Page 30 - Prnt21 magazine Jan-Feb 2023

| Print Profile | Niche
Printing 2 metal
Cosgrave says the technique of printing images onto sleek thin sheets of aluminium, which don't require a glass or a heavy frame, has been well received by first time viewers.
“The images are so vibrant, lightweight and can be easily cleaned,” she adds. “Seeing this response from their customers in the photo lab
made the decision fairly easy to sell the photo lab business in 2011 and concentrate on metal printing only.”
Cosgrave explains, “The arrival
of digital technology has ironically allowed us to extend our business beyond the retail setting. Based online, our clients come from all around Australia and New Zealand and a few other overseas countries. We send USA enquiries back to Tim Lutz who taught us the ropes”
Print2Metal has scooped the Find A Photographer Australia, Industry Vendor of the Year award, with co-owners Frank Hoekstra and Marie Cosgrave proud of
dye sublimation printing onto metal has now started to bring about new suppliers of the materials we use. We use only leading brand ChromaLuxe's metal panels. It has changed the belief for many that the print is dead. Our business has a great future.”
The latest award achieved
by Print 2 Metal, the Find A Photographer Australia, Industry Vendor of the Year award, is judged on the number of client reviews received on the Find a Photographer – Australia website over the past
12 months. It is the third time the company has won, a remarkable achievement.
“It is extra special to have
won this from among the many businesses associated with photography,” says Cosgrave, adding that it has been “humbling to have received so many amazing reviews from our clients about the service and quality we deliver”.
“As a printing business it is confirmation that we offer a valued product, which is the choice of photographers and artists of all levels, including those who just love print as a high end product,” she adds proudly.
Etheir third consecutive win. stablished just as the
GFC was coming to a close in 2010, Print 2 Metal has carved out a real niche, winning
plaudits and awards for its ability to do what the name says, print into metal.
Print 2 Metal was created by the husband and wife team, who had been operating a photo lab in Prahan, Victoria for 20 years. Initially the business operated out of the couple's backyard purpose-built shed, until August 2014.
The company prints onto metal
by first printing onto a sublimation media with an inkjet wide format printer, then heat presses the media onto a ChromaLuxe aluminium sheet.
Co-owner Maria Cosgrave explains that the print to metal process begins when the Epson SureColor F7200, with Epson Ultrachrome DS sublimation inks, prints onto special sublimation paper, which is designed to absorb as much ink as possible and handle the heat of the heat press process.
“From there, the print is placed with the ink side down on the coated side of a piece of ChromaLuxe aluminium, and taped to the print (with special tape designed to handle the heat of the heat press process) and placed in the heat press for varying times depending on the
size of the print,” she explains, emphasising that the heat causes
the inks to turn to gas, and under the pressure, to be pushed into that specially coated sheet of metal.
When removed from the heat press, the true colours of the inks are revealed in the image that has been transferred onto the aluminium,
she says. “The successful process of
Right
Winners:
Print 2 Metal co-owners Frank Hoekstra and Maria Cosgrave
Below
Winner, third year running: Industry Vendor of the Year award
30 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023