I did an experiment with a print from a standard laser and was surprised at the results. My question is, does anyone know of a vinyl product that is resistant to the heat created by a office laser printer?
Here is way I ask. I had a request to make an outdoor sign for a short term event. I, like many in the trade, can not afford a large format printer at this time. I needed the print rather quickly, so I printed the logo on a standard piece of paper from a laser printer. It was a color print and it only needed to last a week, so i printed it, laminated it with calendard clear vinyl and applied it with double faced banner tape.
After the sign was used, I took the logo and placed it on the hood of my truck to see how long it would last. A week went by, no changes, two, three, a month, two months! After two months, I took the logo off of my hood and looked at it, no visible changes in the color!
Cold weather fell upon us and I decided to put it inside of my truck, on the dash facing up (as it was on the hood). It's been there since October and I still do not see any visible changes.
To overview, two months outdoors facing up, six months on the interior facing up, and still no visible change in the print. If I had the original and placed it next to the print, I may see a difference, but looking at it without the original, I see none.
So, to make a long story even longer, I am looking for a vinyl or digital print media that I can run through a laser printer without damaging the heat rollers or "drum". While I know that this will always be for short term projects, and I will still order my wholesale prints when needed, this method will work fine for short term and smaller applications. It's just a matter of convienence and it's always interesting to try out new methods.
I'm a third generation "sign painter" and have been working in the trade for over thirty years. I imagine some that are reading this may think that I am some poor old sign painter that can't afford a large format printer, but no,"I'm not a starving artist" and have done well in the trade. Paid my bills on time and always use the best materials for the job at hand
I'm honest with my customers and work hard to make sure that I keep them, which I do.
Any info you can provide will be appreciated.
Rick
Here is way I ask. I had a request to make an outdoor sign for a short term event. I, like many in the trade, can not afford a large format printer at this time. I needed the print rather quickly, so I printed the logo on a standard piece of paper from a laser printer. It was a color print and it only needed to last a week, so i printed it, laminated it with calendard clear vinyl and applied it with double faced banner tape.
After the sign was used, I took the logo and placed it on the hood of my truck to see how long it would last. A week went by, no changes, two, three, a month, two months! After two months, I took the logo off of my hood and looked at it, no visible changes in the color!
Cold weather fell upon us and I decided to put it inside of my truck, on the dash facing up (as it was on the hood). It's been there since October and I still do not see any visible changes.
To overview, two months outdoors facing up, six months on the interior facing up, and still no visible change in the print. If I had the original and placed it next to the print, I may see a difference, but looking at it without the original, I see none.
So, to make a long story even longer, I am looking for a vinyl or digital print media that I can run through a laser printer without damaging the heat rollers or "drum". While I know that this will always be for short term projects, and I will still order my wholesale prints when needed, this method will work fine for short term and smaller applications. It's just a matter of convienence and it's always interesting to try out new methods.
I'm a third generation "sign painter" and have been working in the trade for over thirty years. I imagine some that are reading this may think that I am some poor old sign painter that can't afford a large format printer, but no,"I'm not a starving artist" and have done well in the trade. Paid my bills on time and always use the best materials for the job at hand
I'm honest with my customers and work hard to make sure that I keep them, which I do.
Any info you can provide will be appreciated.
Rick
