Technologies for photo printing on furniture
Decorating the surface of furniture with digital images is carried out using laser color printers, sandblasting machines, and polymer printing. In this case, great importance is attached to the resistance of the design to light, moisture, mechanical damage and temperature changes.
Designers are free to choose contrast and brightness and other design parameters; dimensions are selected with millimeter precision. The image can be applied to almost any surface of finished or designed furniture.
Sanded wood, glass, laminate, all types of plywood and wood boards, cardboard, plastic and metal cladding can be coated with a pattern, subject to the peculiarities of the technological process when working with a specific material.
Decor features
Sandblasting patterns are created using a special apparatus. Using this technique, you can apply a pattern to various types of glass, mirrors, wood, and stone. The principle of operation of the device is based on treating the selected surface with a mixture of sand or other abrasive material and air under high pressure. The method is over 100 years old and was patented by General Benjamin Chu Tillman in 1870.
Sliding wardrobes with sandblasted patterns look stylish, make the interior of the room unique, this treatment adds functionality to the furniture:
- there are no fingerprints left on the matte surface, this is especially true for mirrors;
- the surface is easy to clean from dirt;
- the applied pattern cannot be erased;
- Such cabinets do not look bulky and will fit perfectly into the interior of a corridor or bedroom.
There are several types of sandblasting coatings. You can choose a colored design, place matte patterns on a mirror background, or leave mirror images on a completely matte surface. The picture can be double-sided or applied on the outside or inside of the door. Depending on the depth of processing, it is possible to achieve different degrees of matting or create a 3D pattern.
For the hallway, it is better to choose models with doors sandblasted on the inside; they are less dirty and easier to clean.
The process consists of several stages. First, a stencil of the image is made, then it is placed on a flat surface and work with sandblasting begins. The finished canvas remains to be cleaned of dust, polished and inserted into the frame.
Types of fittings for sliding wardrobes, functionality of elements
A color image is obtained in several stages. First, the desired design is applied using sandblasting, then it is painted with paints that transmit light well. After drying, a hydrophobic liquid is sprayed onto the painted surface, it protects the picture from greasy stains. The final touch is to coat the finished masterpiece with varnish to prevent dust from settling on it.
Polymer film
When printing on large-format printers, the processed design is applied to an adhesive polymer film in the printing shop, then the surface of the furniture is covered with it, and this can already be done right in the apartment, and there is no need to move the furniture. This film can be removed easily and without damaging the appearance.
This is the lowest option in the price category, which allows you to change the pattern whenever you want. This method is best chosen for the first experience, when there are still some doubts about the choice of image or the use of photo printing in general to decorate the room.
The shelf life of such film is limited to 1-2 years, if the surface is protected from direct sunlight and the room is maintained at a constant temperature and there is no excess humidity.
Large format printing technology is constantly being improved by improving the quality of inks and improving the texture of the film. Before ordering photo printing on a cabinet, it is important to make sure that there are no toxic dyes, so you need to contact specialized printing companies that inform the client in detail about the substances used.
Application technologies
To apply a design to cabinet doors, manufacturers offer several technologies:
- Vinyl film for wrapping . An economical option, easy to apply, does not require equipment at the installation site. If necessary, you can remove the film and replace it with another pattern. A coating without a protective layer is unstable to mechanical stress and fades faster. This option is suitable for a nursery - as the child grows, you can easily change the wallpaper of the furniture.
- Multilayer polymer gluing . Color rendering and resolution are better due to the white backing. A clear coating on top prevents fading and abrasion. Over time, you can re-glue and change, but the material is more expensive than regular film.
- UV printing . Apply a photograph to any furniture surface using UV-curable ink. The image is resistant to chemical influences and does not fade in the sun. The coating can be washed, but the colored layer may be damaged mechanically.
- Engraving . The method is used on glass, cabinets with a mirror. The monochrome pattern is applied by sandblasting (air under pressure with an abrasive substance) or an electric engraver. The image is permanent and unchangeable, so it will last as long as the furniture lasts.
- Silkscreen printing . Screen printing vector images or pattern. Allows you to apply a bulge effect, use sparkles, and velvet styling.
- Eglomise . Manual technique of decorating glass with ultra-thin metal films. Beautiful ornaments are created in a vintage style; gold leaf is used in the classical technique. An option for aesthetes who want to turn furniture into a work of art. Long and not cheap.
Expert opinion
Svetlana Kolesnikova
Designer
The mirror surfaces of the coupe facade can be decorated with engraving yourself. To do this, the ornament is printed on a regular printer and the outline is cut out. Using candle paraffin, the workpiece is attached to the glass, and a paste with hydrofluoric acid (sold in an art store) is applied over the stencil. After exposure, the composition is washed off. The final result will be a pattern with a matte surface.
Sandblasting glass and mirrors
The technology for such processing of mirrors and glass surfaces is not new, but improvements in equipment today make it possible to obtain rich texture and raster images for decorating furniture in a classic style. Sandblasting combined with digital design capabilities opens up a wide range of furniture designs in all modern decorative arts styles.
In sandblasting, printing is used to create cut-out patterns that allow for multi-layer designs using chemical reagents and abrasives. The drawing is durable and not subject to external influences.
UV printing for large formats
Special polymers are used as paints, which, under the influence of ultraviolet irradiation, turn into a film. This latest printing technology provides high quality photographs and is rapidly improving towards obtaining coatings that are more resistant to mechanical damage.
Special substances are used for the base, which increase the adhesion of the polymers. Other surface treatment methods are also being introduced to add additional shine, since UV printing produces only matte photographs.
Photo printing for cabinets – how to choose?
Many specialized workshops offer clients an almost unlimited choice in the method of applying drawings. You can cover the entire surface of the furniture or only parts of it with photographs; you can use ready-made built-in furniture or order it specifically taking into account the design features of photographs.
Of course, you can completely trust professionals - interior designers, but in the case of photo printing this rarely happens. The process of choosing a photograph or drawing is so individual that the client is involved in it to one degree or another, and for many this can become a pleasant hobby for realizing their own creative abilities.
A separate topic could be photo printing of personal or author’s photographs on furniture. It is important to adhere to the measure here, and during the first experiments it is better to use inexpensive and short-lived options for applying the pattern.
If you decide to use ready-made photographs, the almost endless choice, not limited by anything other than the quality parameters of the digital file, can confuse anyone. To facilitate this process, thematic grouping of images and computer modeling are used, which allows you to accurately reproduce the layout on a specific piece of furniture and in the interior as a whole.
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At the initial stage, it will also be useful to familiarize yourself with photos of ready-made cabinets with photo printing in various interiors. Finished, professionally executed photographs are grouped according to the following topics:
- Landscapes or panoramas of cities, made at various scales,
- Images of flora and fauna,
- Abstract drawings and patterns,
- Stylized stills from cartoons and feature films.
With a simple search online, you can find hundreds of catalogs of images that can be used to decorate cabinets.
Photo printing can be applied to the entire facade, to one of the cabinet doors, or as fragmentary inserts. You can use monochrome and black and white options, as well as stylize the photo to achieve the desired color scheme using digital technology. White cabinets with black and white or three-color printing are the most versatile option for hallways and living rooms.
Panoramas of the city, or fragments of sea and natural landscapes will look good in living rooms, where they will become a kind of visual attraction for temporary use. Panoramic realistic photos create the illusion of a window in a room; interesting optical effects can be achieved by decorating the doors of corner cabinets with photographs.
But we must not forget that even the kindest life-size dolphins can have different effects on people. This high-tech recreation of nature and cityscapes can lull some people, and irritate others.
Designers also advise making a choice in favor of pastel colors, and when placing furniture in the house with bright still lifes, landscapes or abstract designs, take into account that they affect a person’s vision and mental state and can cause overstrain, fatigue or anxiety.
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For bold experiments with panoramic and three-dimensional images, the reception room in large homes or offices is ideal.
Sandblasting of glass segments fits most harmoniously into the interior of residential premises, especially bedrooms. You need to plan photo printing on glass carefully; if the finished design is not to your liking, it will be impossible to remake it and you will have to replace the doors or all the furniture.
Photo printing with your favorite characters on children's cabinets will inspire any child. The opportunity to cover closet doors with a large-format photograph of their own choice will attract the vast majority of teenagers, but parents need to make sure that the excessive alternativeness of the youth subculture does not lead to emotional exhaustion of the occupant of the room with photo printing on the cabinets.
The main advantages of using photo printing on furniture: individual design, quick renovation of furnishings and the possibility of visually expanding the space - will be fully exploited if a thoughtful choice of design and technology for its application is made. This is the case when there is no need to reinvent the wheel; it is better to use ready-made catalogs of decorated cabinets and advice from professionals.
Combinations of facade materials
The facades of sliding wardrobes made of different materials are suitable for applying images:
- smooth sanded wood;
- Fiberboard;
- laminated chipboard;
- MDF;
- plastic;
- glass;
- mirrors;
- paper;
- metal
Thanks to large-format photo printing on the surface of the cabinet, the room is transformed and becomes brighter. Such furniture is suitable not only for home, but also for office space. In the latter case, black and white images of cities and landscapes will be relevant.
You can decorate any part of the cabinet with a pattern, including the side wall, internal niches and shelves. The main thing is to choose the right type, color, and style of the picture.
Often, designers combine several types of raw materials in a product. Thus, glass facades are often combined with smooth polished wood. The cabinet frame is assembled from fiberboard, and the doors are made from MDF. Such combinations make it possible to reduce the cost of the finished product while maintaining its attractive appearance.
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