There was a time when it was thought impossible to get a photograph printed on a glass surface.
But today, digital technology has come so far that art can be translated onto glass too.
There is a distinctive dimension and depth to a black and white photograph or image that is printed on this kind of a surface.
Actually print on glass is not a difficult technique at all especially if you know the basics of printing on a photo paper.
A few extra steps are all that you need to get a picture printed onto a glass surface.
First, you need a good black and white photograph which has the perfect resolution and clarity.
For this, you need to use a non-digital camera that has been loaded with a black and white film; the best would be a 35mm camera but the speed of the film can range anywhere between ISO 200 to 800.
The next task is to choose the right glass surface for the printing process.
Choose the dimensions including thickness depending on the image that you have in mind.
Clean the glass surface extremely well using a cleaner and paper towel.
If you are using old glass, make sure it is spotless before continuing with the process.
After cleaning the surface well, you need to coat it with a single, thin layer of matte medium; this is basically a liquid which is used by artists to decrease the glossy effects and also improve the texture of the surface.
This helps in better adhesion of the film onto the glass surface.
After applying the matte medium, wait for thirty minutes to an hour and ensure that the surface is completely dry before proceeding further.
To print on glass, you need to also have a dark room.
The glass surface needs to be coated again on the side where the photograph will be printed with a photo emulsion liquid.
This has to be left for fifteen to twenty minutes to dry.
The same process and equipments that you use to print onto photo paper can be made use in printing on a glass surface.
So get out the enlarger and contact printer and follow the same steps to get the photograph print on glass.
Since the print medium is much thicker, the time taken for the photograph to get printed is much longer than usual.
But be patient till the entire process gets over so that you have a perfect replica on the glass surface.
But today, digital technology has come so far that art can be translated onto glass too.
There is a distinctive dimension and depth to a black and white photograph or image that is printed on this kind of a surface.
Actually print on glass is not a difficult technique at all especially if you know the basics of printing on a photo paper.
A few extra steps are all that you need to get a picture printed onto a glass surface.
First, you need a good black and white photograph which has the perfect resolution and clarity.
For this, you need to use a non-digital camera that has been loaded with a black and white film; the best would be a 35mm camera but the speed of the film can range anywhere between ISO 200 to 800.
The next task is to choose the right glass surface for the printing process.
Choose the dimensions including thickness depending on the image that you have in mind.
Clean the glass surface extremely well using a cleaner and paper towel.
If you are using old glass, make sure it is spotless before continuing with the process.
After cleaning the surface well, you need to coat it with a single, thin layer of matte medium; this is basically a liquid which is used by artists to decrease the glossy effects and also improve the texture of the surface.
This helps in better adhesion of the film onto the glass surface.
After applying the matte medium, wait for thirty minutes to an hour and ensure that the surface is completely dry before proceeding further.
To print on glass, you need to also have a dark room.
The glass surface needs to be coated again on the side where the photograph will be printed with a photo emulsion liquid.
This has to be left for fifteen to twenty minutes to dry.
The same process and equipments that you use to print onto photo paper can be made use in printing on a glass surface.
So get out the enlarger and contact printer and follow the same steps to get the photograph print on glass.
Since the print medium is much thicker, the time taken for the photograph to get printed is much longer than usual.
But be patient till the entire process gets over so that you have a perfect replica on the glass surface.
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