Faded Signs

[commercial press]

About 3-4 years ago I had Signs 365 print direct on some full color waypoint signage on J Bond with a coating. Needless to say in the direct sunlight outside they faded bad. Is there an alternative I can suggest to the customer that will last a little longer? Cast vinyl with a UV Laminate mounted on some aluminum composite Possibly? Open for suggestions!

 

[d fleming]

Stop making wayfinding signs with an inkjet and use cut vinyl.

 

[weyandsign]

Yes vinyl with laminate lasts longer than direct print.

 

[unclebun]

Yes vinyl with laminate lasts longer than direct print.

And colored sign vinyl lasts more than twice as long as that.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

And colored sign vinyl lasts more than twice as long as that.

not that much longer.. about 4-4.5 years here in TX

I've got some of S365 printed on ACM panel testing outside my shop facing south. I'm at 3.5 years and red ink is just starting to fade.

 

[unclebun]

not that much longer.. about 4-4.5 years here in TX

I've got some of S365 printed on ACM panel testing outside my shop facing south. I'm at 3.5 years and red ink is just starting to fade.

If that's all you're getting from cast vinyl you're doing it wrong. It lasts 8-10 years looking great and much longer than that as still readable. Printed signs eventually disappear and turn white, or the laminate "burns" and turns black long before the cast vinyl becomes unreadable.

 

[Gino]

Bottom line is, one needs to know what kinda vinyl, paint or print to use under different circumstances.

In direct sun, nothing printed on any machine will last long, let alone where in the country you (or the signs) are located.

You might wanna just discuss these things with your customer and let them know the differences in media and let them decide how cheap they wanna be.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

If that's all you're getting from cast vinyl you're doing it wrong. It lasts 8-10 years looking great and much longer than that as still readable. Printed signs eventually disappear and turn white, or the laminate "burns" and turns black long before the cast vinyl becomes unreadable.

calendered.

 

[JBurton]

calendered.

Well then that's just self flagellation. Why bother going through the process of cut/weed/mask on hot stamped sh*t when it's going to curl up in a year or two?