Applying Images to glass

[DAVE SMITH]

I Have just had a job come in for resilvering and restoring 1900 bevelled mirrors with litho images applied to the reverse of the glass.
In the past I have applied paper images before with various concoctions of varnishes damars / resin gel etc and they have worked.(but for how long will it last) Is anyone using a new formuls for this type of work? Or has experience with it. I will be scanning the images and vectoring them, they will then be used as masks for silvering over and I will finally apply shellac and then asphaltum. I need to keep the final ridge line thin to eliminate halo and lifting at the edge ,the paper will also need to be thin
I plan to either scan the original birds and flowers and try to touch up in Photoshop or if anyone knows where I can get full size images like these that would be useful.The images do not need to be the same just the same era and with the dot effect that comes with litho process. In some areas and on almost every piece of glass I have here you can see where the glass and paper has moved which causes silver seperation to the image. I plan to do it in one piece of paper over the entire back to get over this problem. The registration to the silvering and images are spot on and they look natural rather than just cut out and placed in.
I have a total of 60 bevelled panels for the famous Crown Saloon Bar in Belfast, Northern Ireland ,The job is for English Heritage so it all needs to work and be right. I am at Larrys Deadman next week so if anyone going could bring any info to the meet it might help. some past disscusions have been helpful on the forum and I know some of you have done this process, Dave Trihilo being one. Is Dave going to Larrys?
Any help would be appreciated.
Dave

[Danny Baronian]

Hi Dave,

I have a method that works well. Best if you just send me airfare, a generous stipend and I'll come over, show you, and give you a hand.

Ok, lacking that do this, if I understand your question correctly. Looking for images? Dover publishes several books of good quality color bird images as you posted, so the period images shouldn't be hard to locate.

As far as the rest, locate a good ink jet printer in your area that is capable of producing photo quality prints that can also do a contour cut of an image. Manipulate your images in photoshop. In Illustrator create a vector around the images, then create a trap -a .05 inline.

Plot the inline vectors, weed, position and attach the bird/branch images on the glass and silver as normal.

At the printer, have them print the images, using a .05 or greater outline of the bird - making the bird slightly larger than the bird 'window' you've created for the glass. Once they've printed the images in reverse, have them laminated with optically clear transfer tape. Position over the window on the mirrors, and you have a print that looks as though it was painted on the glass with an optically clear permanent adhesive, and back up as normal.

Far superior to varnish or methods used before. No shifting during drying, no bubbles and no discoloration over time.

When you come, bring an image, I'll supply the tape and we'll put one together.

Danny

[Doug Bernhardt]

Smitty....doing work for the Crown...that is an amazing job. The pub is outstanding and you should feel at the top of your craft to have landed that one. Huge prestige. Trujilo is certainly the guy to talk to although I have been using the 1/3 1/3 1/3 mixture with bulletin spar and digital prints. Like Dan said I used professional quality prints and put an acrylic overcoat on them. I have only used the prints once however, as I usually use canvas with the overcoat.

[DAVE SMITH]

Interesting feed back from both of you thankyou , Yes it is a prestigious job Doug I was recommended by a London Company and James in Gloucestershire .The pub is very ornate as you said ,have you been there? Making the birds slightly bigger did cross my mind Danny. My only concern is the edge of the silver coming away with the print,I know its only small but it may move overtime. Are you saying apply them to the glass using the adhesive from the vinyl? or applying a coat of Mixed varnish like Doug is mentioning? I have used this mix before but would like to know how succesful it has been over a long period? You would not believe how fussy these people are,which is understandable with period work. They had me sign forms to keep these here. They were all brought down in special crates like the ones used for fine art prints. keeping the kids out of here for a while!
Dave

[Doug Bernhardt]

Smitty...I have a piece out there with the thirds mixture since about '95or96. saw it a few weeks ago and is just fine. Anything of mine older is either lost broken or changed owners.