Home Forums Sign Making Discussions Neon, LED, Lighting will normal vinyl work onto light-box?

  • will normal vinyl work onto light-box?

    Posted by Peter Normington on 21 June 2005 at 07:48

    Hi all, bit of advice please,
    I have always used translucent vinyl on light boxes, this time though I cannot find the colour the customer wants, how different will normal good quality vinyl be Or will it loose its colour when illuminated.
    Peter

    signowl replied 19 years, 6 months ago 5 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Martin Cole

    Member
    21 June 2005 at 08:45

    Hi Peter
    In my opinion translucent vinyl is essential when using light boxes.
    In the daylight normal vinyl will look fine when it’s dark and the sign is
    lit up you will not see the colour properly, if at all in normal vinyl.
    I always remember seeing light box sign where I used to live. Yellow
    fascia with light blue graphics with darker blue shadow it looked great
    during the day, when it was lit up all the graphics just became a dark
    shadow totally unreadable.
    So I would locate nearest colour you can to colour needed, Avery do
    good range.

    Martin

  • Andy Gorman

    Member
    21 June 2005 at 08:51

    It may be worth experimenting Peter. Some regular vinyls do illuminate Ok, although sometimes they can appear a bit grainy. The other thing to consider is shrinkage. Translucent is a lot more stable whereas another vinyl may shrink due to the constant heating up and cooling down. Translucent does always look much brighter and more illuminated though.

  • Shane Drew

    Member
    21 June 2005 at 09:09
    quote big G:

    It may be worth experimenting Peter. Some regular vinyls do illuminate Ok, although sometimes they can appear a bit grainy. The other thing to consider is shrinkage. Translucent is a lot more stable whereas another vinyl may shrink due to the constant heating up and cooling down. Translucent does always look much brighter and more illuminated though.

    Oracal 551 or 3Ms50 works very well on lightboxes. It is a very good alternative, and I use it all the time. Cast (751c & 7725) are blotchy due to the manufacturing process, but cast translucent is ideal of course, especially as Big G states, shrinkage is in the equation. But colour text on a white background, or as a colour backing, 551 is more than up to the task.

    Cheers
    Shane

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    21 June 2005 at 09:28

    Thanks guys, as I thought,
    nearest match it it is then.
    cheers
    Peter

  • signowl

    Member
    17 March 2006 at 10:42

    I have used normal matt and gloss finish vinyl on many occasions for menus and external lightboxes some colours hold their own and some dont.
    If you choose the right colour mix then think it creates an interesting sign?
    meaning the different effects from lit to daylight.
    but on the other hand if the customer wants the colour throughout then as we all know its got to be the transluscent

    Ian

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