Alamo Offers Water Transfer Alternative To Plating
Alamo Plating and Metal Finishing of Converse, Texas, a specialist in decorative plating, has introduced a new finishing process called water-transfer prin
According to Alamo’s Tymonee Arnold-Piel, customers may obtain exclusive rights to custom designs in the water transfer print process. (Photo: Kirby J. Harrison)
According to Alamo’s Tymonee Arnold-Piel, customers may obtain exclusive rights to custom designs in the water transfer print process. (Photo: Kirby J. Harrison)

Alamo Plating and Metal Finishing of Converse, Texas, a specialist in decorative plating, has introduced a new finishing process called water-transfer printing. The process in its basic form begins with a pre-printed, high-definition pattern on a water-soluble transfer film. The film is then “floated" in the surface in a processing tank of water.

The object to be “printed” is treated with a primer, which serves as a bonding agent between it and the transferred ink, and the item is then slowly dipped through the ink floating on the surface of the water.  As it is immersed, the displacement of water carries the inks around the three-dimensional shape of the item being printed and the ink adheres to the object. The final step is a sealing top coat and application of a finish.