Ross - Posted - 03/11/2014:  10:59:40

Does anyone know how or who could be given some pictures and transfix their images on to a banjo head so the end result would be a smooth surface? I'm interested more in the visual than the auditory coolness here.

Thanks.

jbalch - Posted - 03/11/2014:  11:10:46

There is group for decorating banjo heads .  Try over there too:  banjohangout.org/group/banjoheaddecoration

Dr. Diskgusto - Posted - 03/11/2014:  12:04:44

Tom Nechville has been printing some pretty cool designs on his banjo heads. You might check with him or Al Price (on the hangout) to see what can be done.

quote:

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Originally posted by Ross

Does anyone know how or who could be given some pictures and transfix their images on to a banjo head so the end result would be a smooth surface? I'm interested more in the visual than the auditory coolness here.

Thanks.

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beegee - Posted - 03/11/2014:  14:29:20

You could screen-print most anything. I don't know if anybody has tried a laser or 3-d printer on a mylar head. There's always Sharpies and ink-jet on vinyl overlays or just regular sign vinyl or acrylics.

etparadox - Posted - 03/11/2014:  15:48:24

3D printers cant print images, just 3D objects. I have seen some laser etched heads, but you've got to be careful to just burn the surface. If you are willing to put in some money, find your local t-shirt printer and have them silk screen the image on. 

Meles_Meles - Posted - 03/11/2014:  20:50:50

This probably wouldn't work well for a textured head, but on a smooth, synthetic one I have a suggestion. Model railroad and other hobbyist suppliers sell letter-sized sheets of clear decal. (You know, like the ones you used to wet to put on styrene plastic model airplanes.) These can be put through a normal computer color inkjet printer to print anything that you fancy, and the same source(s) can provide a clear-coat solution to protect them from smearing or abrading. The result is very lightweight and flexible, so it shouldn't have too much of an effect on your instrument's tone.



Many years ago I painted a design on the porous head of a banjo-uke with fabric paint from a craft shop, with some success, but I can't see how it could be used for a photographic image, if that's what you have in mind. If you co the T-shirt route, be sure that the commercial printer doesn't use a latex-based colorant (which is used to prevent blurring by ink diffusing through a porous surface such as cloth or goatskin) because although it'd be flexible, it'd also end up significantly heavier and stiffer than the original head.

Edited by - Meles_Meles on 03/11/2014 20:52:30

5-Picker Tim - Posted - 03/12/2014:  13:47:43

Ross,

Your homepage doesn't list any information about your location so not knowing where you are from, look for print shops or printing services in your area that advertise having large flatbed inkjet printers.

Most of these types printers can handle a multitude of surfaces including plastic, wood, cardboard etc.

HERE is one such service.

Tim