Decorative metal plate
Without decoration, life would be very dull.
Since ancient times, humanity has shown an innate desire to give its environment an artistic touch by using color and shapes. The frescoes discovered in the caves of our ancestors are evidence of this early inclination. Our penchant for art and decoration has intensified over the course of human evolution. Wall decoration gives an undeniable singularity to an interior space, reflecting individual desires and preferences. It enriches our often impersonal modern habitats, influencing our emotions positively, promoting a positive state of mind, and stimulating our imagination.
Among the many styles available, retro is represented by metal wall decor signs . Often inspired by old advertisements , they are like vintage artifacts that capture the essence of history, whether economic, industrial or cultural. Their worn look, retro hues and patterns evoke a nostalgic charm and arouse a special affection. But how exactly are they made? From extracting the metal to finishing the sheet metal, including shaping and printing, discover the different stages of creating a vintage metal wall decor sign , presented in chronological order.
Transformation of metal into plate
It all begins with the careful selection of the metal, often steel or tin, selected for its strength to withstand the passage of time and for its malleability necessary for handling by artisans. After being extracted from the mines, this raw material is subjected to high temperatures in a furnace until it liquefies by fusion. The refining process removes the last impurities to obtain a pure metal. Then, it is poured into a mold and cooled to form a block. This block is then rolled to reduce its thickness, transforming it into a sheet of metal. Although hard, fragile and brittle at this stage, it is heated to a lower temperature to regain its ductility and resistance. Then, the sheet is cut into its desired size and shape, generally rectangular, square or round, using a shear, a punch or a milling machine. Finally, the sheet metal plate is polished to remove any surface roughness, preparing it like a canvas for the painter, ready to be embellished.
Typically, a decorative wall plaque or indoor thermometer with an old advertisement on it is coated with ink. This ink is formulated from colored pigments mixed with a binder, in order to faithfully reproduce the original advertising visual .
Screen printing
Screen printing is a noble and ancient artisanal printing process. The central step consists of creating the stencil , a kind of model or template that allows certain parts to be colored without going over the lines. To do this, the advertising illustration is reproduced in monochrome on a frame, using a photosensitive emulsion and UV lighting. Then, the frame is placed above the plate and receives the ink, which is spread using a scraper. The ink only passes through the reproduced patterns and is deposited precisely on the metal, without leaving any smudges.
Offset printing
More modern and automated, offset printing is based on the four-color CMYK mode: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. Each color used in the design requires its own printing medium, which means that the colors are printed successively. The medium and the metal plate to be printed are carefully positioned in an offset press, controlled by a computer. A cylinder exerts pressure on the medium in order to fix it on the metal plate. At the exit of the machine, the plate is printed with the desired colored design.
The tones can incorporate delicate patinas, creating an artificial aging effect for an even more pronounced vintage style .
Stamping
A curved sheet metal has a soft and aesthetic bulge in the center, resulting from an operation known as stamping . This technique consists of placing the plate in a press, above a specific mold. Then, a punch applies pressure to the plate, making it descend into the mold and thus giving it its characteristic curvature. This process gives the plate a more elegant and refined appearance.
Embossing
Another method of deformation is embossing or embossing . This technique, similar to the previous step, consists of highlighting certain areas of the plate, such as those reserved for a logo. In this process, the plate is also pressed against a die with patterns, thus creating a play of depths and shadows.
The finish
To ensure the durability of the ink, the plate is coated with a protective varnish that also provides a beautiful shine. However, the most luxurious and resistant coating remains enamel . Composed of minerals melted at around 800°C, this transparent substance fuses with the metal, thus ensuring that your enamel plate will remain intact and dazzling in all conditions, whether indoors (in a living room, kitchen or garage ) or outdoors (in summer or winter). In addition, enamel reflects light, thus magnifying the colors remarkably. An enamel plate can be purely functional by signaling a doorbell, a watercourse or the presence of a dog, or it can serve as an eye-catching vintage advertisement .
For a more finished and secure appearance, the edges of the plate are folded and the edges are smoothed. The manufacturing is completed by pre-drilling , small holes placed in each corner of the plate, evenly spaced and aligned, designed for wall mounting . To install the plate, simply hold it straight against the wall, slide a nail into each hole, then carefully drive them into the wall using a hammer.
These manufacturing techniques apply to advertising plates as well as to thermometers and decorative wall clocks . The latter are generally equipped with an alcohol capillary tube and a dial with needles, thus making it possible to read the temperature and time.
Why choose a metal plate for your decoration?
What are the advantages of choosing a metal plate for your wall decoration ? When it comes to decorating walls, the options are numerous and varied: stickers, posters, canvases, frames, mirrors, paintings... Although these elements have their own attractions, few of them compete with decorative metal plates , which combine solidity, aesthetics, historical and cultural richness. Indeed, some of the biggest brands, those that have marked history, have authorized craftsmen to immortalize their image and heritage on these vintage sheets. All the dog breeds present on the site have inspired the creators and you will easily find the plates corresponding to your companion.
Thanks to these metal plates , an entire era resurfaces, that of the post-war 50s. It brings with it its joy of living, its deliciously retro aesthetic, its forgotten advertisements and its socio-cultural themes such as cinema , sport , hunting , celebrities , alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks , travel , etc. All these images and ideas will resonate consciously or unconsciously in your mind. Your interior will become a real pleasure to contemplate, while your inner being will find peace by escaping from everyday life and its worries. A soothing harmony will settle in!