Glass printing is the capability to replicate any digital image onto glass permanently.
This means that you can easily customise a space in a functional way, where you can produce an illustration, a texture imitation, geometric & abstract patterns and even photography on a panel of glass that can be easily installed.
Glass printing (or more specifically, digitally printed frit glass) involves 3 main steps:
Converting the image file
A software converts the image file into a language that the printer can understand. This way the printer knows where to drop the ink on the glass in order to accurately replicate the digital image file and match the colouring.
Printing
A heavy-weight flatbed printer (that can load flat sheets of glass up to the size of 2400mm x 3700mm) prints on the glass like an office printer prints on paper.
Tempering
The ceramic ink used for printing contains glass frits. This is what allows the ink to permanently fuse with the flat sheet of glass after going through an oven of over 600 degrees Celsius.
The final step is a simple installation process, treated like any other pieces of glass, but with extra functionalities and aesthetics.
Click here to see more about the benefits of glass printing Sydney.
All our printing and processing is done in Sydney, Australia. Printing locally means we can ensure the quality and the end product gets to you faster. Find out more about glass printing Sydney.
The maximum size the printer can take is 2800mm x 3700mm. You can find more detailed specifications here.
Yes, it can be used for both interior and exterior projects because the ink is permanently fused to the glass. This means that the end product is:
Weather-resistant
UV-resistant
Scratch-resistant
Acid-resistant
Printed Glass vs Vinyls
One of the biggest advantages glass printing has over vinyls is its permanence and durability, which also means that it is more sustainable. The inks also contain no toxic-heavy materials, and is eco-friendly.
Its no-fuss installation is another attractive feature. With the image already printed and permanently fused to the glass – it just needs to be installed like any piece of flat glass. This is particularly convenient for complex patterns and graphics.
Printed Glass vs Screen Printing
Screen printing requires high fixed costs and long set up times as stencils need to be created for each colour. Glass printing enables on-demand customised runs, even for low-volumes, and a quick turnaround time due to lower and simpler setup requirements than screen printing.
Printed Glass vs Other Materials
Glass printing can also be used to replicate textures that you might otherwise not want to use, but like to look at (e.g. marble, wood, tiles, bricks, etc). By replicating these patterns on glass instead, it is easier to clean, it can be more durable, and may even be more economical.
Urban Renewal
The ability to print on multi-pane projects means that, where replacements are necessary, individual panes can be printed to match the existing panels perfectly without further refurbishment. This is both environmentally friendly and cost-efficient.
Any architectural glass can become decorative and functional with glass printing. There are other features that can be experimented with, such as level of translucency, light diffusion, light transmission, energy efficiency, and privacy.
TYPE OF GLASS
Digital ceramic in-glass printing can be applied on:
TYPE OF PROCESSING
Printed glass can be combined with the following processes:
TYPE OF IMAGES
Your imagination is the limit. Our printer can replicate photographs, typography, logos, artworks & illustrations, graphic designs, patterns and even emulate textures (such as marble, wood grain, carbon fibre, etc.)
APPLICATIONS
The steps are simple:
