Metalphoto® Offers Durable Metal Labels That Withstand Harsh Environments
The Print Source, Inc. is proudly one of a few select companies globally that is a Certified Metalphoto® Converter. With this certification, we offer elevated application expertise for Metalphoto® photosensitive anodized aluminum.
Trusted by leaders in the aircraft industry, OEMs, military, and government organizations – Metalphoto® products withstand harsh environmental elements, offering durable, permanent & high-resolution legibility for a product’s lifetime.
Our Zünd Digital CNC Cutter is intelligent, precise, and efficient. From Metalphoto® to max metal and more, we can accommodate a wide variety of substrates, sizes, and specifications.In many applications, Metalphoto® can deliver an estimated 20-year outdoor lifespan or longer. Our popular metal label products include:
- Custom nameplates
- Metal labels
- Control panel metal labels
- Metal placards
- Metal airplane signage
- Metal tags & ID tags
- Machine-readable barcodes
- Metal product tags
- Metal equipment nameplates
A few of the many versatile Metalphoto® capabilities and benefits include:
- Available in .003 MIL to .032 MIL material
- Perimeters cut to virtually any custom shape
- Available in four different finishes and 10 thickness options
- Counter sink holes for flat surface fastener installation
- Permanent for the life of the part
- Anti-counterfeit security features and serialized data
- Durable in high temperatures (up to 1,000° F)
- Extreme UV resistance, excellent for outdoor use
- 2D and QR code capability
- Chemical, weather/sunlight, heat, abrasion, fuel, hydraulic fluid & saltwater-resistant
- Available in poly-color dyes and screen print ink colors
- Meets MIL-STD-130 requirements
- Wide range of adhesive backing for nearly any application
- Variable data imaging
Is Metalphoto® your best solution? See more details in our FAQs or contact us, and we’ll determine your best printing solution!
Your Challenges. Our Custom Metalphoto® Solutions.
MetalPhoto® FAQs
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What is Metalphoto®?
Metalphoto® is photosensitive, anodized aluminum that produces durable, high-resolution nameplates, labels, and control panels. Metalphoto®’s silver halide-based image is sealed inside anodized aluminum, making it readable after prolonged exposure to harsh operating conditions including weather/sunlight, heat, abrasion, chemicals & salt-spray.
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Who uses Metalphoto®?
Since its development in 1950, Metalphoto® has been a trusted solution for industries such as aerospace and defense, industrial and manufacturing (OEMs), marine and offshore, transportation and rail, medical, utilities and energy, government and public infrastructure, outdoor signage, and more. Applications include component identification plates and barcoding, equipment nameplates, procedures and maintenance data, operator control and interface panels, schematic and technical diagrams, outdoor and harsh environment signage, medical and laboratory equipment, safety and regulatory signage – the list is virtually endless.
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Why is Metalphoto® so durable?
Metalphoto® uses a photosensitive imaging process to expose an image into the anodized layer of aluminum which embeds the image beneath the surface of the metal. This image is then sealed beneath a layer of transparent aluminum oxide — making it nearly impossible to scratch or wear off.
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What is the life of a Metalphoto® print?
Metalphoto® can deliver an estimated 20+ year of outdoor life. With four different finishes and 10 thickness options, Metalphoto® is the perfect material for nameplates, signs, labels, or control panels that need to stand up to harsh outdoor environments, or any project where permanent identification that must remain legible for the life of the product is crucial.
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What are the benefits of Metalphoto®?
- Abrasion Resistance – No pronounced image loss, degradation or reduced readability after 7,000 cycles on an abrading wheel.
- Acid Corrosion– No deterioration or image degradation after 24 hours in 3% nitric acid.
- Heat Resistance – Standard Metalphoto content is readable up to 500°F, while Image Intensified Metalphoto® is readable up to 800°F. Both are tested for 24-hour oven exposure.
- Salt Spray Corrosion – No deleterious effect after a 720-hr salt spray (fog) test. 2,6 “Very Good” corrosion resistance after 113 days of seawater exposure.
- Accelerated Light and Weather Resistance – No pronounced deterioration of legibility after 400-hr carbon arc weatherometer exposure. (Estimated 20+ year outdoor life)
- Accelerated Oxygen Aging – No discoloration or fading after 96-hr/300 psi/70°C oxygen bomb aging
- Stain Resistance – No black fading when plates are exposed to tincture of iodine.
- Cleaning Resistance – No deleterious effects when tested with alkaline cleaners (MILC-87937 or equivalent) for aircraft surfaces.
- Low Temperature Resistance – No deleterious effect or image fade after 1 hour at -50°F. No impairment of legibility upon exposure at -67°F.
- Organic Solvent Resistance – No softening, staining or noticeable fade after 24-hr exposure to: JP44 fuel, Gasoline, Minerals Spirits, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Turpentine, Turbine & Jet Fuel, Kerosene, Xylol, Acetone, Toluol, Heptane, Trichlorethylene, MILH5606 Hydraulic Fluid and MIL-L-7808 Jet Engine Oil.
- Thermal Shock – No deterioration after 3 cycles between -65°C and 125°C
- Moisture Resistance – No deterioration after 10 humidity cycles per MILSTD-202, METHOD 106.
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