Splicing vinyl graphics is something I’m sure we all try to avoid if possible, but there are times when it is unavoidable. Often the splice lines are never visible and it matters not.
How about translucent materials for backlite signs? Splice line will surely be quite glaring, will they not? Do we butt the edges in this case or splice any way? What’s the industry standard here?
Anyone familiar with this problem?
Posted by Brian (Member # 39) on :
Splicing is not appropriate for traslucent graphics nor is butting up the edges since they will shrink over time and be real ugly. find some one with a bigger cutter and buy em a coffee. By the way I have a 52" Summa and love Starbucks...
Posted by Don Hulsey (Member # 128) on :
I have to agree with Brian. This is one time it is best to buy from someone else. The overlap would definately show, and a butt splice would look even worse once it separated.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
When it can be avoided, I agree with Brian & Don, but when I have had to do a number of 5 x 4, & 5 x 6 backlit faces with a backgrund color & text knocked out, I have run horizontal seams 24" or even 15" apart. On burgandy vinyl the darker shade on the overlaps was so much less contrast then the white copy that a major rersort has accepted that on all thier directional signs for many years. I did a number of 24" backlit faces when I only had a 15" plotter, but I always paid to get 24" material cut for me since I had that option.
Posted by Brad Ferguson (Member # 33) on :
John:
I agree that splicing is to be avoided. However, sometimes it is hard to do so. On a 90-foot awning one or two splices are not unacceptable, even on the background color. Our company's output is 90% backlit awnings and facias. Much of what we do is colored backgrounds (either Cooley-Brite or vinyl) with colored lettering. Perfect butt joints at letter edges are rarely possible. We aim for overlaps of about one-eighth inch or less, but even quarter-inch overlaps on large letters or panels does not look bad. Outlining is used extensively, and, of course, a black outline makes the overlap question a moot one. For patching, though, we strive for perfect butt joints. Shrinking is not a factor, since it's vinyl on vinyl.
Brad in Kansas
Posted by John Martin Robson (Member # 1686) on :
Thanks for the feed back folks………….always very informative. Just for your information, I’ve decided not to go with translucent material after all. I’ll stick with regular vinyl and minimize the splice area. I’ve done this before………..worked well.
