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Sarah Mitchell — Reviewed writer, former magazine editor

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How to Handle Print on Metal Step by Step

When print on metal leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Buy a roll of aluminum flashing.

Flashing is really thin sheet metal, which is perfect for feeding through an inkjet printer that’s designed for paper. Look for the thinnest aluminum flashing you can find — the thinner, the better.

Flashing is really thin sheet metal, which is perfect for feeding through an inkjet printer that’s designed for paper.
Look for the thinnest aluminum flashing you can find — the thinner, the better.
Flashing is really thin sheet metal, which is perfect for feeding through an inkjet printer that’s designed for paper.
Look for the thinnest aluminum flashing you can find — the thinner, the better.
Flashing is really thin sheet metal, which is perfect for feeding through an inkjet printer that’s designed for paper.

Sand the surface of the flashing with 600-grit sandpaper.

You need to sand the flashing before printing onto it to remove the protective top coat. Otherwise, the ink from the printer won’t stick. Use a sanding block or random orbital sander so you don’t leave scratches on the flashing. You only need to sand the side you’re going to print onto.

You need to sand the flashing before printing onto it to remove the protective top coat.
Otherwise, the ink from the printer won’t stick.
Use a sanding block or random orbital sander so you don’t leave scratches on the flashing.
You only need to sand the side you’re going to print onto.
You need to sand the flashing before printing onto it to remove the protective top coat.

Clean the surface of the flashing with a commercial cleaner.

Any kind of cleaner that eliminates stains and grease will work. You just want to make sure you get off all the grease residue on the aluminum flashing before you send it through the printer. Otherwise, your print may not come out correctly.

Any kind of cleaner that eliminates stains and grease will work.
You just want to make sure you get off all the grease residue on the aluminum flashing before you send it through the printer.
Otherwise, your print may not come out correctly.
Any kind of cleaner that eliminates stains and grease will work.
You just want to make sure you get off all the grease residue on the aluminum flashing before you send it through the printer.

Cover the surface of the flashing with an inkjet precoat.

The inkjet pre-coat will help the ink adhere to the aluminum flashing when you print on it. To apply the precoat, tape the back of the flashing to a flat surface using double-sided tape. Then, pour a liberal amount of precoat in a line across the top edge of the flashing. Use a straightedge or coating bar to slowly scrape the coating down across the whole surface of the flashing.

The inkjet pre-coat will help the ink adhere to the aluminum flashing when you print on it.
To apply the precoat, tape the back of the flashing to a flat surface using double-sided tape.
Then, pour a liberal amount of precoat in a line across the top edge of the flashing.
Use a straightedge or coating bar to slowly scrape the coating down across the whole surface of the flashing.
The inkjet pre-coat will help the ink adhere to the aluminum flashing when you print on it.

Attach the flashing to a piece of paper that fits in your printer's feed.

This is important because it will allow the flashing to travel through the printer feed just like a regular piece of paper would. Lay the flashing flat on a piece of paper and tape the edges to the paper using masking tape. If the flashing is the same size as the paper, you’ll need to curl the tape over the edges of the paper.

This is important because it will allow the flashing to travel through the printer feed just like a regular piece of paper would.
Lay the flashing flat on a piece of paper and tape the edges to the paper using masking tape.
If the flashing is the same size as the paper, you’ll need to curl the tape over the edges of the paper.
This is important because it will allow the flashing to travel through the printer feed just like a regular piece of paper would.
Lay the flashing flat on a piece of paper and tape the edges to the paper using masking tape.

Prepare your print job on a computer.

Create a document with the image you want to print onto the flashing. If the piece of flashing you’re using is smaller than your inkjet printer’s feed, you’ll need to position the image in the document so it’s in the right spot to be printed onto the flashing.

Create a document with the image you want to print onto the flashing.
If the piece of flashing you’re using is smaller than your inkjet printer’s feed, you’ll need to position the image in the document so it’s in the right spot to be printed onto the flashing.
Create a document with the image you want to print onto the flashing.
If the piece of flashing you’re using is smaller than your inkjet printer’s feed, you’ll need to position the image in the document so it’s in the right spot to be printed onto the flashing.
Create a document with the image you want to print onto the flashing.

Press your design face down onto the wet piece of sheet metal.

Lay your design down on the metal slowly so you don’t get any air bubbles. Work from the center of the design out to the edges.

Lay your design down on the metal slowly so you don’t get any air bubbles.
Work from the center of the design out to the edges.
Lay your design down on the metal slowly so you don’t get any air bubbles.
Work from the center of the design out to the edges.
Lay your design down on the metal slowly so you don’t get any air bubbles.

Rub the back of your design with a water-soaked paper towel.

Rub the paper with short, gentle strokes. As you rub with the soaked paper towel, you should notice the paper your design was printed on starting to peel away, revealing your design on the sheet metal beneath it. Continue rubbing until all of the paper is gone and you’re just left with your design printed on the sheet metal.

Rub the paper with short, gentle strokes.
As you rub with the soaked paper towel, you should notice the paper your design was printed on starting to peel away, revealing your design on the sheet metal beneath it.
Continue rubbing until all of the paper is gone and you’re just left with your design printed on the sheet metal.
Rub the paper with short, gentle strokes.
As you rub with the soaked paper towel, you should notice the paper your design was printed on starting to peel away, revealing your design on the sheet metal beneath it.

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