Hi all,
Can you help me to understand how to apply graphics to a kiteboard?
So far I used a sublimated pbt sheet but my supplier (LAES ITALIA) is not longer able to do it (my needs are 1-2 sheet each time and their costs are too expensive. They'd desire serial production).
I tought to use digital printing on fabrics to laminate under the last glass layer but I don't know which type of fabric to use.
What is the better fabric to mantain vivid colour, compatible with epoxy that it can be transparent in no printed areas (Ex. to view the parts of core in woodcore board)?
Have you some supplier that use PBT with cheap costs (for me PBT give the better result)?
Any ideas?

P.S.: possibly in Italy or Europe.

Thanks,
MrReds

Your best bet is to find a printer with DTG Capabilities (Direct to Garment) Just make sure they use water based inks, Print it on the thinnest piece of white 100% cotton you can find, I have had Good success doing it this way.

Rice paper - if it's just for a logo or something smaller (it's often used on surfboard layups too).

I just run it through my desktop color printer and trim the edges. Put it under the top layer of glass and it should disappear leaving only the ink. It also works well in combination with a fabric layup.

I don't have a line on clear PBT so I don't know how it looks under PBT (that's what test samples are for).

good luck

Didn't think PBT could be made transparent? Its white untill subliminated isn't it?

I found clear pbt but is not possible to sublimate it (so told me a supplier (it wasn't the sublimater)).
He told me that the base is white. Isn't it?


@BrockLanders:
Some years ago I tried with rice paper but the edge of the graphics were faded and it can be good for small areas not for whole board


@TakeFlight:
Thanks, I'll try it. Have you ever used polyester fabrics? Are they compatible with epoxy systems?
I'm thinking to fabrics used to flags (very thin).

Thanks to all
MrReds

The way I understand it polyester will not work w/ epoxy, They must me 100% natural fabrics such as cotton or silk.

mrreds, I agree, rice paper is NOT an option for a whole board.

regarding fabric, there is a crapload of info on swaylocks about using it.
ie. http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1002039

I did a full bottom layup (w/wrapped rails) of a thin cotton fabric on a 9'8" poly longboard that turned out fine. It was a friggen nightmare rush for 20 minutes but ended up looking pretty cool.