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what materials do i need to make lightbox signs?
Hi,
I have a customer who wants 2 illuminated lightbox signs. I have never done these before! I mainly work with coroplast & aluminum signs along with vehicle work!
Please can anyone tell me what the materials are that I need to be working with?
From what I have read on the boards already, I need to use translucent vinyl right?
Not sure what sort of backing material the vinyl material goes on though?
Any help appreciated!!
😀
Thank-you!
Cat -
8 Replies
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I don’t know about suppliers over there, but I buy my lightboxes in ready made with opal perspex (plexiglas to you!) already fitted. Then just put your vinyl on. You should use translucent vinyl. Not only does it illuminate better than the regular stuff, but it is more stable under the heat generated by the lightbox.
Also, do a good job of installing! Lightboxes are a lot heavier than most other signs.
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HI Cat,
i woulda thought you could buy ready made light boxes from a trade sign suppliers. the backing is usually an opaque / misty white perspex / acrylic, though you can get them in various colours i believe, usually just flood the opaque one,
i think i’m also right in saying you want to avoid layering colours on top of each other, you’ll end up with dark patches and no colour otherwise, hope that makes sense.
Hugh
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I should mention, using coloured perspex is usually a bad idea. If, for example, you use red perspex then no other colour will illuminate on top of it. Similarly if you used yellow and laid some blue on top it would not illuminate blue, but would be a messy greeny colour. I ALWAYS use opal perspex and make all of my colours in vinyl, even background colours.
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quote Andy Gorman:I should mention, using coloured perspex is usually a bad idea. If, for example, you use red perspex then no other colour will illuminate on top of it. Similarly if you used yellow and laid some blue on top it would not illuminate blue, but would be a messy greeny colour. I ALWAYS use opal perspex and make all of my colours in vinyl, even background colours.
i knew that i did ……. what !! sorry Andy, you must’ve posted after i clicked to reply ! 😮 i did right enuf ok 😉
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Cat, there are many places you can get wholesale sign boxes. YMS in Toronto (also known as Uniko) can get you some simple one sided and two sided box signs with fluorescents inside. If you’re not experienced in building them, then this is the way to go.
Best to use white Plexi faces, with translucent vinyls as required. East-West, Acme Sign, ND Graphics… any vinyl distributor will have translucents available.
Where in Canada are you located?
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Hi all,
Thanks for all the quick replies!Andy it turns out all he wanted was a already existing sign redone, I was a bit stressed to say the least-thinking that I would have to do it all from scratch! Thanks for all the great tips though, it will all come in handy for me 😀
Got the colour point, thanks Andy and Hugh!
Marko, thanks for the supplier names, East West I have been dealing with already. The other two I will have to get a hold of!
I am from BC, near Prince George.
Marko, where are you from?
THANKS ALL!!!
😀 😀 😀
Cathy -
Mississauga. Spent several years bouncing between the sign and lighting industries, now I develop LED products… there are many other Canadians on here if you ever have any other questions.
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I used to know a lad in Mississauga, called Jason. You MUST know him. 😀 😀
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