Bit of a random quesiton for on here I suppose, but just in case anyone works in the industrial coatings or paint industry, does anyone know what name is given to that speckled coating they use on camera bodies?
Perfect examples would be the Lumix G9, Nikon D4, Sony A7.
You would not believe how hard I’ve tried to find out. It has so far proven impossible. I’ve even asked specialist paint suppliers and industrial coating specialists who haven’t a clue. The most I got out of one of them was that it’s likely a two step process, but that was about it.
So at this point I’m unsure whether it’s a closely guarded secret by the camera manufacturers, or whether I’ve just been extremely unlucky in my research. I mean, surely the finish (or the process itself) must have a name!
There’s a good chance it’s a proprietary coating either formulated by the manufacturer or made by a third party to the manufacturers spec. Either way at a guess I’d say it’s something they’ll keep close to their chest.
On closer inspection it’s different patterns on each camera (both D4’s) so maybe is the paint. But the plastic parts look like they are moulded texture.
I believe at first they spray something to make the surface uneven and then they apply powder coating and then heat up in an industrial stove so that paint becomes solid.
I think the reason it looks different is down to it being sprayed on by a different machine. Perhaps they use different machines to spray the aluminium/magnesium and plastic parts. If you take a closer look at the Lumix G9 for example, you will see that it’s different yet again, since Lumix are using a slightly shinier-looking process.
And thanks for the link, garf. The guy who posted last has the basic idea I think, in so far it is probably spattered on. That said there are paints that are designed to crack to create weathered affects which I believe is done by mixing-in certain chemicals with the paint. I was really hoping this was done in a similar fashion, whereby you sprat on an initial even coat, and then spray-on a second coat that causes it to splotch-up!
Gurt, Nate, exactly, that’s why I want to know what it is. I’m developing hardware and this finish is something I would love to use on my products. Like I said, even Korg are using it now, and what’s interesting to note is that this finish was being used even back in the 70s, so it’s not as if it’s something new even though the way it is achieved these days is no doubt more refined.
Novitchok, I thought so too at first, but how would you powed-coat plasic components without melting them?
Remember, Nate’s D5300 is plastic bodied, and it’s purely the coating that gives it the same feel as James’ D4. It would melt if put in an oven to bake-on a powder coating.
I’ve used this plastikote stuff on something before I guess it’s a similar product but in an industrial setting. Probably flecks of latex mixed with the paint I recon.
I saw something like this done on a car programme once. From memory they called it a ‘crackle finish’ and it seemed to be a traditional powder coating application. I’m sure the guys doing the job said there was a ‘trade secret’ element to it? They were coating an aluminium rocker cover.
