system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How do hydrographics work?

I've seen lots of videos of people dipping various objects in water with some sort of design, like army helmets in camo, and the object comes out with an awesome print on it but nothing in their arms or anything. How do the designs transfer from the water to the object so perfectly?
gpt
It's the same process as painting anything. You need to prepare the surface for adhesion between the print and the surface. You actually have to lay down a basecoat color before dipping. You lay the pring on the dipping tank, spray with an activator, slowly dip the object into the tank, swirl around and take it out. Once the print is dry you can then clearcoat it. 

It takes a lot of practice to get the print to come out perfect every time. Flat objects are easy, objects with a lot of curves, holes, or grooves make it harder to produce. you can run into problems with stretching the print out and distorting it or getting air bubbles that will leave a void.