Hi All,

For example Gardiner is only selling flimsy CCTV signage where we have to use the mark pen to specify the contact details. And the "look" of those signage are not always suitable for more discreet setting like day nurseries.

In the past I have ordered some from the customised CCTV signage place, but the problems are,

i) The customised design is very expensive

ii) They do it in batch, so we have to wait few weeks in order to collect enough company names. And engineers often have to revisit the site just to put up the signage.

iii) The contact details bit are just inkjet label sticker.

Over the long term, it would be good to have our own in-house facilities to design and printer our own CCTV signage. I have thinking of buying a colour laser printer, hard plastic/foam boards, and those transparent printable film. Is it a good idea? Do you guys have any good suggestions?

Best regards,

Edward

We tried making our own signs, but found that the ink faded, so now we get them from a sign co.

I agree it is expensive, and if anyone can suggest a cheaper option I also would be very interested.

Paul

Apparently it is not that difficult. The expert told me that I have to use pigmented-ink inkjet printer, and over a specialised overlaminating film sticking on top of it. The manufacturer can gurantee up to 8 years fading protection (US standard - and I assume sunlight is less severe in UK).

But now I got stuck as to where I can get those blank PVC boards. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I hope I will be able to test this, and post the working solution here soon.

Best regards,

Edward

Hi Edward,

Our experience:

We did some labels in the 90's for military aerospace equipment using yellow backing film with a transparent layer which was put through a photocopier, then covered with a top layer of chemical resistant transparency. Three layer process. Worked really well, good resistance to chemicals, ageing, uv etc. but in the end, too labour intensive to be economical for more than a one-off. These days, we get a local priner to come up with blanks for us and mark them up with a "permanent" marker. Not brilliant, but probably adequate.

In-house solutions tend to look good until you cost the labour at a commercial rate.

Business Cam is right, it is the ink that makes the difference. Ordinary inkjet inks are not designed for long term exposure. If you are thinking of a colour laser printer, there are again various sorts of 'inks' most take toner powder and some (kyocera I think) take blocks of what I can best call 'crayon' material which it melts to use as 'ink'. Maybe that might work better for you.

If you are thinking of using laser 'transparency' sheets, remember that the printing is on the top surface and therefore exposed. However, with a decent photo package, you could reverse the whole image so when you print it, you can turn it over so the printing shows through the transparency!

How were you thinking of applying the signage to the board? Applying stickies to a flat surface is a real pain as you have to be careful to get it square, flat and with no bubbles or wrinkles. Slightly tongue in cheek but could you frame the signs?

It really is a question of whether you are going to make an investment in high end equipment for making these signs and whether you believe it is worth it.

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for.

Thanks for your advices. Three weeks ago, I have bought a commercial printer which is capable for using pigmented-ink, 5 years UV protection overlaminate (it is a big roll, and costs