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Internal Acrylic Sign Question
Following on from the post I made the other week about a 3D type sign the customer decided he wants a white acrylic board on chrome stand offs just lettered up with vinyl.
Id like to make it look a little more elegant than just vinyl on a white acrylic board though. I had thought about just applying the lettering to the rear of a clear piece of acrylic then flood coating the area so it has a white background. However now im thinking of applying direct onto white acrylic and covering with another clear panel.
Are there any mounts on the market that will let me do this?
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12 Replies
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I’m not sure about those fixings Paul….I think I might have seen them somewhere but I can’t remember where….I’m sure someone will help you
Have you thought about 10mm clear acrylic with the detail on the front but flood coat the back?….It’s just a thought….I’ve never done it myself but it would add some depth to the sign
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You could apply to the reverse of the clear – and use the full height of the stand-off to stand it off a piece of white.
Quite effective .
The standoffs can be mounted (screwed through – or a hole machined) on the white leaving the gap.
I’ve got a few photos of one I did last week – will post them up tomorrow if you want.
Dave
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Its a good idea Glenn, I was just trying to think of a way so the thickness of the vinyl couldnt be seen on the surface of the sign.
Whatever I do ill put some pics up.
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Cheers Dave, that would be great.
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Just a note on your initial idea on apply & flood coat.
It does give a certain depth if you use polished 8 or 10mm acrylic, but can still look a bit ‘solid’ – and the areas directly round your text are prone to air gaps.
Glenn’s suggestion for flood coating rear & graphic on front. Admittedly, he’s never tried it – but I’ve seen it done (by others) and the ‘expensive’ depth effect is almost completely lost as the eye is draw to the vinyl stuck to the front. Added to that, the acrylic is a super high gloss – the vinyl isn’t which makes it look really odd.
Dave
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Hi!
Your right about ‘air gaps’ around the vinyl when fitted in reverse and flood coated.
Great tip and believe me it works! Roller paint over the applied vinyl lettering, let dry and then flood coat. Don’t believe me? Try a sample out!
Matt
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quote Matt Goodwin:Hi!
Your right about ‘air gaps’ around the vinyl when fitted in reverse and flood coated.
Great tip and believe me it works! Roller paint over the applied vinyl lettering, let dry and then flood coat. Don’t believe me? Try a sample out!
Matt
I tend to back spray mine instead with a light coat of a very similar shade…perfect results every time. (On hundreds of signs – acrylic & polycarbonate.)
Wouldn’t recommend it if you are in the slightest unsure / not confident as it doesn’t really lend itself to getting a second go!
Dave
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So basically the paint smooths the edges of the vinyl limiting the air gaps between the flood coating and the lettering?
Or am I way off track?
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quote Paul Humble:So basically the paint smooths the edges of the vinyl limiting the air gaps between the flood coating and the lettering?
Or am I way off track?
No..pretty much there.
The paint actually disguises / hides the air gap. In my way of doing it – a light, fairly even coat of spray paint over the lot – wait to dry & flood coat DRY. You can even get creases in or crap under the backing as you can’t see it! Whatever you do – NEVER try to pull the backing off & re-apply.
The air gap will still be there – but behind the paint & so invisible.
Choice of paint is crucial – it HAS to bond with the acrylic yet not ruin the vinyl. I’m a fan of Halfrauds own or Hi-Cote at a push.
Not tried rollering it on, but should work just as well – if a bit more messy!
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Totaly agree, spray works just as well! As David so rightly says, don’t apply wet and don’t try to re-apply! The only reason I mentioned rollering was one job I had was 400 internal signs in white and the paint cost a lot less than spray!
Regards to all…Matt
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Another way to do it is flood the rear with frost and then apply the lettering to that. Gives a soft focus effect. I have a scrap of glass with lettering with frost behind and frost with lettering behind. Inlaying lettering into frost is difficult in as much as shrinkage can show up very quick plus alignment must be spot on.
As for mounts, Fairfields and iSpy for quality or Mid-West Displays for the cheaper stuff!!
If you want to jazz it up then look at 6mm rods and edge mounts, you can also build in lighting with hidden power as it runs through the rods. Im currently working on a few bits at the moment with all of the above :lol1:
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Photos as promised in the portfolio section.
Dave
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