Misc. Want to make my own stickers that have that nice glitter texture

[kolleamm]

I want to make my own stickers that have that nice glitter texture. For that I would need to print my design on top of some shiny paper. I know I can buy some but I want to make my own design patterns on the shiny paper. How can I make it?

 

[phinds]

What research have you done on this so far? What have you found out?

 

[Baluncore]

You may be able to use an inkjet or a laser printer to place your design onto reflective paper.
Search for 'Pearlescent Paper' or 'Metallic Paper'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallised_film

 

[phinds]

You may be able to use an inkjet or a laser printer to place your design onto reflective paper.
Search for 'Pearlescent Paper' or 'Metallic Paper'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallised_film

He didn't ask how to get the design ONTO the paper, he asked how to MAKE the paper himself. I think vapor deposition is a bit extreme for home-made paper. Of course, I'm assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that he doesn't mean reflective paper, just paper with a shiny coat, as per his subject line.

@kolleamm how about you jump in here and tell us what you are really asking?

 

[Baluncore]

He didn't ask how to get the design ONTO the paper, he asked how to MAKE the paper himself.

I know I can buy some but I want to make my own design patterns on the shiny paper. How can I make it?

I don't think the multiple interpretations of the question should be restricted until the OP clarifies the question.
A beginner entering a new field often lacks the ability to ask a concise question or to sum up their confusion when requested. To do research requires search terms. So to get the ball rolling I provided two terms and a general link to the metallisation of films.
Hopefully kolleamm's next post will refine the subject.

 

[berkeman]

Maybe we need the OP to clarify first, but I think @dlgoff has experience making labels from scratch for some of his instrument restoration projects...

 

[phinds]

Maybe we need the OP to clarify first...

Uh, why is there a "maybe" in that sentence?

 

[berkeman]

Don has been able to read my mind several times, but we're pretty like-minded. I don't know if that helps.

 

[kolleamm]

Hi everyone thanks for your responses, I did try to research how to make it but the information I found on google just talked about making reflective paper without a specific pattern.

So to clarify things - there’s reflective paper, and when you move it around you can see a distinct pattern of glitter on it, whether it’s diagonal lines, circular lines or whatever. How can I make that pattern of glitter?
After I make that pattern then I would print my design on top of it.

 

[anorlunda]

Hi everyone thanks for your responses, I did try to research how to make it but the information I found on google just talked about making reflective paper without a specific pattern.

So to clarify things - there’s reflective paper, and when you move it around you can see a distinct pattern of glitter on it, whether it’s diagonal lines, circular lines or whatever. How can I make that pattern of glitter?
After I make that pattern then I would print my design on top of it.

I'm sorry but your second post did not clarify much.

Do you want to reproduce the exact pattern of glitter, as in photographically? How accurate a reproduction?

Does the reproduction need to glitter also, or just match the pattern?

Does the result with your design need to be durable? waterproof?

What size paper are you talking about?

 

[kolleamm]

I would like the pattern to match a computer image I design
Accuracy : decent doesn’t need to be perfect
It needs to glitter : preferably
Durable : no
Waterproof : yes
Size : business card size

 

[Baluncore]

A simple pattern cut from sheet material could be used to mask an area of the paper. Then;

1. Lowest technology. Spray adhesive, remove the mask then immediately apply glitter to the sticky surface. Blow off the excess glitter.

2. Medium technology. Use a standard photographic process to make a silk screen. Print an adhesive A onto the paper, then apply the reflective glitter material. Thermoset, or expose to chemical part B to cure the glue.

3. Higher technology; Mask vacuum deposition of say aluminium metal onto a textured paper surface.

 

[kolleamm]

What about using a special printer ink to print it directly onto a sheet? Does such ink exist? A reflective ink?

 

[anorlunda]

What about using a special printer ink to print it directly onto a sheet? Does such ink exist? A reflective ink?

A search for "reflective ink" gives many hits. You can buy it on Amazon. There is even a hit for screen printing using reflective inks.

But the requirements of an ink compatible with ink jet printers can be very hard to find. But if it is not too expensive, you can just experiment with an old ink cartridge.

But a reflective image and a glitter image are not the same thing Is reflective what you really meant?

 

[Baluncore]

More mixed thoughts on the subject.

Glitter requires many small mirror surfaces, such as a powdered reflective crystal or fragments of metalised film. That material will not pass through the fine passages of an inkjet printer.

Photocopier toner is a coloured, thermoplastic, electrical insulator powder, that is electrostatically placed, then fused to melt it onto the paper. Crystal faces would be very small, then lost in the fusion process. The best reflectors are conductive metals. That precludes photocopier or laser printer technology.

UV florescent chemicals could be applied, but they would not provide specular glitter, and they require daylight or UV to excite the process.

How can you print a chemistry that can later grow larger metal crystal faces on the surface of paper? Growing the crystals requires a wet surface to allow diffusion of the chemistry, or you must go for a dry vacuum deposition process. Diamonds are vacuum deposited onto machine tool cutters.
Thoughts of photographic paper come to the fore, but you need reflective crystals on the surface, not black silver chemistry.

 

[kolleamm]

Thank you all for your advice so far.
I was thinking, since it's fairly complex to deposit glitter onto a paper, what if I just printed on top of reflective paper with enough spacing between the pixels to give the appearance of glitter? Although the ink wouldn't be reflective, every other pixel would be.

I'm hoping to achieve something like the sheet in this image.

 

[Baluncore]

Obviously that image is printed with normal colours. Do you want the small patches to glint and change brightness as you change the direction of illumination or your viewpoint?

 

[kolleamm]

Obviously that image is printed with normal colours. Do you want the small patches to glint and change brightness as you change the direction of illumination or your viewpoint?

Yes that’s exactly what I need

 

[Tom.G]

Not exactly what you requested, but I think most that is on the market is printed on paper or plastic using metallic inks.

A few tips were found at:
https://www.printingforless.com/Printing-With-Metallic-Ink.html
Above found with:
https://www.google.com/search?&q=metallic+ink+printing
Cheers,
Tom

 

[BillTre]

A variety of patterned iridescent papers are available from craft and art stores.

Print on them, cut to size?
They are usually light weight paper, but could be glued (or adhered in some way) to something thicker and then cut.

 

[CWatters]

Laminating with foils is a popular hobby (I'm told) so perhaps see what one of their forums recommend?

I think some patterned foils are made by laser engraving or pressing fine lines into plastic film before it's metalised? Think that might be difficult to DIY.