Tag Archives: button ideas

by | February 22, 2016 · 11:00 am

Mylar or no mylar?

button finishes

button finishes

 

Photo above: White People Power Press button is using standard mylar, Yellow People Power Press button is using lamination, Purple People Power Press button is using a thicker paper with no mylar at all. Shiny buttons is with using the Dura-lar technique which I explained last week.

 

Hi Button Guy,

 I recently purchased a Flex 2000 Kit. Made some buttons, and all works great. I have a question about the mylar inserts. Is there such thing as multiple finishes, such as matte or gloss? Seems like I can only find information on using the standard glossy mylar.

There are a few more options you could try to make the buttons you desire without using the standard glossy mylar.

  1. You could laminate your button designs before cutting the papers. Use a thin laminate such as 1mm or 2mm.
  2. You could use a thick paper like card stock and not use the mylar at all.
  3. You could put a matte tape over the design before cutting the papers. This might be the cheapest and easiest way to do it, but it could also be the weakest and the tape could tear or rip.

For information on printing on Dura-lar, check out my post last week

Comments Off on Mylar or no mylar?

Filed under Button artwork, Button design, Button Making, Button Making Business, Button Making Ideas, custom buttons

Tagged as , , ,

by | February 18, 2016 · 11:19 am

Printing on Dura-Lar

NYE_Buttons_2015_2_large NYE_Buttons_2015_3_large

I just love the principal behind those New Year buttons  (buttons by people power press)– I think I understand – print on the transfer, instead of a printed button template, cut out a gift wrap or even a Christmas Card OR use silver/gold napkin paper and then print on the Dura-Lar film, using it as the the cover instead of the round Mylar – did I say that correctly???NOW! my question – can I assume this Dura-Lar film is like a transparency? and you must use a Laser or copier – where the pattern, words or design is burned into the film instead of an ink jet printer????

 

These are sheets much like transparencies, you are right, that you place into your printer like paper. The People Power Press sell them in single sheets (so you can test it) and in packs. You would then cut the circles as you cut your other printed designs. http://peoplepowerpress.org/products/dura-lar-film-for-printing-and-button-making

You can also use brightly coloured acetate for extra bright colours: http://peoplepowerpress.org/products/acetate-for-printing-and-button-making

It is best to print so that the black text is inside the button so it won’t be scratched off. Yes, the printer matters. You need a laser printer for Dura-Lar as both sides are shiny and an Inkjet printer needs a textured side to have something for the ink to adhere to. I’ve also have found having a dehumidifier nearby helps the ink attach to the sheet much better too. (That is an important shop trick I have learned over the years!) That being said, you can get transparent sheets from a store like Staples that you can use with an Inkjet printer – just be sure that one side is textured and print on that side or else the ink will just smear when it hits the shiny side.

Then you place a glittery holographic paper that you can buy in rolls from a craft store underneath the Dura-Lar, but you can place whatever paper you would like under there. Sometimes, if I want the background to be silver we just let the tin shell show through.

 

view our similar post in 2013 for any additional questions you may have

 

Comments Off on Printing on Dura-Lar

Filed under Button Making, Button Making Ideas, custom buttons, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,