Saw a video on facebook about it.
*Hydrographics* or *HydroGraphics*, also known as *immersion printing*, *water transfer printing*, *water transfer imaging*, or *cubic printing*, is a method of applyingprinted
designs to three-dimensional objects. The hydrographic process can be used on metal, plastic, glass, hard woods, and various other materials. In the process, the substrate piece to be printed is pre-treated and a base coat material is applied. A polyvinyl alcohol
film is gravure
-printed with the graphic image to be transferred, and is then floated on the surface of a vat of water.[1]
An activator chemical is sprayed on the film to dissolve it into a liquid and activate a bonding agent. The piece is then lowered into the vat, through the floating ink layer, which wraps around and adheres to it.[2]
After removing the piece from the water, a top coat is applied to protect the design. With multiple dippings, hydrographics printing can achieve full 360° coverage of the part surface, including small crevices.
Interesting consept, be keen to know how hardy it is oon things like wheels.