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Hydrographics

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   Hydrographics, also known as immersion printing, water transfer printing, hydro dip, hydrodip, hydrodipping or cubic printing, is a method of applying printed designs to three-dimensional surfaces. The hydrographic process can be used on plastic, metal, hardwood, glass, and various other materials.

 

   The water transfer printing process is extensively used to decorate items that range from weapons, bike parts, entire all-terrain vehicles and car dashboards, and small items like bike helmets or other automotive trim. Films can be applied to all types of materials including plastic, fiberglass, wood, ceramics, and metal. For the most part, if the item can be dipped in water and can be painted using traditional techniques then the hydrographic printing process can be used.

 

   In the process, the substrate piece to be printed is pre-treated and a base coat material is applied. A polyvinyl alcohol film is gravure-printed with the graphic image to be transferred, and is then floated on the surface of a vat of water.

 

   An activator chemical is sprayed on the film to dissolve it into a liquid and activate a bonding agent. The piece is then lowered into the vat through the floating ink layer. The ink layer along with the polyvinyl alcohol backing then wraps around the item and adheres to it. The adhesion is a result of the chemical components of the activator softening the base coat layer and allowing the ink to form a bond with the product. One of the most common causes of a failure to achieve adhesion between the two layers is a poorly applied activator. This is the fault of too much activator being applied or too little.

Hydrographic Patterns

Metal Patterns

Anchor 1

Brushed Aluminum

Silver Streaks

Brushed Stainless

Brushed Sterling Aluminum

Bronze Brushed Aluminum

Brushed Aluminum

Stainless Steel

Brushed Aluminum 

Graphite Brushed Aluminum

Machine Turn

Diamond Plate

Gun Metal

Stone Patterns

Muave Marbel

Black Vein

Brown Marble

Gold Vein Black 

Black Granite

White Vein

Grey Marble

Gold Vein White

Slate Chips

Gold Marble

Pearl Streaks

White Vein

Black Silver Marble

Black Marble

Volvo Color Match

Travertine

Wood Grain Patterns

Burlwood

Walnut Grain

Burlwood Brown

Burlwood Grain

Carbon Fiber Patterns

Monaco Check

Carbon Fiber Check

Carbon Fiber Silver White Fade

Black Holes

Silver Carbon Fiber 

Carbon Fiber Phoenix Black

Cyber Carbon Fiber 

Real Carbon Fiber

Carbon Fiber Micro Check

Carbon Fiber Small Check

Carbon Fiber Braided Weave

Carbon Fiber Triangles

Black Silver Carbon Fiber 

Pink Carbon Fiber 

Gold Carbon Fiber 

Silver Bias Carbon 

Carbon Fiber 

Silver Carbon Fiber Weave

Carbon Fiber Black Base

Carbon Fiber Ford

Ford F-150 

Carbon Fiber Silver Grey

Orbit Carbon Fiber 

Blue Carbon Fiber Micro Check

Black Carbon Fiber Weave

Silver Holes

Carbon Fiber Yellow Black

Machine Turn

Black Carbon Fiber Weave

Gun Metal Carbon Fiber 

Carbon Fiber Black Check

Camouflage Patterns

Lime Black Brown

Small Tan, Brown, Grey

True Woods Camo

Tiger Stripe Vietnam

Prairie Ridge Ghost

Marsh Mimicry

Superflauge Game

Tan Leaf Camo

Multicamo 

Camo Spring Leaf

Backland Water Fowler

Next Camo Vista

Urban Camo

Kings Field Shadow

Fishouflage Bass

Toad-A-Flage

Tiger Stripe Navy BDU

Brown Deception

Fall Grey

Oil Field Camo

Muddy Girl Camo

H20 Reaper XL

True Leaf Camo

Prairie Ghost Camo

Spring Leaf

Tiger Stripe Desert

Prairie River Ghost

Winter Mimicry

Woodland Digital

North Woods

Micro Print

Longleaf Camo 

Mathews Lost Camo

Next Camo FLX

Outfitter Tuff Camo

Kings Mountain Shadow

Fishouflage Bass Mini

DCS A-Tac

Black Reaper

Green Deception

Winter White

Military Tiger Stripe

Outshine Camo

Pine Forest Camo

Small, Green, Black, Brown

Rocky Mountain Autumn Aspen

Snakeskin Illusion

Prairie Snow Ghost

Snakeskin Illusion Fall Copper

Canyon Mimicry

Desert Digital

Game Guard Camo

Game Day Blue

Backland Adrenaline

Vanish Hybrid

Tiger Stripe ACU

Timbers Edge Camo

Kings Woodland Shadow

Fishouflage Wall Eye Mini

Snow Leopard

Fishouflage Bass Micro

Next-Camo-Bonz

3D Deception

Buck Reaper

Moon Harvest Camo

Reaper Z

Small Grey, Blue, Black

Mothwing Original

Tiger Stripe Tactical

Prairie Ghost Ultimate

 Wood Land Mimicry

Spring Mimicry

Urban Digital

Brush Country Camo

Camo Fall Leaf

Backland West

Desert Shadow

Pink Camo

Kings Snow Shadow

Fishouflauge Eye

Skullz

Longleaf Fatal Flight

Woods Reaper

Spring Green

Deerskull

H20 Reaper

Boneyards Legends

A TACS FG

Skullworks White

Wild Fire Camo

Highlander

Lupus

Skullworks Black

Yeti

Legends Blaze

Zero Detect

Deadeye Dan

Raid

Next G2

Weatheridge Camo

Hog Reaper

Typhon

Digital Ghillie

 Verde

Mandrake

Highlander Reduced

Nomad

Typhon Reduced

Flage

Vias

Moon Shine Freedom

Lost Camo

Anchor 2

Ston

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