Backlit Film Printing The Eco-friendly Way
An eye-catching, large format display typically used for restaurant menu boards,

movie posters, and trade show displays, the

advertising backlit film

is also sometimes known as a light box display. It’s basically an image

printed on film and placed on a frame with a light inside. Doing this makes the photo

or image more noticeable and appealing. There are, of course, various materials and

processes used to make these backlit displays but at SLB Printing, we do it the eco-

friendly way.

By focusing on using environmentally-sound consumable materials and processes.

When we print our backlit films, we use high-quality, recyclable HP Backlit Polyester

Film. This matte-finish material is water resistant and can be laminated, which makes

it more durable and longer-lasting even for outdoor use. Because they’re recyclable

and from HP, these reverse print backlit film 125 micro are also

eligible for HP’s free recycling service, a project that helps reduce environmental

impact. In addition to using recyclable film, we also use eco-friendly latex inks from

HP. In fact, these water-based inks were not only recognized by the Business Equipment

Research & Test Laboratories (BERTL) as the “Best Innovaion in Environmentally

Friendly Inks” but they’re safe to use without special ventilation, too. This means

that they won’t adversely affect our health. As for our printing process, the ink and

films go through our large-format eco-friendly printers. The printers we use are very

energy-efficient and contain parts that are either recyclable or reusable. But don’t

think that all this energy saving means we work slower. The printers we use are

performers and we are as well.

Eco-friendly and more While we do take pride in our high quality prints and eco-

friendly printing process and materials, we’re also pleased that our (yes, eco-

friendly) staff are also people-friendly. We do our best to attend to our clients’

needs, whether they want a backlit film or banner printed out, all while adhering to a

same-day production policy (in by 10 a.m. out by 4 p.m.). Having a backlit film

display made for your business will do wonders in getting the word out in a beautiful,

eye-catching way. “Going green” with your printing is a step towards establishing

yourself as an environmentally-conscious business (which is admittedly a bigger deal

now than say, 50 or 30 years ago), and a way to help reduce waste and pollution and

encourage sustainability. However, “going green” with SLB Printing’s backlit film

printing ensures that you do just that without sacrificing quality and customer

service.

In brief: Eco-friendly backlit film printing is a way for us to both show that we

care for our
environment, our staff, our businesses and our clients. With so much wastage and

pollution all over these days, it seems like a shame to squander any opportunity to “

go green”. After all, even the smallest positive change we make can contribute to

saving our planet or just making it a cleaner, more sustainable place to live. One

change you can do as a business owner is to consider environmentally-friendly printing

services. If you’re planning on advertising your products, you really can’t go wrong

with reverse print backlit film 150 micro and going about it with

a smaller carbon footprint is even better.

There are many options in today's digital world when selecting the right media

for your wide format inkjet backlit application. Understanding your application needs,

and the differences between substrates, is key to selecting a backlit media that will

make your signage radiant.

One of the main points to understand is the 'visual temperature of a material.

The 'visual temperature' can fall anywhere on the spectrum between cool and

warm and is determined by the amount of blue (cool) or red (warm) undertone the

material has. This is also often referred to as the "white point".

'White point' specifically indicates the level of blue within the film. The

more blue, the cooler the white and the "whiter" it looks. The higher the

level of red within the film, the warmer and more yellow the film will appear.

When determining the visual temperature, you can look at the color index of a

material to see where on the spectrum the media falls. The color index is simply a

numerical expression that determines the color of an object. As a printer, you will

see this in the graphic files when selecting or adjusting a color. You will see it

depicted in a L, a, b format.

In figure 1.1, the color index differences between "cool white" and

"warm white" are difficult to see in a digital format such as a web article,

therefore, we have used the blue in circled area of the Tekra logo as an example. With

the lightness value being 49, we can tell that this is a pretty centered color depth

between light and dark. We can also tell that the material is more green than it is

red, as the 'a' value is 12 points below zero and the color is considerably

more blue in hue than it is yellow being 46 points below zero in the 'b'

value. Understanding how to read this report will help you better estimate the tone of

white a material will project when backlit.

When selecting a inkjet printing reverse backlit film for your

wide format inkjet backlit application, you will primarily be concerned with the

amount of red and blue. For a whiter appearance, you will want the 'b' value

to have lower negative value and for a warmer appearance, you will be looking for the

yellow to have a higher positive value.
Backlit signs for businesses are large format color graphics illuminated from

behind by a light source (mostly by LED lights today).

Backlit sign graphics have many indoor applications such as in malls, tradeshows,

kiosks, and airport displays. However, how these illuminated signs are made allows

them to also have many outdoor applications as well. They can be utilized for outdoor

building signage, bus stops, and even billboards.

With today’s modern technology, printing backlit signs on many different types of

substrates is now possible. Backlit sign printing is also more affordable now and the

end products are much more durable, so the demand for custom backlit signs has grown

rapidly.

LED lighting is also a major compoent of how backlit signs are made. With LED,

today’s backlit signs stand out considerably better than when fluorescent signage was

first introduced. This makes backlit signage an easy choice for business owners who

want to raise the level of awareness for their companies.

Using interior and exterior backlit signs can improve the credibility of your

business by showing your customers that you are serious about promoting your business

and are willing to make the investment necessary to ensure your continued success.

Large backlit signs are vivid and durable when printed on translucent

reverse print backlit film for light box using high-

resolution latex ink printing, whcih is specifically designed for backlit sign

applications. This method of printing produces very bright signage. They are full of

depth and have more detail and clarity than other printing methods or ink choices.

Another important component of how backlit signs are made is Silicone Edge

Graphics. Depending on the application, Silicone Edge Graphics can be stretched around

a borderless frame once printed. This enhances the appearance of the graphic,

suggesting that the graphic is floating without the constraints of a border.

PRI Graphics would love to help you realize your creative project goals!

Do you have a custom backlit sign application in mind? We can create custom

backlit signs in almost any dimension on a variety of substrates suitable to your

specific needs. Custom printed backlit signage is excellent for promoting your next

event, tradeshow appearance, or product announcement.

Or, if you are interested in giving your existing business signage a serious

facelift, replace the panel on which your current signage is displayed and install a

more brilliantly colored, more cost effective, longer lasting, LED backlit sign

version.
Whatever your decision, PRI Graphics in Phoenix AZ can help you customize a

signage solution that will enhance your business and provide a stronger promotional

presence to your customers.

PRI Graphics offers custom, large format backlit sign printing and we work closely

with businesses across the state and country to create custom printed sign solutions.

We offer high quality UV stable ink printing for all outdoor backlit signs, which

help reduce the effects of sun exposure and present your message in the best possible

light.

For more information on how backlit signs are made and how you can benefit, please

call our Phoenix printing company Toll Free at 1-877-409-8889 and talk to our Arizona

printing experts.

Although there are various options available for the production of signs and

digital graphics, one particular area worth taking another look at is backlit products

and applications. This is due in large part to the recent advancements that have been

made in digital printing and media technologies, which have made it easier to produce

high quality, cost-effective backlit graphics. Another major reason to refocus on

backlit displays is the large market opportunity that POS graphics brings with it.
D

To meet the wide array of environments, there are a number of semi opaque media

solutions ranging in the $1.00 per square foot price range for use with aqueous

dye/pigmented printers and inks. Some reverse print films enable print providers to

print on the matte side in order to protect the image on the gloss side, making them

ideal for high quality, promotional indoor backlit signage, backlit trade show display

and backlit retail displays. Such films feature high color gamut on the viewing side,

optimized opacity for maximum color with hot spots and enable the image to look great

with the lights on or off. When looking for this type of film, choose a polyester film

base for uniform, low-grain background.

If you're looking to produce a durable sign, there are film solutions on the

market that have a waterfast coating when used with pigmented ink. In addition to

featuring a high color gamut on the viewing side, such films can be used for both

frontlit and backlit applications, and enable positive direct-print on matte surface

for easy file management. When choosing among such media options, look for a film that

features optimized opacity for maximum color without hot spots. Ideal for high quality

indoor and outdoor durable backlit signage, backlit/frontlit trade show displays and

retail displays and durable reflective signage, these options are available in

approximately $1.00 per square foot price range.efined as an electronic display that

incorporates a light source in back of a liquid-crystal or other electronic display to

increase readability, backlit displays create a compelling visual effect through

backlighting white or colored translucent graphics. Unlike many other applications,

backlit displays enable the production of bright, vivid colors that highlight the

product/service being sold, and grab the attention of potential buyers and customers.

Typically, the same customer base that buys outdoor banners also has a need for

in-store point of sale graphics. The average selling price of POS applications like

backlit displays is 75 percent greater than the average selling price per square foot

of outdoor vinyl; not to mention they are more environmentally friendly. So it then

becomes a matter of capitalizing on this opportunity by educating yourself about the

various options and newest developments in the backlit display market.

Whether you're creating backlit products for aqueous, eco solvent, solvent and

UV printing systems, there are a plethora of semi-opaque and clear film options

available on the market today.

ABC's of Backlit Display Production

To choose the appropriate option for producing graphics for light projection

displays, sign shops should first consider four critical parameters: calculation

(amount), location (where), application (how) and duration (longevity). This

information will determine the best methodology for producing the graphic and

determine the appropriate type of backlit film.

It is recommended that signmakers use matte to textured, lustre finishes for the

construction of backlits, which are commonly imaged on polyester or polycarbonate-

based films. Polycarbonates are reverse printed and then viewed through the film or

from the non-print side. Polyester films are available with a textured finish on the

viewing side of the film.

Semi Opaque Films

Semi opaque materials present the ideal form of media for POP displays because

they ensure that there is enough translucency for the graphic to look great under the

reflective lighting on the retail floor. The best choices for in-store backlit

displays are white films or polypropylene media that offer 90 percent opacity because

the higher opacity will hold the graphics vivid colors in the bright reflective

lighting of a retail environment. Films that feature 40 percent to 50 percent opacity

are preferred options in lower light environments.