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Custom
Designing
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Design Staff
Our design
staff consist of skillful, qualified professionals whom not only possess
natural artistic talent but combined with technical computer skills enable
them to produce quality artwork, exclusively computer generated. Whether
it be flat, 2-D, or 3-D, we will be sure to do our best to satisfy you.
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Custom Design
Custom designing
is welcome and our design team can assist you with the details in creating
your masterpiece. We work closely with our customers to ensure we understand
your design restrictions and guidelines.
A designer
will be assigned to your project and will go over all the specifics with
you in designing your creation. Pricing estimates can also be given before
we start designing however, it is difficult to quote a firm price until
the design is actually made.
If you already
know what your price needs to be before we begin, we can establish a size
and design based on your requirements. Here at PEF, our computers assist
us in the best way to ''nest'' or layout an image so we can maximize the
sheet of metal with as many pieces of your design on it as possible, therefore
giving you the best possible price.
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What Are Photo-Etchings?
Photo-etching
is a sophisticated manufacturing process that combines the elements of
precise computer generated line art with photography resist materials
and acid wash chemistry.
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Metals
Our products
can be manufactured in a variety of metals most of which are in different
stock, some may have to be specually ordered for your project. We carry
a variety of gauges as well as sheet sizes.
| Brass |
Stainless
Steel |
14
kt |
| Copper |
Gold
Filled |
18
kt |
| Nickel
Silver |
10
kt |
Sterling
Silver |
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Time Frame
In general,
most sample orders are turned around within 10 days for approvals. Once
approved, production orders are turned around within 2 - 4 weeks. however,
depending upon the quantity and finishing involved some orders may take
longer. You can be assured, we will do our very best to meet your requirements
and due dates.
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Starting A Design
A design
starts with an idea or sketch of something you visualize. It could
be as simple as a black and white business logo or letterhead. Send
it to us and our design staff can make suggestions, if needed, on
how to enhance your idea. Send us as much information as you can
to help us visualize your thoughts. Any project can be designed
flat, 2-D, or in 3-D.
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If
we are designing a 3-D realistic object, such as a building or structure,
you may need to send photographs of as many angles of the subject
as possible to give us as many points of view. Also, list any copy
that you would like to include or not include at all. It is best
to keep lettering as brief as possible.
Working
closely with our clients, we ensure that you will be part of the
approval process until all design requirements are met to your budget
and satisfaction.
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Using
state of the art computers / equipment, our team of design specialists
will enhance your important project / creation to prepare it for
the etch process.
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Prototype Sample Film
Once
concept artwork is generated by a designer and approved by you,
we will then run a sample film of your design and make actual samples
for you to approve. At this time we can provide you with firm pricing.
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Metal Selection / Preparation
Each
metal sheet has been carefully selected, inspected, cleaned and
prepared by a qualified technician before being laminated with a
special photo-resist laminate.
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Exposing
Once
the photo tool is made, exposing the tool onto the selected material
to be etched is the next step....
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The
film is now exposed onto metal using a vacuum contact frame and ultra
violet light source for a calculated amount of exposure time. The
image is then transferred onto the resist protective coating creating
a "ghost" image. |
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Etching
The
metal to be etched is then placed onto one of our 3 chamber etching
machine conveyor where it will pass through an acid wash bath. The
3 chamber machine allows us to etch 33% faster than other companies.
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The
exposed metal not covered by the resist will be dissolved by the acid.
The conveyor speed, combined with temperature, pressure, and spray
velocity, ultimately produces the metal product. |
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Resist Removal
After
the product is etched, we send the sheets through a stripping solution
to remove the blue resist protective coating. After the resist is
removed, the metal sheets continue through the machine where they
are automatically washed and dried before they are inspected.
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Depending
on the complexity of your design, it may be necessary to assemble
before the plating process. Our assemblers pay special attention
to the construction of multiple pieces that form one product to
ensure consistency.
Also,
at this time, we look carefully for any imperfections in the etched
product to ensure our customers get quality product.
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Finishes
After
the product has been designed and etched, an attractive variety
of finishing techniques can be applied to raw goods to enhance and
beautify an original creation.
Some
finishes include gold plating, imitation rhodium, silver plating,
vermeil, satin-antique, frost matte, and anti-tarnish coating. Color
match silk-screening can also be added to compliment the finished
product. Please see our showcase section for an assortment of other
fine finishes.
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Quality Control
From
here, the products are carefully inspected to ensure quality and
are ready for packaging if necessary. After passing our quality
control process, your dazzling design is ready for shipping.
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Packaging / Shipping
Depending
on the budget allowed for your collectible, we can also provide
you with a gift box at an additional cost. Most items that aren't
boxed will be packaged in individual polybags for presentation and
to protect them from any elements in the shipping process.
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In House Refining
For
our precious metal customers who supply their own carat gold material,
a percentage of etched gold goes into the solution when etching
the material. We charge a refining fee to return the carat gold
scrap that is lost back to 24 kt grain. The customer can then decide
how they would like to assign the recovered material.
Call
us for more information regarding the refining process.
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