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We built rudimentary test equipment and started the ball rolling. Two years later we were able to achieve 150 lines per inch on exquisite black metals using titanium, zirconium, and chromium chemistry.

This rich black is unlike any other finish. No other process produces the same combination of properties. It is important to note that this colored layer is an integrated part of the metal, and flaking or delaminating will not occur. These inorganic particles form a molecular bond with the surface of the metal at the atomic level. These finishes can be exposed to a temperature of 900 degrees F. (482 degrees C.) before the color begins to change and are unaffected by UV light, the spectrum that gradually fades organic pigments or typical environmental elements.

As I mentioned earlier, our goal is to change an industry, a very difficult undertaking. And when we talk about the perpetual industry (monuments, tombstones, urns, etc.) we are targeting an immense, worldwide audience.

What we are attempting is by no means unique in the context of remembering faces and not just names and dates. Full color porcelain picture ceramics have been available for some time. During marketing interviews people have described these full color ceramics as ‘tacky’. They are applied to the stone with epoxy which means they will eventually delaminate. They can be easily broken. This is not good when you’re speaking of longevity. One of the leading producers of these ceramic pieces told us they only sell about 5,000 a year. That indicates, to us at least, that acceptance of these full color appliqués is limited. Full color photographs just don’t esthetically complement a granite, marble, or bronze marker.

An engraved bronze plaque is another option. These offer good resolution and are set with anchors and screws. The bronze easily oxidizes so it is sealed with an organic polymer which will last maybe twenty years or less.

A bronze statue is another option. Very expensive!

Applying graphics to stones with a laser or mechanical grinding is available. Beautiful images and lettering can be achieved. Although quite impressive, it is not durable. For example, air borne blown debris will eventually wear it away. And if the stone gets wet the graphic temporarily disappears unless the etching is filled with a stain or paint. This, of course, adds its own drawbacks.

Our tributes present the industry with a virtually indestructible marker enhancement having a resolution equaling magazine print. The backs are studded and set into the stone. The pieces can be recessed slightly, making a superb addition to the marker. Since these pieces are silver and black they blend well and maintain the dignity of the stone. The image remains clear even when wet.

Why this undertaking? There are two reasons. One, I feel it is important to remember people’s faces and not just their names. And why should there not be a little more about that individual than just a name, a date, and maybe a short ‘We miss you’. What about a thousand years from now? What if a cataclysmic event occurs, records are lost, or things get buried? These tributes will survive to tell their stories. Never Forget!

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