I have spent the last few days printing a seamless grass cloth I created for Cynthia First of Now Interiors and First Oriental Rugs. She wanted ultimate control of the color of the grass cloth and neither of us like the seams that show and sometimes fray with most grass cloth wall coverings. By creating a digital version I was able to address both concerns. After installing our “Sunny Tabriz Grass Cloth” there will be no visible seams and with the colors of her accessories, I was able to nail the color, contrast & saturation.
I have a simple operation with one computer and printer in the office and the studio for painting, photographing, trimming and shipping.
While I was printing Cyn’s paper I started looking closely at a sample I had on my table of our “Cat’s Cradle (DE9721-C)” and thought of a gloss coating that we offer for scuff, water and UV protection. I had an epiphany, instead of coating the entire print, we could just paint parts. I tested it and it is amazing the depth it adds to the image. If the light hits it just right, there is a highlight and if you look straight on with no reflecting light it is darkened and intensified in the painted areas.
Now, I just have to figure out how to selectively apply the UV coating faster. Painting the 12” x 24” sample took me almost an hour and while I did get faster toward the end, no one will want to pay me to paint hundreds of square feet by hand. I’m thinking silk screen or block printing. If anyone out there has any ideas about how to spot print gloss on to these, please leave a comment or email me with your suggestions.
If I work this out, I can see adding silver highlights to this:
Or, 24k gold highlights to this:
Thanks for reading & Happy Valentines Day.
