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Looking for a supplier of decorative films……
Hi!
I make decorative leaded mirrors, usually using stained glass art film which comes in plain transparent and opaque, iridescents, streakies, metallic and clear textures. Occasionally I’ll use a glitter vinyl or something with a holographic effect.I’d like to use some vinyl with a pattern to it – I don’t mean an etched pattern on a clear vinyl, I mean a coloured, patterned vinyl. So, for example, maybe red spots on a white background, or silver stars on a black background, or coloured stripes, flowers, ladybirds, or any other patterns that might be available.
Does anybody know of anywhere that might supply such products? They need to be suitable for application to glass, internal use but good quality (I don’t want the pattern to rub off when the mirror is cleaned), and available in small quantities (maybe 1m of each of several patterns).
Any ideas much appreciated! Thanks! 🙂
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7 Replies
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download the UKSB Toolbar, there are lots of vinyl suppliers on there, as well as decorative. http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=38498
you will struggle finding transparent marbled tinted films though… but you will get lots of coloured Transparents, glitter and prismatics films.
unlike the polyester stained glass films you will be usually purchasing, most of these will be soft vinyls and many not just as optically clear to what your used to. however, they WILL or should be significantly cheaper than the likes of decra films and the like. -
And you could maybe ask a sign maker to supplyl prints to a film with the designs you specify, laminated (they will be thicker) so the print will not be rubbed off, and will last for many years if indoors, up to 5 years outdoors.
Sounds like an interesting job!
Lorraine
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Have you ever considered learning the old time arts of glue chipping, etching, or glass gilding?
That could really make your work custom.
Like Dave Smith’s stuff.
Love….Jill -
Thanks for your replies. The film wouldn’t need to be optically clear, or even transparent, as it is being applied to small areas of decorative mirrors. And soft is fine, I apply by hand so can adapt! I can’t seem to find anything with any kind of surface image to it – presumably vinyl is printed on a job-by-job basis, rather than pre-printed into rolls of decorative material.
Ooh, I hadn’t thought of getting it printed myself – that would be great, I could have any design I wanted then! Would this be very expensive do you think? And is it usually CMYK printing or individual colours (I haven’t investigated printing since the 1990s so have no idea about current processes)? Would any local signwriter do this or do I need a specialist?
I do use some etching and gold leaf in my fused glass work, so it might be interesting to bring it into the mirror range too. I’ve never tried glue chipping, despite having a degree in glass design!! I’ll have to try it sometime. I’ll have a look at Dave Smith’s stuff too.
Thanks!
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The most optically clear would be a custom print onto polyester window film.
Bonwyke are a good company to talk with about this. -
Thanks, I’ll check out Bonwyke.
I don’t need optically clear though – I want opaque or translucent coloured background with an all-over printed design in contrasting colours. 😀
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Best bet would be to see if you can find a local signmaker with a solvent or ecosolvent printer & have a word with them, should be easy enough to sort something out. Price wise it will cost a bit more but you should also be able to sell your products at a higher value if they are unique.
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