Full color print on signs

Question:

Is the life of the regular ground based sign still only 5 yrs due to the color printed on vinyl?

Answer:

It is simply the outdoor durability of the printed graphics, i.e. "photos". If aluminum is the substrate, the aluminum will last 10 plus years (I'm talking about the paint on the aluminum) The aluminum itself will last until a tornado blows it away.

A sign would be constructed using aluminum and it is painted with automotive enamels. But the printed graphics will begin to fade after some time.

We have been producing "full color" graphics for some time. The first process we used was called "wax thermal transfer" where spools of color were passed over a print head in the machine and the colors were fused to the vinyl. We are still using this process, but we are also printing with an inkjet machine which uses solvent based inks. These will not "wash-off" the sign and are unaffected by moisture, but they will degrade over time with UV light. By adding a "UV" lamination over the graphics we can get 5 years durability and life. This is the same for any print process I know of presently. If anyone tells you otherwise, I would get the name of the process and get some clarifications- because it does not exist.

Thanks,

Al Willamson
Footnote:

The entire graphic world has gone crazy over digital printing and all of the neat "special effects" that can be produced. The only problem is that none of the designers (except us) are trying to relay to the end user that all those special effects come at a cost. Certain indoor graphics could not be done without a real artist and full-color print. These things have their place.

Our job is to continue to tell our customer WE CAN PRODUCE FULL-COLOR GRAPHICS, but let them know what we suggest and what is currently available along with the expected outdoor life.

Until someone comes up with 15 year inks- nothing can take the place of well constructed signs with tasteful lettering in vinyl with some white space.