Question about putting a picture on a piece of jewelry

Hi,

I am looking to put a very small photograph on a charm bracelet and wondered
what type of thing I could use to seal it that would withstand normal everyday
use.

I tried pebeo porcelaine enamel paints (glossy sealer) but that doesn't work
because it needs to be baked and I can't bake a photograph. I have a product
by delta but it doesn't seem to want to hold properly even with a metal primer.
Help..

On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 18:32:28 -0700, in rec.crafts.jewelry
(MEvans1653) wrote:

I tried pebeo porcelaine enamel paints (glossy sealer) but that doesn't work
because it needs to be baked and I can't bake a photograph.

I'm not familier with the pebeo product, but I'm pretty sure you could use
Ceramit. That's a product intended to look like vitreous enamels, but it's a
two part resin.

It's intended to also be baked, but the temperature needed is only 200 F, and a
photo would easily withstand that for the half hour it takes. If you don't even
want to chance that, then it will, much more slowly, cure at room temperatures,
though the end hardness and durability isn't as high. I've used Ceramit on wood
and paper, and even on some thermospastic materials, those that didn't melt at
quite the temperature the ceramit needed to cure. It comes in a wide range of
colors, as well as clear, and makes a decent adhesive too. You could put a thin
layer of some background color on the charm if you want, then lay down the photo
with the next layer, of clear, a little underneath the photo, and some on top as
well, to seal it completely as well as adhere it to the previous layer...

Peter

in article , MEvans1653 at
wrote on 12/10/03 2:31 am:

Hi,

I am looking to put a very small photograph on a charm bracelet and wondered
what type of thing I could use to seal it that would withstand normal everyday
use.

I tried pebeo porcelaine enamel paints (glossy sealer) but that doesn't work
because it needs to be baked and I can't bake a photograph. I have a product
by delta but it doesn't seem to want to hold properly even with a metal
primer.
Help..

As an alternative you may like to try photo etching the image on to silver.

Get a scan of the photo and make a halftone screen of the image using a
program like photoshop. print the image on to overhead transparency sheet
using a good photo resolution inkjet printer Like the Epson Stylus Photo
895.
Spray a bit of silver sheet with photo etch resist. Obtainable from
Electronic circuit board supply companies (Radio Shack) put the transparency
on top. Expose in sunlight for about ten minutes and develop. Then use
dilute nitric acid to etch the image.
Darken the etched detail with liver of sulphur and you will have a
photographic image which will last quite well.

The above will need some experimentation to get it to work but it does work
and the results are very interesting.

Cheers

Hillary

"H. J. Corney" wrote:

in article , MEvans1653 at
wrote on 12/10/03 2:31 am:

Hi,

I am looking to put a very small photograph on a charm bracelet...

As an alternative you may like to try photo etching the image on to silver.

Another alternative is to find a laser engraver. Many are capable of taking a
..TIF or .JPG as input and 'etching' that into your material. (greyscale of
course)



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As always, put on rubber gloves, wear eye protection, stand on an electrically
insulating mat, dress in old clothes, avoid electrical shock by working with one
hand in your pocket, and do it outdoors in a well ventilated area. Lastly, to
avoid personal injury, have it done professionally.
- http://www.homemetalshopclub.org

You can get some Aileen's, I can't remember what they are called but they
are plastic sheets that you can print photos onto with your printer, then
you stick them in the oven and they shrink. They make good luggage tags,
etc. I've actually seen them used as charms (without a setting but its kind
of inexpensive looking). They are pretty durable. I imagine you could
pretty it up by putting it in a cab setting with a piece of glass laid over
the top.
Good Luck!
Liz

"MEvans1653" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I am looking to put a very small photograph on a charm bracelet and
wondered
what type of thing I could use to seal it that would withstand normal
everyday
use.

I tried pebeo porcelaine enamel paints (glossy sealer) but that doesn't
work
because it needs to be baked and I can't bake a photograph. I have a
product
by delta but it doesn't seem to want to hold properly even with a metal
primer.
Help..

get a bezel mounting, fit the picture and fill with envirotex.


"Liz" wrote in message
...
You can get some Aileen's, I can't remember what they are called but they
are plastic sheets that you can print photos onto with your printer, then
you stick them in the oven and they shrink. They make good luggage tags,
etc. I've actually seen them used as charms (without a setting but its
kind
of inexpensive looking). They are pretty durable. I imagine you could
pretty it up by putting it in a cab setting with a piece of glass laid
over
the top.
Good Luck!
Liz

"MEvans1653" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I am looking to put a very small photograph on a charm bracelet and
wondered
what type of thing I could use to seal it that would withstand normal
everyday
use.

I tried pebeo porcelaine enamel paints (glossy sealer) but that doesn't
work
because it needs to be baked and I can't bake a photograph. I have a
product
by delta but it doesn't seem to want to hold properly even with a metal
primer.
Help..