How Would You Produce?

[rdm01]

So I have a project and am wondering the best way to produce. At first I was thinking digital print, laminate on aluminum, but these will be up for a long time, and I don't know about the print in a high exposure situation and how color fast it would be.

That led me to quote three color cut vinyl on aluminum, which would be a long term solution, but pretty labor intensive.

How would you create at your shop? 50 of the attached, on a durable substrate, long term application.

Thanks!

 

[J Hill Designs]

I would do cut vinyl

 

[rdm01]

Reading back, forgot to mention, they are reflective.

With the three color approach I was quoting all three colors as reflective, not just the base white.

 

[J Hill Designs]

black should be opaque black, not reflective.

at 50, reflective, I would sub to a screenprinter.

 

[Kottwitz-Graphics]

Cut vinyl here... but am I missing something? White aluminum, lay the black and red that's only 2 colors. Unless you are counting laying black, red P and then black circle.

Edited... now I see. Reflective I would still do by cut vinyl, but I'd charge a small fortune for them.

 

[shoresigns]

White reflective vinyl with black and red cut vinyl on top. High grade cast vinyl from one of the big 3 manufacturers, and .080 aluminum.

I would also rework the layout to make the sign more effective. It doesn't need to say No Parking on it twice, and adding "Anytime" might help as well. Also remember that No Parking typically implies that stopping to load and unload a vehicle for a short time is allowed, so if you don't want that it needs to be No Stopping, not No Parking.

 

[d fleming]

White reflective coated aluminum blanks screen printed.

 

[rdm01]

Without screen printing in house, and the blank not being a standard size, I don't know how feasible that is.

 

[Billct2]

Cast vinyl graphics or maybe screened on pre made ,080 reflective blanks

 

[x2chris7x]

Why not digital print on reflective laminated and applied to the aluminum? We dont do many signs like this, and I'm just wondering why everyone would do cut vinyl on top of reflective...

 

[CanuckSigns]

we have a supplier near us that will apply 3M diamond grade white to an 0.080 aluminum blank for a pretty good price, they buy the diamond grade by the roll and get a good price on it.

we would then apply a good 2 mil cut vinyl on top of that, but if there are 50, the same supplier could screen print them for a few bucks each, all we would do is collect the cheque.

 

[rdm01]

Why not digital print on reflective laminated and applied to the aluminum? We dont do many signs like this, and I'm just wondering why everyone would do cut vinyl on top of reflective...

Digital print isn't going to last long compared to cut vinyl, from what we experience.

 

[FireSprint.com]

We would screen print and include an overprint clear for additional protection. Should last 5 years and would likely be the most cost effective way to get it done. Let me know if you want a quote. We need the size, guage and the grade of reflective to give you an accurate quote.

Thanks!

 

[GaSouthpaw]

we have a supplier near us that will apply 3M diamond grade white to an 0.080 aluminum blank for a pretty good price, they buy the diamond grade by the roll and get a good price on it.

we would then apply a good 2 mil cut vinyl on top of that, but if there are 50, the same supplier could screen print them for a few bucks each, all we would do is collect the cheque.

Yep- that's what I'd suggest for that quantity. Most of the traffic sign sellers offer that service.
If it was 15 or less, sure- go ahead and do it with cut vinyl (though opaque black- not reflective- as other mentioned).

 

[Mike Paul]

- Print on Cast reflective White.

- Laminate with Cast laminate.

- Apply to substrate... When the life of the sign runs out apx. 5? yrs later, you will get an order for new signs.

 

[S'N'S]

Like others said Cast Black/Red as Black reflective will be lost as it usually shines a grey NOT Black when light hits it. Wouldn't take long to belt out 50 of those.
I don't use prints on ANYTHING that I want to last, even laminated they are only short term signs (3-5yr don't know about latex thou), even cut vinyl has a shorter life span here than the States....ie. I peeled a sticker off that had 5 yr life to find 7yr for the rest of the world.

 

[MikePro]

pfft. Orafol 5700, printed, and cast-laminated.
it'll be 5+ years before the color starts to noticeably fade. stock vinyl may keep its color longer, but i'm sure your client would appreciate a more economical solution.

p.s. its black & red. I'd only really worry about color fading if you were using yellow....which fades much faster than CMK.