clear perm film

[bpp]

If I want to print black text on clear permanent adhesive film for outdoor use to mount on glass, do I need to add a white backing behind the text? I notice many companies offer clear film without white. This will be applied to a fire box. Also, do you have any film recommendations?

 

[BigNate]

If you have an opaque black, then this should work without the white layer.... but most inks (even black, especially process black) are transparent and not opaque. The color is a double hit through the pigmented layer - once through to the substrate, and most of the not-needed wavelengths of light are removed, the light reflects off of the substrate and makes a second pass through the pigment layer. So if the surrounding area is dark enough for good contrast, and there is no light behind the black, then you do not need any white behind it. If your printed gives you the option of multiple layers - run a few tests to see how thick of black you need to make it work... (If there is no light inside the fire box, only shadows, then using clear with black ink should work well - but I would still test.)

 

[P Wagner]

The value of white ink on clear media comes down to the substrate that the media is being mounted to. If the substrate color is white (or nearly so), in many cases that should provide sufficient contrast for the ink to be reasonably visible. Glass substrates are more unpredictable, as they tend to be darker surfaces, particularly in cases where the glass is tinted. White ink on clear (used as an under base or spot) provides excellent contrast on tinted windows, non-white vehicles and many other substrates.

It boils down to this: If all you ever ask your printer to do is print to opaque white medias, there is no need for white ink. If you want to print to non-white or non-opaque medias (clear films, colored films, metallic films etc.), white ink can add significant value to applications that are run on these medias. These applications can include windows, vehicles (wraps/ partial wraps and decals), wallcovering, decals/ stickers, pylon signs etc.

 

[bpp]

I have white on my flatbed but not on my R2R's. I'll order a sample roll and try it out.

Thanks

 

[MarkSnelling]

does the clear need to be optically clear or just "blurry clear"? Is it outside in the elements? When will it need to be installed? answer those and I can get you a few options.