What Did He Use To Print This On The Seat?

[FHL FERG]

I have done quite a few seats but I was looking at some stuff from Rich Phillips and it dawned on me it's not tooled! It's Printed!

What techniques is he using to print on the leather to give it this distressed aged look?

Thanks!

FERG

[ramrod]

could it be tattooed on the leather?

[leatheroo]

looks like a laser print

[Spinner]

I'd guess lithography or laser. There are a few folks doing lithography on leather with great success on Etsy and then they use printing inks or thin dyes for the color. For the distressed look, that could simply be done with antique.

[sketchyjimmy]

I think it could actually be tattooed . I was flippin through a cycle source mag at the grocery store the other day and came across an ad for "electric solos" . it looks cool . lots of fine lines and crazy detail.

[rblalock]

Looks like it was Laser Printed. Laser print reverse image and then heat transfer.

[mrdabeetle]

It may actually be a graphics pen. I used to do that kind of thing on bracers. This is what I used. The ideal position for using these pens is completely vertical, as opposed to the way many people hold a pen at an angle to draw.

They are refillable, and use India Ink. You will need to use a spray-on type sealer. Some rub-on/buff-out sealers may smear the ink even after it is dry.

[glockanator]

It's a tattoo. He has a blog but can't remember itright now. He does killer work though

[JohnBarton]

http://www.bikersadd...d&productId=106

I am pretty sure that this work is not tattoo. He is calling it that but I'd bet it's some sort of transfer printing. There are various techniques for transferring ink to leather. The coloring techniques surrounding the images serve them well to make the images seem much richer.

I need to get good at this process because being able to print on leather is a good money maker. Combine it with tooling and you have a real winner.

Thanks for the introduction to Rich Phiipps' work.

Edit: Well I am not really sure. :-)

http://richphillipscycles.blogspot.com/

Seems like a pretty cool and creative guy though. Lots of nice work here.

Edited May 26, 2011 by JohnBarton

[cem]

For the price he's selling them at I definately don't think it's hand tattooed ie with a tattoo machine it's also too clean and has alot more detail compared to the other leather products I have seen hand tattooed. It's some sort of transfer still very nice though thanks for the heads up on his work.