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Technical
Information
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Using colour
Most designers are aware of the standard possibilities
of colouring the anodising film. But the colour potential
of anodising is still underused. Finishes now possible
on aluminium are far more subtle than the traditional
blues, reds, golds, or even black that people tend to
remember.
At LBParkes we have recently been carrying out a lot
of work in developing a process called "colour
splash anodising". The technique, which integrates
a multi-colour random pattern into the anodised film,
is currently generating much interest in the US and
graphically demonstrates how far anodising has changed
from many people's perceptions of it. In effect, volume
components can be given a unique colour design that
makes each one look like a one-off -- and it's all achieved
as part of the anodising process. The technique was
the obvious way to produce the visual impact needed
for a new range of "Magic Touch" watches being
produced by a UK company.
Using colour splash anodising, the pattern on each aluminium
bezel is unique and the watches can be finished in a
variety of fashion colours. But despite the individual
finish, the process is still able to meet the 500,000
component quantities being targeted by the company.
The watches can be given a finish of anything between
a random many-coloured pattern to bold zebra stripes.Other
products which have been given the treatment so far
are paint-ball guns, and archery bows -- including bows
used by the British Women's team. The potential for
this particular process is still becoming clear. But
conventional anodising can have plenty of interesting
decorative aspects integrated into it in addition to
its colour possibilities -- silk screen printing for
instance. Clive Sinclair used anodised aluminium for
his Zike electric bike because of its engineering properties
and also because he could include dramatic black graphics
on the silver white anodised surface in a single operation.
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