Printing on Translucent

[FastsignsofHuntsville]

Hello, we recently installed a backlit acrylic panel into a cabinet sign. My customer is not happy with the way it looks at night. The background which is suppose to be black, appears grey. The orange logo looks almost yellow. What can we do to fix this? Last resort I will just order the vinyl from Indy Imaging, but I would prefer to keep it inhouse if possible. We print with a HP 365 Latex, the material we printed on is the Briteline Translucent Printable Vinyl Film.

 

[unclebun]

Get some clear vinyl. Print the exact same file in reverse on the clear. Install it on the backside of the acrylic panel in register with the image on the front.

In the future you will find it easier to put the clear layer on the front first, then the translucent on top of it. If you print it to an exact size, say 1/4" or 3/8" inset around the acrylic panel and trim them exactly to size, it's easy to register them.

 

[crashaffinity]

Get some clear vinyl. Print the exact same file in reverse on the clear. Install it on the backside of the acrylic panel in register with the image on the front.

In the future you will find it easier to put the clear layer on the front first, then the translucent on top of it. If you print it to an exact size, say 1/4" or 3/8" inset around the acrylic panel and trim them exactly to size, it's easy to register them.

that's exactly how i was taught to do backlits years ago

 

[bdw99]

I'm not sure if the 360 works in the same way as the 570 but if you are able to download print profiles there is a good translucent one.. It will over saturate all of the colors for you. It'll look a lot darker than it should coming off the printer but when it lights up it will be accurate.

 

[Superior_Adam]

I'm not sure if the 360 works in the same way as the 570 but if you are able to download print profiles there is a good translucent one.. It will over saturate all of the colors for you. It'll look a lot darker than it should coming off the printer but when it lights up it will be accurate.

Problem with doing that is in the daytime the colors are off.

 

[Superior_Adam]

We are lucky enough to be able to print the Color/White/Color. The back print is at a 50% color as it is not seen. the front print looks good in the daytime and the layered print makes it not wash out when the lights are on.

 

[unclebun]

Problem with doing that is in the daytime the colors are off.

Exactly. And in reality a lit sign is seen by a lot more people unlit during the day.

 

[balstestrat]

Did you even print it with a proper backlit profile?

 

[unclebun]

There's no such thing as a proper backlit profile. Backlit profiles all overink the print, which is not proper because the colors are darkened too much for daytime viewing.

 

[balstestrat]

There's no such thing as a proper backlit profile. Backlit profiles all overink the print, which is not proper because the colors are darkened too much for daytime viewing.

Yeah of course. But at least he could try to make it look better in case it was done with frontlit profile. The complaint was about the backlit use anyway.
Day&night would be the proper profile but I know he can't do it.

I think the black could be better. What does it matter if it looks extra black during the day?

 

[Boudica]

I always ask if the lights are on day and night, and how bright they are in determining whether or not to double strike.