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Portrait Options in Cast Metal

Zip has many options to honor or memorialize that special person. Send us the photo and choose from one of the options shown below.


Metal Plaques Portrait Photograph
Original Photograph
Metal Plaques Portrait Bas-Relief

BAS-RELIEF

We start with a photograph. Although we can use almost any quality photograph, the better the image the better the modeling effort. Remember, the finished image will be an artists interpretation of this photograph. An image of this clay model is sent to you via email for your approval. When approved, the clay model is used for the bronze casting process. While the clay model is a monotone, the finished bronze casting contains highlights. The bas relief is mechanically attached to the plaque background. Overall height of around 6″ to 9″ with a finished depth of 3/4″ to 1″.

   
Metal Plaques Portrait Etched

ETCHED

The etching process allows you to forever replicate your photograph, line drawing or complex artwork. This method utilizes a halftone dot pattern made from a 50-line screen. Halftone portraits resemble newspaper photographs, and have visible dot patterns. The etched, recessed dots are black infilled to contrast with the satin finished metal background. The best photographs for halftone etched portraits have high contrast tones with bright white areas, dense black areas and minimal grey tones. Photos that are monotone or have muted colors will produce poor halftone etchings. Halftone etchings are not available in aluminum.

   
Metal Plaques Portrait Photo Insert

PHOTO INSERT

Zip’s photo inserts use a standard-sized ceramic blank as its base. A photograph is scanned at high resolution and a digital transfer is produced and applied to the blank. A clear glaze is applied over this transfer, and the insert is fired in a kiln. The resulting product is an exact color (or black & white) permanent reproduction on a ceramic base.

   
Metal Plaques Portrait Photo Insert

FLAT RELIEF

An alternative to the expense and time-consuming process of a bas-relief plaque, Zip’s Flat Relief plaques are able to produce a two dimensional casting that is attached to an architectural or cast plaque. The process starts with a good quality photograph or illustration from which our craftsmen create a black and white rendering. Suitable for interior or exterior applications, they perfectly fit the bill when your project requires a portrait but the budget won’t allow for Bas-Relief. CALL FOR QUOTE.

   

PHOTORELIEF®

A seamless blend of casting and photography, PhotoRelief® is perfectly suited for unique signage, historical markers, or any plaque that tells a story with words and pictures. Through Zip’s innovative technologies, we can use one photograph or several to create a simple and elegant plaque or a breathtaking collage that illustrates the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

   

GICLEE PRINT ON METAL PANEL

Glicee is the term for high quality reproductions of works of art utilizing high resolution inkjet printers. This process is now developed for your images as inserts into your architectural plaques. This process uses UV cured non-elastic inks at up to 1200 dpi resolution. The combination of our high resolution printing, abrasion resistant powdercoat, and premium base materials result in a picture perfect product that is excellent for all indoor applications and even some exterior ones. CALL FOR QUOTE.