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My first illuminated sign job – advice needed
Hi All,
Fantastic forum with great information I have been reading many posts over the last couple of days to try and find answer to my query.
I have been asked to replaced a vandalised illuminated sign on the front of a shop, as the owner is on a tight budget and a personal friend to me He just want a simple design doing to replace the one he has got now.
He has asked for a white background with black writing.
I am proposing of doing this with opal perspex and black translucent vinyl as the text but at the back of my mind i leep thinking ‘this just isnt going to look right’
ive seen other illuminated signs that have black background and white writing which seems to be more popular.
is there any such thing as black blockout that i can use and cut out the sign on my plotter to give the desired effect, or do you think it would be ok to continue with the original plan.
Sorry if this is back to basics questions but ive got to start somewhere.
Many thanks in advance.
Mart
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17 Replies
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Hi
Been doing this over 10 years now and have NEVER seen black illuminated writing, I can understand how it could work ?? The guy need to go with black background and white writing
Regards Adrian
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There is no black translucent vinyl. Black is the absence of light.
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There is "translucent" black. Basically just a matte black vinyl that’s completely opaque. I do find that easier to apply then normal gloss black.
Nothing wrong in using black "translucent" on opalwhite perspex in my opinion, works just fine.
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quote Tobias Redig:There is “translucent” black. Basically just a matte black vinyl that’s completely opaque./snip/
Sorry, I just don’t understand that. 😕
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Thanks for the replies,
It looks like I’m going to do another site visit and go over the design with the owner.
It seems as though he now wants blue instead of black lol.
This should be much easier to do as its just one colour he wants but still using opal perspex.
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quote NeilRoss:quote Tobias Redig:There is “translucent” black. Basically just a matte black vinyl that’s completely opaque.
/snip/
Sorry, I just don’t understand that. 😕
It’s sold as a translucent, but black can never be translucent. So basically it’s just a opaque matte black. I do find that most translucent vinyls are easier to fit on perspex then other vinyls. So that’s why I tend to use a "translucent" black.
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Sorry I am with Neil but now as you are looking at blue then that is no problem at all just remember to have an even form of illumination and make sure the illumination is far enough back so as not to create spotting or shadowing
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quote Adrian Hewson:Sorry I am with Neil but now as you are looking at blue then that is no problem at all just remember to have an even form of illumination and make sure the illumination is far enough back so as not to create spotting or shadowing
Il bare this in mind thank you.
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quote :as the owner is on a tight budgetHow large is the sign?
Just curious as you mention tight budget, opal isn’t cheap and to do it properly
if it requires rebating all takes time and translucent vinyl more expensive that standard vinyl. -
It’s 19ft x 3ft
To be honest this chaps like ‘just do a really cheap simple sign to replace the broken one’
I just thought opal was the only way forward with this one, and use cut translucent vinyl for the design.
I’ve also asked the acrylic supplier to machine ithe rebate for me.
There probably are cheaper alternative ways of doing this but its the only way I know at the moment and he needs the sign done pretty quickly.
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Could someone tell me how i would remove this angled edge so that I can slide out the old perspex boards.
From what i can see there is one screw underneath the end piece, would this be all that is holding it in?
I cant see any more screws or rivets holding any of the other trim in place.
Many Thanks
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need more pictures wider view
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It doesn’t look like any lightbox frame you could buy as the bottom / side are different and not flat to the surface (one on top of the other).
Looks a bit home-made / patched up so it’s anybody’s guess how it was assembled.
Wider picture may help – and image of a side.
Dave
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Unfortunately, this is the only other image that I have.
I think it may be a homemade frame as it doesnt seem to be a very professional finish in places.
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Martin, it sounds like you are already getting in to problems with this job, in order to "do it on the cheap" for the customer.
I would quote him for a complete new sign done properly or walk away. -
quote Peter Dee:Martin, it sounds like you are already getting in to problems with this job, in order to “do it on the cheap” for the customer.
I would quote him for a complete new sign done properly or walk away.Agree 100%!!!…..In it’s current state I would be giving it as wide a berth as possible.
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I couldn’t agree more with Peter. In my experience it is always the cheap jobs, done for favours, that end up costing you most.
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