Hi Performance Cast vs Tranlucent Vinyl

[Charlie J]

I'm doing some lettering on some white pan faces. The text is going to be black. Can I just use regular hi performance black or does it need to be translucent black?

 

[HulkSmash]

I'm doing some lettering on some white pan faces. The text is going to be black. Can I just use regular hi performance black or does it need to be translucent black?

translucent if you want light to shine through it.
It's pretty expensive stuff - make sure you charge accordingly.

 

[Malkin]

Regular high performance is just fine, as you don't need light to shine through the black.

The translucent variety simply has a sheen level (#winning) that is consistent with the other translucent colors.

 

[HulkSmash]

Regular high performance is just fine, as you don't need light to shine through the black.

The translucent variety simply has a sheen level (#winning) that is consistent with the other translucent colors.

i've done high performance black on pan faces, and have had MANY customers complain light doesn't shine through and they can't see it at night. So i guess it's preference.

 

[Charlie J]

I don't think the light will need to shine thru.


Here's the sign layout

 

[Bigdawg]

Wow.. that black doesn't show at all Charlie

Real answer: Ask the customer their expectations

 

[HulkSmash]

i see no sign!

 

[Malkin]

i've done high performance black on pan faces, and have had MANY customers complain light doesn't shine through and they can't see it at night. So i guess it's preference.

Something here doesn't make sense, since black should be opaque on any sign that is lit up (internal or even reflective).

What am I missing?

 

[wes70]

Something here doesn't make sense, since black should be opaque on any sign that is lit up (internal or even reflective).

What am I missing?

My thoughts exactly!

 

[Charlie J]

Edited my last post. Hopefully you can see it now.

 

[Doyle]

In my experience, black is black and if any light is allowed to pass through, it isn't black. I use opaque hp cast black, never had an issue.

 

[Custom_Grafx]

Regular high performance is just fine, as you don't need light to shine through the black.

The translucent variety simply has a sheen level (#winning) that is consistent with the other translucent colors.

+1

At night it'll look fine, but in the daytime, the black will be glossy and the arrow won't.

Depends how fussy your client is.

Explain that to them, then tell them how much di$$erent it is and let them make the call.

 

[GAC05]

+1

At night it'll look fine, but in the daytime, the black will be glossy and the arrow won't.

Depends how fussy your client is.

Explain that to them, then tell them how much di$$erent it is and let them make the call.

He could slap some gloss lam over the arrow and they'd look the same.

 

[Custom_Grafx]

He could slap some gloss lam over the arrow and they'd look the same.

True! nice idea. just gotta make sure it's a matched lam (not shrink at different rates).

 

[Billct2]

I've never used Trans Black and never had a complaint.

 

[Charlie J]

Cool! Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[xpressgraphixman]

You've probably finished the sign by now but I thought I would offer my 2 cents.

First of all, besides being an oxmoron, translucent black (and bronze) is completely opaque. If you put a 2 mil cast black next to translucent black on a lighted sign face, you will see that the cast is somewhat blochy. The translucent will be dead solid opaque. While this may not make much difference from far away, it will be noticable if the face is viewed from close range. The other advantage you gain using the translucent black is consistency in the matte finish of translucent vinyls.

If quality of your work is important, then "translucent" black is the way to go.