[ 彩材拆拆 x UNWRAP CMF ]
Ch.49 Unwrapping CMF Design on CMF Re-Innovations of UVPP Film
Ch.49 拆招CMF設計談膜片光學紋理的CMF再創新
CMF is a specialized area within industrial design that focuses on the development of products‘ color, material, and finish. Unwrap CMF shares bite-sized stories with digestible contents for anyone and everyone, inspiring curious minds about CMF Design. Enjoy learning? Use the mentioned terminologies to kick-start your research journey. Messages are always welcome! LinkedIn | Instagram | Email ✉️
Driven by the growing need to meet antenna requirements and the limitations of metal in blocking reception, many mobile phone manufacturers began replacing metal back covers with glass around 2016. (中文請見下方)
For example, while the iPhone 7 featured a metal body, the iPhone X, released in 2017, introduced glass as the new standard.
This shift made glass backs popular, but glass is expensive.
To capture this aesthetic at a lower cost, manufacturers started using clear plastics that mimic the look of glass. These clear plastics, designed to be as crisp and clear as possible, offered a more affordable alternative.
Plastic, while being an affordable UVPP alternative to glass, also differs in other material qualities such as flexibility.
Originally, both materials were finished with a solid color underneath, and sometimes enhanced with an optical coating for added glare. And then, to stand out further, the industry began using a technique called UVPP.
UVPP stands for UV-pattern, a process where tiny micro-patterns are created using super precision molds and then applied to glass or plastic surfaces. These patterns are often transferred with the help of a film, and therefore UVPP is frequently referred to as “UVPP film”.
These UV patterns are so small that when light hits the surface, it reflects in unique ways, producing effects like reflective patterns and even holographic, rainbow-like visuals.
Logos, camera rings, and other design details can also be created together with the tooling of the UVPP pattern.
UVPP is nearly transparent before coloring, with some light reflection. A holographic rainbow effect is also possible through specific UV patterns.
光學紋理非常細緻，以至於當光線照射到表面時，會產生各種反射的光影，形成獨特的紋理效果。（備註：右邊的案例還有疊加第二種紋理，由磨砂玻璃製成。）
Logos, camera rings, and other design details can also be created together with the tooling of the UVPP pattern.
Although UVPP may seem cutting-edge at the time, it has actually been around for decades. Many anti-counterfeit labels, such as those on currencies and packaging, use a similar technique.
Like many CMF innovations, UVPP isn’t about inventing something completely new. Often, CMF innovation involves taking existing machinery or processes and applying them in a new way to create an exciting look or function.
So, let’s learn from the wisdom of those who came before us and wow the world with a new look!
CMF全稱為Color Material and Finishing，屬於工業設計旗下專注於產品色彩、材質、及表面處理工藝的關鍵一環。UNWRAP CMF 彩材拆拆圍繞著這個主題，以淺而易懂的小故事拆解CMF設計的日常。CMF學無止盡，善用CMF關鍵字繼續網上鑽研。討論交流請來信至 LinkedIn | Instagram | Email ✉️
隨著對天線的需求提高，以及金屬在阻擋訊號接收的局限性，許多手機製造商自2016年左右起，開始用玻璃取代金屬背蓋。譬如iPhone 7採用了金屬機身，但自從Apple在2017年推出iPhone X開始，則引入玻璃作為新一代的背蓋材質。
這一轉變使得玻璃背蓋開始盛行，但也逃不開一個既定的現實 — 玻璃的高成本。
為了以較低的成本達到「玻璃視感」，製造商開始採用透明塑膠板材，力求清晰透徹，成功模仿玻璃的外觀，並因此成為了另一種更具經濟效益的替代方案。
起初，無論是玻璃還是仿玻璃，這兩種材料都通常以實色呈現，或加上光學鍍層以增強光感。然而，為了進一步突出產品，業界後來開始採用一種名為UVPP的技術。
Without UVPP, glass and glass-like phone covers would typically come in solid colors or with an optical coating for added glare.
UVPP意指UV紋理，也可譯作光學紋理，這是一種使用超精密模具製作細微紋理的工藝技術，將這些紋理應用於玻璃或塑膠板材的表面。這些紋理通常通過薄膜轉印技術來實現，因此也經常被稱為「UVPP膜片」。
這些光學紋理非常細緻，以至於當光線照射到表面時，會產生各種反射的光影，形成獨特的紋理效果，甚至是全息的彩虹效果。Logo、鏡頭裝飾圈，以及其他設計細節也可以同步被設計在UVPP的模具內。
雖然UVPP在當時很新穎，但它實際上已經存在數十載。例如紙幣和包裝上的防偽標籤，就使用了類似的技術。
Though UVPP seems cutting-edge, it’s been around for decades, as seen in anti-counterfeit labels using similar techniques.
與許多CMF創新一樣，UVPP並不是從頭到腳全新的發明。在大部分的情況下，CMF的創新更像是「再創新」，將現有的機械或工藝製程以新的方式運用，加減乘除再創造出令人感新意的外觀或功能。
所以啊～我們還是要經常向前人取經，累積見解，或許有天就會從中啟發「再創新」！
