Hello!
I've recently become more interested in pursuing a way to manufacture printed irises. A friend of mine 3-d prints eye blanks, and usually I just paint the mesh. I feel like that turns out alright, but I think the look could be much cleaner (and theoretically I'd have access to all colors that are printable without having to buy more paint for just one set of eyes).
I know some makers have in the past, but I think the few instances I've seen it done, it's been done on buckram which is thinner fabric material, which probably is more easily accepted by a printer. I KNOW there has got to be a way to do this. I've seen signs that are made from plastic, so I assume they've got to be printed -somewhere-. Of course these are large commercial signs, I'm not sure what is available to me as an individual barely business person.
SO! Anyone have experience/knowledge about this? In the end if I need to continue painting I will, just trying to look at possible alternatives. I'd really like to streamline (be able to guarantee a certain look) my process, and being able to manufacture eyes in this way would be one step in that direction. IF I can figure it out I might print eyes for people, if it is something that is doable/cost effective.
Any tips, would be great!
So here is an example I found (in aluminum)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/18179482/ which is basically what I'm going for but I'd still rather use plastic I think. I suppose I can look into perforated aluminum though! I'm just not sure if I have the tools to work with metal like that.
I've recently become more interested in pursuing a way to manufacture printed irises. A friend of mine 3-d prints eye blanks, and usually I just paint the mesh. I feel like that turns out alright, but I think the look could be much cleaner (and theoretically I'd have access to all colors that are printable without having to buy more paint for just one set of eyes).
I know some makers have in the past, but I think the few instances I've seen it done, it's been done on buckram which is thinner fabric material, which probably is more easily accepted by a printer. I KNOW there has got to be a way to do this. I've seen signs that are made from plastic, so I assume they've got to be printed -somewhere-. Of course these are large commercial signs, I'm not sure what is available to me as an individual barely business person.
SO! Anyone have experience/knowledge about this? In the end if I need to continue painting I will, just trying to look at possible alternatives. I'd really like to streamline (be able to guarantee a certain look) my process, and being able to manufacture eyes in this way would be one step in that direction. IF I can figure it out I might print eyes for people, if it is something that is doable/cost effective.
Any tips, would be great!
So here is an example I found (in aluminum)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/18179482/ which is basically what I'm going for but I'd still rather use plastic I think. I suppose I can look into perforated aluminum though! I'm just not sure if I have the tools to work with metal like that.