Looking for real-world photos of sign materials aging

[soovayou]

I'm trying to build a visual library of how sign materials actually age in the field so designers and owners can better understand long-term risk before selecting a material. We’re especially interested in older, installed signs (years in service), not marketing photos.

Priority materials (most common durable options)​

• Porcelain enamel
• High-pressure laminate (HPL)
• Painted or coated aluminum (baked enamel, polyurethane, PVDF)
• Fiberglass embedded graphics (FEG)
• Phenolic / resin panels
• Stainless steel (etched, printed, coated)
• Stone, concrete, ceramic tile
• Glass (fritted, printed, laminated)

We’re also happy to include non-durable or lower-cost materials if you have good aging examples. Side-by-side comparisons are helpful.

What we’re trying to document​

Time and exposure-related wear, such as:

• Color fade, yellowing, chalking
• Cracking, peeling, delamination
• Smearing or bleeding of graphics
• Loss of gloss or uneven sheen
• Corrosion, rust bleed, edge failure
• Warping, bowing, seam or fastener issues

What to include (if you can)​

• Location / climate
• Approximate age
• Material (best guess is fine)

Thank you a ton - we will share this with the community when completed!

 

[TradeBalanceBoss]

That's really cool and would be very interesting and helpful to see the photos and descriptions in an easily referenceable and sortable open source project.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/aging-of-materials

 

[Paul from Enduralox®]

I would be really keen to see ENDURALOX® on the list.
It's architectural grade (5005) anodized aluminum. Instead of Dip Coloring or Metal Salt colouring in the bath, its ultra high resolution (2800dpi) direct digital print in the anodic layer before the final anodised sealing process.
So the full colour is inside the aluminum like a tattoo. Sealed from the elements. Cant peel, grafitti wipes off (with solvent) , high UV resistance, chemical resitance, heat and cold resistant - long list of benefits.
It has the industrial credibility of anodised aluminum (thats what it is) with the creative elements of any full colour graphics. up to 83 inches long x 45 inches wide. (or even asset tags, data plates)

 

[John Miller]

Paul, please explain Enduralox and where it is available.

 

[Paul from Enduralox®]

Paul, please explain Enduralox and where it is available.

Hi John,
Essentially it is direct print (2800dip) full color printing into the anodic layer of anodized aluminum.
How....
We take 5005 (AlMg1) Architectural Mill Finished aluminum panels. (from a specific manufacturer)
Our partners anodise the panels to an ISO standard and select criteria.
When it comes time to color the aluminum (fill the open pores with color), instead of doing it in the tank, we take the aly, put it on our custom print bed
Our printer (custom print head, headboard and especially written software for firing ink into porous aluminum) runs the print job.
Once it dries, we complete the anodising process (which is the sealing of the design in the substrate "under the oxide layer")
It is then ready to ship to the client.
The whole supply chain, anodising process, printing, sealing and QA process has been engineered in partnership with chemical scientists.
It is robust, vivid, ok as full color or just black text.
It can print up to 83 inches long x 45 inches wide on a single panel
or data plates/asset tags as small as 1/4" x 1/4"
You buy it our of our Californian distributor and we ship direct to you.

I hope that helps.

 

[MikePro]

google streetview would be an awesome resource
maybe your AI can compile a database for us to reference?

 

[soovayou]

google streetview would be an awesome resource
maybe your AI can compile a database for us to reference?

If only it could...will try my best to compile something for the community