Metal photo nameplates are made from an anodized aluminum material with an embedded silver halide material. When exposed through a negative film to an exposure lamp the silver halides in the material turn black and create an image. The unexposed halides are washed away, and the anodized aluminum sealed.
The finished product is fully anodized. (i.e., the black exposed areas, as well as the natural aluminum background are sealed beneath the anodic layer of the aluminum).
Additional colors can be added to the nameplate by subsequent screen printing of dyes prior to sealing.
Metalphoto nameplates (sometimes referred to as photo etched) can provide photographic levels of detail. This process is particularly well suited to short production runs and even single piece quantities.
