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What is Hydrodipping?

Hydrographics, also known as hydro dipping, is a method of applying printed designs to three-dimensional surfaces. The hydrographic process can be used on metal, plastic, fiberglass, hard woods, glass and various other materials.

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Patterns include: Woodgrain, Carbon Fiber, Metals, Camo, Digital Camo, Flames, Skulls, Snake Skin, Diamond Plate, Marble, Animal Prints, Zombies, Lightning and much more!

 

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 and adheres to the item. 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 it.

Just a small sampling of the 100s of patterns we offer...

(Disclaimer: Sample images show what we can order. All credit goes to the pattern creators. Samples are only for reference.)

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