Cobra Imaging's New Facebook Page

We now have a Facebook page! It is our hope that it will be the landing place for fans that want to keep up to date on the latest trends about what can be done with water transfer printing. We will be posting photo's, events, news and it is a great palce to ask questions and give feedback. From new film patterns to cool things we have processed. Come check it out and become a fan. Cobra Imaging Facebook

Until next time

Imagine it.....Dip it!

The newest way to renovate Kitchen and Bathroom cabinets

At Cobra Imaging we have developed a process to utilize water transfer printing to reclaim cabinet doors. We can either take outdated cabinet doors and give them a complete makeover or we can offer manufacturers of cabinet doors options they and their customers have never had available before.

From a reclaiming perspective, if for example, you have old oak doors that you wish were pine we can make them look like pine. We can make them look like any species of wood. In fact why stop there? We can make those old oak doors look like granite, marble, pewter and even checker plate. Whatever your tastes are and with over 150 patterns available, we have something to suit every taste and budget.

This is a complete finishing process that is cost effective, durable, and easy to clean. It works on all of today’s cabinet materials including wood, melamine, thermofoil, MDF, plastic, etc.

Changing the look of cabinet doors is one of the quickest and least expensive ways to update a room. From kitchens and bathrooms to offices and garages, with Cobra Imaging you now have an option that is easier, more economical, and greener then ever before.

Visit our site to see your options and then give us a call we would be happy to discuss your project.

Until next time Imagine it.....Dip it!

Prosthetics and Orthotics using water transfer printing

Water transfer printing is used in all types of industries some of them are obvious ie: hunting, automotive etc. while others are less obvious. Take the field of prosthetics and orthotics. In this field there is specialization in creating artificial limbs and braces that enhance the quality of life for the patient.

While as much as these appliances are functional and in need they do not always reflect visual appeal for their owner, this is where water transfer imaging comes in. This process works so well with complex shapes and there are so many patterns and designs to choose from the owner of a prosthetic and orthotic appliance can customize the look to reflect their attitudes, beliefs and spirit. After all it is not just an appliance but an extension of who we are personally. It is nice to be able to decorate it to reflect our own personality and water transfer imaging can provide us with the means to do just that.

Until next time,

Imagine it.....Dip it!

Reclaiming what was once lost - How to refinish the interior wood look of vintage cars

I received a call from a gentleman that has a beautiful 1931 Plymouth. His problem was that he wanted to restore the original burl wood grain look of this classic. He explained that his options had been limited and he liked none of them. He wanted to know if we could help as he was not familiar with our process. I walked him through the advantages of water transfer imaging and that it worked on most substrates including his steel dash and trim parts, he agreed that we needed to meet.

I offered to come help pull the parts from the car, so we set up a date and a time to meet. When I arrived and look at the car it was in pristine condition. It had been well look after over the years but the interior trim had faded and needed to be reworked. My client commented that until discovering water transfer imaging he was seriously contemplating painting the interior but could just not bring himself to do it. Indeed, I have seen many vintage automobiles interiors originally decorated with ink screened wood grain that has been replaced by a solid coat of paint.

As we worked, we talked about the car and its colourful history, about how the current owner had search for this model of car and finally found one in the Eastern United States. It was amazing to still see the faint pattern of the wood grain in the original pieces. As I look at the dash I held in my hands I was reminded that it was originally decorated almost 80 years ago by someone who had painstakingly applied the ink rollers to get the right look of grain into it and now we had the opportunity to restore that look.

After we had finished pulling the pieces we looked at the different patterns available and my client decided on one that he felt most reflected the original pattern. Getting the pieces back to the shop we carefully cleaned and prepared them for dipping. After dipping and clear coating, we hand polished each piece to bring out the depth of the wood grain.

Our client encouraged us to show off the work we had done as he was not in a rush to put the car back together. So we would take it with us when we spoke at car clubs venues, it was always the hit of the show.

The last venue we spoke at where the dash was present was at our client’s vintage car club meeting. The dash won more praise and so did the owner for not giving into the temptation to just paint it. After the meeting our client reclaimed his treasure with pride. As we parted company that evening I could not help but smile and feel a sense of accomplishment that we had recreated something special in that old car that a coat of paint just can not compete with.

Until next time,

Imagine it.....Dip it!

Ceramic top coat for water transfer printing

Cobra Imaging has introduced ceramic clear coat as a standard now in addition to urethane, rubber, and lacquer top coats they provide. So what does this mean? it means that they have ability to not only provide a unique decorative solution to personal and industrial applications but to also use the best top coat to match the end use application of the item being processed.

Ceramic clear coat is a very tough coating that when applied professionally will give the processed surface one of the toughest finishes you can find. This top coat has an impact rating of 80lbs/square inch!It stands up to salts and chemicals like no other coating we have seen.

The ceramic and water transfer printing combination means that we can have a high end finish with the durability of powder coat.

Until next time,

Imagine it.....Dip it!

Calgary Easter Gun Show April 2 & 3 2010

Cobra Imaging will be attending the 48th anual Easter antigue and modern gun show in Calgary, Alta. This year promises to be one of the largest shows ever. The show is located in the BMO centre (formely the round up centre) hours of operation are Friday 9:30am - 5:00pm and Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm.

We invite everyone to come out and visit us! See you there.

Until next time,

Imagine it.....Dip it!

Advantages of Water Transfer Imaging in Commercial Applications

As businesses look to increase their competitive advantage and provide more value to their customers many may not realize the advantage that water transfer imaging can provide.

Some examples are:

If you are using a substrate in your product because of a special need and that substrate is not an esthetically appealing substrate, you can change the look of that substrate to reflect another high end substrate that is appealing but not practicable for your application.

Water transfer imaging can be used in place of decals and vinyl wraps and is often more cost effective and durable. It can help eliminate costly warranty problems.

More cost effective substrates can be used and given the look of a higher end substrate through the water transfer imaging process. This can help reduce the overall cost of a product without sacrificing the quality of that product.

Matching the look of different substrates to provide a visually appealing look to a product that is otherwise unachievable without the use of water transfer imaging.

When competing with several other manufacturers of the same products you can use the water transfer imaging process to give your product the customized look that will help it stand apart from your competitors and draw the attention of consumers to your products.

As you can see the applications to use water transfer imaging to further your success in your market area are numerous and only limited by your imagination in its application.

Until next time,

Imagine it.....Dip it!

Taking a Closer Look

Having a background in Industrial Engineering and having worked in several different manufacturing industries both as a designer and provider of products to an end user of products worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, I have seen first-hand how important a finishing process can be to the success of a product.

Imagine for a moment that you have developed a system that works for an industrial application. The production value of the equipment is stellar, and the customer is willing to invest a large sum of money in your product to incorporate your system into theirs.

Now imagine that piece of equipment arrives on site, the new owner comes by to see his latest addition and the finish on the equipment is bland and unappealing. Or worse yet, it has scratches, runs, and chips in its finish. Imagine how your customer feels at that moment. It would be like buying a high end automobile and having it arrive looking like someone painted it with a spray bomb.

Perhaps you have experienced this from a buyer's or a supplier's perspective. The problem is companies go to great lengths to ensure their products do what they are supposed to do as far as fit, form, and function. However, less thought is given to how the product will look in the field or the first visual impression it will make.

Even worse is when the finishing is defined as the area used to cut the cost of manufacturing by providing products coated with the most cost effective and least visually appealing finish that can be found, thinking that it does not really matter.

Consider this, the products we produce are a reflection of our brand and in some cases are our brand. They are out there in the world leaving impressions about our company to anyone and everyone who encounters them. This can be a good or a not so good impression. We are a society that is busy and involved and we have developed a keen sense of making a first impression based on a visual inspection. This visual impression can have a huge impact on our attitudes towards products and companies.

So if the products you present to the world do not visually make the impression that you are trying to portray about your product or company then you are doing yourself a disservice.

Products are show pieces for the companies that produced them for as long as they exist. They are truly one of our best or worst marketing tools. Is it not in our best interest to make them look as good as possible?

I can remember being on tours of facilities and people would comment on a piece of equipment because the piece stood out and was visually appealing enough for someone to ask the question about it. At that point a conversation usually ensued about the equipment and its value to the operation. Ask any marketer about the value of having someone else saying something good about your product.

So why then do a lot of companies opt for the least expensive and least visually appealing finishes they can get? Well, in most cases it has to do with the fact that companies are not aware of the value of the finish. They have not considered the impression that a good quality or unique finish can provide them in their market place or the positive feeling it can inspire in our customers. Other times it is a costing decision, in that when trying to keep our cost competitive we choose to reduce the quality of the finish thinking that it really does not affect how our product will perform.

So when reviewing your product offering to your market consider the effect that your finish has upon how your product and your company are viewed in the eyes of your customer. Give some thought to the finish process you are using and look at it from all perspectives including added perception of value for your customer to the marketing appeal of a great looking product to perspective customers.

Until next time,

Imagine it......Dip it!

A Question of Durability

People often ask how durable is the finish on a water transfer printed item?

Considering that most companies applying this process are using a polyurethane clear coat then the answer is very durable. Today’s polyurethanes are designed to be tougher then ever with added UV protectors so the finish will last years without fading.

Another advantage of using polyurethane coatings is the selections of finishes you can achieve. There are mat finishes for the hunting rifles to a super high gloss polished look for your auto trim parts.

The care of the finish is simple as well. Just wipe clean with a damp cloth or if it needs to be washed, use mild detergent and your items will look new again. If you get a scratch in the clear coat it can easily be buffed out.

At Cobra Imaging we do use other finishing processes in addition to the polyurethane. For example we apply a ceramic clear coat for applications that demand superior durability. Examples would be industrial applications.

We have a soft rubberized clear coat that we use on items that need some grip to them, examples are camera cases.

Professional decorators of water transfer printing always look to ensure that the highest quality finishes are applied that meet the application of the end user. This attention to the end use ensures that the item will stay beautiful for years to come.

Until next time,

Imagine it…..Dip it!

So What Can be Dipped?

The possibilities for items that can be dipped are almost endless. The most common items being dipped are Automotive parts (like dash boards, interior trim, etc.), Camouflage on firearms and ATV's. However anything that can be momentarily submerged into water is possible, the only exception to this would be rubber because of its elasticity.

So let your imagination run wild, we have dipped wheels, engine covers, helmets, snowmobile parts, household items such as floor registers, electrical cover plates, cupboard doors, ceiling fan blades, it adheres to bone so animal skulls have been dipped, and then there is the industrial application for anyone who wants to add value to their product or just stand out from their competitors.

As you can see the process of water transfer printing is a system that can be applied to almost anything. It really only is limited to ones imagination. If you have any ideas of something that can be dipped let us know. We always love to hear ideas from people.

Until next time take care and remember.....

Imagine it.....Dip it!

So What is Water Transfer Imaging?

Water transfer imaging, also referred as "water transfer printing" and "cube coating", is the process of applying a decorative ink pattern to a solid three dimensional substrate. The types of substrates that this process can be applied to are metals, plastics, composites like fiberglass and carbon fiber, woods, and ceramics.

The object being decorated goes through several stages. First it is sanded and cleaned, it is then given a coat of primer formulated to the substrate. A base colour is applied and the object is dipped in the pattern of choice. After it is dry the final stage is clear coating the object.

The actual "dipping" process involves cutting the film to size and laying it on a tank of water. The film backing dissolves leaving a only the dehydrated ink pattern floating on the water surface. This ink is sprayed with a releasing agent which hydrates the ink to liquid. The object being dipped is then pushed through the ink into the water. The water pushes the ink into all of the areas of the object completely covering it in the ink pattern. The object is then removed from the water and given a final rinse before moving to a drying area.


Until next time,

Imagine it.....Dip it!