Substrate suggestions

pvc..

 

I haven't used it in a flatbed yet, but it seems to be nice stuff...
http://www.harborsales.net/lookups.cfm?categoryID=7&subcategoryID=11&cat=plywood -- composites
I think most of the aluminum skinned product will give you a better white.

Checkers

 

You get what you pay for.............

If you want good color your going to need a good substrate............

As Brian stated any of the aluminum products will get you better color.

If not then use the cheaper stuff..............

 

You have several options, mainly finding stuff that is more flat should be your concern. Harbor Sales sells a product called "Finnished Wood" that is great and you will love. Also, there is a Pre-primed MDO sign panel from Grimco that is ready to go with no painting needed.

Of course PVC is an option, but I would use it outdoors for too long and definitely the Alumacore's, Alumalite's, Metal faced panels will be the best.

In regards to adhesion of UV Inks, you are going to want to test out which substrate gets better adhesion of the inks because that will matter down the road. It's just like paint, some paints don't bite into some finishes and can be easily scraped off...same for UV inks.

Best,

Christian Beebe

 

There is a UV white board, 1/2" mdo that is prepped with a very nice, bright, white finish. The board itself is about the same price as regular 1/2" mdo, maybe a couple of dollars more. It will have to be sprayed with a clear, or laminated with a liquid laminate if printed full bleed, the uv doesn't adhere very good. There is also lustreboard, a vinyl coated 1/2" mdo, it's the same type of thing. We have experimented over and over with different MDO's and come to the conclusion that anything needed to withstand weather outdoors should be liquid laminated or sprayed with a clearcoat, otherwise the ink can be washed off very easily. The only MDO board that works is the aluminum coated mdo, but the fact that it's almost twice as heavy makes it not such a good product. I personally think alumilite is the best application, but we never used it because my boss always thought it couldn't be screwed into anything, it would just fall down.