Your discoveries on compliant surfaces are very exciting. I’ve had already reach the conclusion that the textured silicon surface was getting the best blobs and the thinest layer. But as you say, still a bit messy and difficult to control the texture. I’m going to try the SULKY WASH AWAY STABILIZERS and also ask for a sample pack they have link, so I can try the others too. can you still confirm please if the Sulky Solvy you used the SULKY WASH AWAY STABILIZERS ?
One thing I’m trying to solve is the amount of texture visible when in the projection resulting from the textured surface (either silicon or silky Solvy). Another test I’ll be doing is using the a Textured Velum paper (rolling style) but only with one layer of silicon.
I’ll tell you how it goes ...
About applying any silicon with xylol or aceton solution, it does damage the acrylic. I’ve tried rolling a layer on a small portion of acrylic and it left marks.
Yes, we used the stuff under the Wash Away section, specifically the plain Sulky Solvy water soluble stabilizer (not the Super, Ultra, Paper, or Fabri, but it may be worth experimenting with those different variations). In looking at that web page, you can see the different dimensions that the Sulky Solvy is available in. It looks like the maximum width you can get is 19 3/4”. That seemed a little short, but I just verified the width of the Sulky Solvy we got from the fabric store, and it is about that wide (the length can go much further though, up to 550 yards!). You may want to purchase this 19 3/4” x 1-yard length for $2.31. Pretty cheap!
So I think this is an important point that was not mentioned earlier. Due to the size that it comes in, Sulky Solvy may only be a good choice for displays that have a width (shortest dimension) no larger than 22”. Why 22” and not 19 3/4”? Because you can stretch the Sulky Solvy a little. Using the the technique we used to apply it over the frame (a top-surface perimeter of thin double-sided tape, and then stretching the sheet by pulling the 4 corners with 2 people, and then lowering it down onto the tape and acrylic), you can extend the effective width to about 22” wide.
So Sulky Solvy should work well for a 22” x 30” display, but it may not work well for a 30” x 40” display. There might be a way to actually line up 2 sheets of Sulky Solvy over a larger display, but you would have a seam in the middle somewhere. I’m not sure how you would affix the 2 seam edges to the acrylic in the middle of the display. We used double-sided tape around the perimeter, but I’m not sure how double-sided tape would affect blobs in the center along the seam. Who knows, maybe it doesn’t need to be affixed around the seam. Maybe you could just stretch the 2 sheets over the display, affixing them on just the 3 sides that touch the perimeter. With the Rosco screen on top, it will protect it the Sulky Solvy below, and hopefully prevent the Sulky Solvy from shifting around the seam. This is something that needs experimentation in.
Oh, regarding the texture, our initial experiment was very promising with the Sulky Solvy. It is not a woven fabric, but a transparent sheet with some slight texturing. Using Rosco Grey as our projection screen (on top of the Sulky Solvy, on top of the acrylic), projected images from behind looked absolutely stunning, and text was relatively crisp and clear. We didn’t experiment with different font sizes and projection distances yet, but would love to find out what you discover.
Yes, we used the stuff under the Wash Away section, specifically the plain Sulky Solvy water soluble stabilizer (not the Super, Ultra, Paper, or Fabri, but it may be worth experimenting with those different variations). In looking at that web page, you can see the different dimensions that the Sulky Solvy is available in. It looks like the maximum width you can get is 19 3/4”. That seemed a little short, but I just verified the width of the Sulky Solvy we got from the fabric store, and it is about that wide (the length can go much further though, up to 550 yards!). You may want to purchase this 19 3/4” x 1-yard length for $2.31. Pretty cheap!
So I think this is an important point that was not mentioned earlier. Due to the size that it comes in, Sulky Solvy may only be a good choice for displays that have a width (shortest dimension) no larger than 22”. Why 22” and not 19 3/4”? Because you can stretch the Sulky Solvy a little. Using the the technique we used to apply it over the frame (a top-surface perimeter of thin double-sided tape, and then stretching the sheet by pulling the 4 corners with 2 people, and then lowering it down onto the tape and acrylic), you can extend the effective width to about 22” wide.
So Sulky Solvy should work well for a 22” x 30” display, but it may not work well for a 30” x 40” display. There might be a way to actually line up 2 sheets of Sulky Solvy over a larger display, but you would have a seam in the middle somewhere. I’m not sure how you would affix the 2 seam edges to the acrylic in the middle of the display. We used double-sided tape around the perimeter, but I’m not sure how double-sided tape would affect blobs in the center along the seam. Who knows, maybe it doesn’t need to be affixed around the seam. Maybe you could just stretch the 2 sheets over the display, affixing them on just the 3 sides that touch the perimeter. With the Rosco screen on top, it will protect it the Sulky Solvy below, and hopefully prevent the Sulky Solvy from shifting around the seam. This is something that needs experimentation in.
Hello Jim,
Thank you for your insight ...
You’re right to point out the length issue. I’m working on a 1130 x 850 mm (45"x34" aprx.) and I’ll have to see how to get a compromise on that.
Still I’m very curious so check this surfaces and I’ll be ordering some (need to see how to get them to Portugal).
It might be a good idea to contact the company that makes this surfaces an check if they can get a special order of a bigger sheet of Sulky Solvy ...
carschdn, we put the smoother side up (against the Rosco screen) and the textured side down (against the acrylic). It was a best guess at the time, so feel free to experiment and see if the other side produces better blobs. But having tested a bunch of materials, it was generally the side with the “glue” or “texture” that simulated the bonding of human skin against the acrylic.
rokingana, keep us posted on your findings, and feel free to contact the makers of Sulky Solvy We were able to get IR LEDs produced by asking a manufacturer/supplier, so maybe they can produce custom sheets of Sulky Solvy for us. They’ll probably look at you funny though, as they wonder what kind of garment you’re sewing that requires such a large piece of Sulky Solvy!
carschdn, we put the smoother side up (against the Rosco screen) and the textured side down (against the acrylic). It was a best guess at the time, so feel free to experiment and see if the other side produces better blobs. But having tested a bunch of materials, it was generally the side with the “glue” or “texture” that simulated the bonding of human skin against the acrylic.
rokingana, keep us posted on your findings, and feel free to contact the makers of Sulky Solvy We were able to get IR LEDs produced by asking a manufacturer/supplier, so maybe they can produce custom sheets of Sulky Solvy for us. They’ll probably look at you funny though, as they wonder what kind of garment you’re sewing that requires such a large piece of Sulky Solvy!
Hello Jim !!
The company that produces this product is German: Gütermann.com
They have a bigger size 1 x 25 meter roll
Still negotiating some samples ... to try it out before buying all that Sulky Solvy ... But until now having good feedback.
Also the US contact was very helpful ... have fun !!!
We’ve tried the Sulky Solvy route to no avail, we get zero anything through the Rosco Grey. Turn the screen round so you’re touching the bare acrylic gives us better results. Did you use one layer of Solky? We have pretty much mirrored your setup, no joy. :(
Concerning the Sulky Solvy. I wonder if the effect works because the sulky solvy is “stretched” over the surface,
which leaves me with the thought that there might be an air gap between
the solvy and the acrylic. Can you tell for certain that the sulky solvy works also if it’s not stretched, but rather just put loosly between rosco and acrylic?
Does dragging work just in the same way without stretching it?
Well, at least it does not work with my setup.
If not stretched, I have to press real hard to get any blobs with sulky solvy. Even worse with Ultra Solvy.
WEll, WEll!!! this is a goog post!!! i would like to know how can a find something like Sulky Solvy in Mexico City, about the Rosco its ok, i find it in mexico but, i was trying to find SulkySolvy and here is hard!!! i keep searching, it seems to be a god solution, never loosing faith!!!!
