cut larger than the image, so a border in any color is visible around the picture. This border serves as a mat, and can be any width the customer chooses.
Raised/Combo Mount: The panel containing the image is layed onto another, larger panel in a solid color, which serves as a recessed mat. Both panels have a bevelled edge that can be painted in any color.
Box/Flush Mount: Similar to a standard or flat mount, but the panel is thicker, with a depth of 1". The matted mount option is also available for this style.
Float Mount: a thick, 1" board is affixed to the center back of the 1/4" panel on which the image is mounted. The back piece pushes the image out from the wall, giving it a floating effect.

The type of paper onto which the image was printed will affect the finish of the product, as well. Any photographic papers can be used, as well as smooth or textured fine art papers. Even satin cloth and real canvas can be used for a completely unique visual texture. The matte laminate will give a matte finish to any substrate, but the original qualities of the substrate will still be seen to some extent.

Quality and Durability

The inkjet printer will create a high quality print with colors as closely matched to the original as possible, with UV-resistant, archival ink. Depending on the choice of substrate, the print will resist fading and discoloration for decades, even over 100 years. The laminate protects the print further, from scratches and nicks, as well as fading due to light exposure, and moisture. It also ensures the print will stay tightly affixed to the wood for years to come.

The wood panel is not archival, but is of a good quality and will hold up for many years. It is important to note, however, that the wood itself will absorb moisture, so it is best to keep the plaque mount out of humid areas, unless a protective coating or resin is applied to the wood.

The different styles of plaque mounts available

Plaque mount styles

A standard plaque mount and the keyhole hanger routed into the back

A standard plaque mount and keyhole hanger.
The layers of a plaque mount: panel, mounting tissue, image, laminate

Panel, mounting tissue, image, laminate.

DIRECT PRINT ON WOOD