Our Services

Sign Design

The design department at Signarama Dandenong Corporate Solutions is the connection between our customer and our production department.

Sign Production

This ability to manufacture most of what we produce gives us great scope for creativity. We’re always looking for better ways to do things, and love discovering new looks and finishes we can make available to our clients.

Sign Installation

Our signs are designed for successful install from first concept, and we include all install costs in our estimates so there are no surprises at the end of a job.

Frequently Asked Questions

At Signarama Dandenong, we take pride in being easy to deal with. By following some simple steps, we can help to make your design, signage, and branding process easy and successful.

There are a number of very simple expectations upon both parties to see your signage project completed to specification, on budget, and most importantly – on time.

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How do you make sign purchase easy?

Are your products guaranteed?

Do you supply a proof?

Why should I trust Signarama Dandenong with my signage?

How is my building sign installed?

What is Lamination?

How is digitally printed adhesive film applied?

Quality digitally printed signage uses high tech materials and processes, and some expensive equipment to render full colour graphics on vinyl film or direct printed to rigid surfaces.

When graphics are printed on self adhesive vinyl, we then need to apply the printed film to the sign surface. This may be a panel, a window, the side of a truck, or it could be the curved surface of a car or van.

Correct application of self adhesive vinyl to a flat surface requires skill and experience, but is relatively straightforward. Application to curved surfaces, or complex shapes such as car bumpers and the window pressings on many vans is far more technical.

Most people have seen signage film that has pulled away from depressions in a surface. This looks bad, but it looks worse when the film tears and curls, rendering your expensive vehicle graphic ineffective and ugly. Most vehicle signage applications look good when you pick the vehicle up. An inferior install will become apparent after some weeks or months depending on the exposure to sun. Here are some of the factors that determine a successful installation of digitally printed self adhesive vinyl:

Correct material specification for the purpose, see Types of Vinyl.
Printing with non solvent waterproof process. We use non solvent Latex printers. If solvent based printing is used, the print must be ‘de gassed’ for 48 hours before lamination and application to ensure it is solvent free.
Correct temperature range at the time of install.
Correct surface preparation and cleaning.
Adequate application pressure over the whole film area (signage adhesives are pressure activated).

In addition to the above, the following applies to vinyl installed in high conform areas, such as curves and depressions on car and van bodies:

Rigorous cleaning of the panels to remove any polish or polymer coating (they use Teflon in paint these days to make it harder on your sign guy).
Skilled install to manage even stretch of the film as it is conformed into depressions and over curves.
High application pressure to fully activate the adhesive
Accurate and consistent post heating of the film to a set temperature (approx. 90 deg C, but varies with material) to ‘lock in’ the shape where it has been stretched or shrunk.

Don’t worry that your vehicle wrap is more expensive than you expected. Your problems begin when it is too cheap.

What does ‘digital printing’ mean?

The term ‘Digital Printing’ refers to the process of computerised printing of graphics on to film or direct to a substrate. Wide format digital printing is used by sign shops to print up to 2.5 metres wide. Printing at widths greater than 2.5 meters is generally called ‘grand format’.

Wide format digital printing has seen massive technological development over the past 10 years and is now the main process by which signage is produced for many applications.

There are 3 major types of wide format printer currently in general use:

Aqueous Ink Jet

‘Aqueous’ refers to the carrier, or solution in which the pigment is embedded. Aqueous printers can also use dye based inks which have a wider colour gamut but are not suitable for external signage because the dyes fade.

Aqueous printing is similar to the technology in your desktop ink jet printer, and if you have ever got a desktop print wet, you will understand why this type of printing is not used in outdoor signage. Water dissolves the ink.

Solvent Ink Jet

A solvent ink jet printer uses a volatile solvent to carry the pigment. The solvent evaporates, leaving the pigment behind, the solvent also has the effect of softening the vinyl surface so the pigment is embedded in the surface. The strength of the solvent determines how much pigment can be carried by the solvent, and how effectively it is embedded in the vinyl surface.

A strong solvent is a polluting solvent, so signage printers have a range of solvents from full solvent, to modified solvents, to so called Eco solvents.

The solvents used in any form of solvent printing are also solvents to the adhesive on the back of the vinyl. After printing these solvents work their way through the vinyl, and can seriously denature the adhesive. The prints must be fully exposed to moving air for 24 to 48 hours (out gassing) immediately after printing to allow the solvent to evaporate and drop out of the media (the evaporated solvent is heavier than air). If this process is not followed, the graphic will fail, either immediately, or over time. A good sign shop takes the time to do this right. A cheap sign shop…?

Solvent prints are waterproof and have long outdoor life.

UV cured

UV cured printing is often referred to as UV printing. The carrier is formulated so it changes state from liquid to solid when exposed to intense UV light. A UV print leaves a microscopic film over the substrate which caries the image and is well adhered. The UV process does not create volatile emissions, as the carrier does not evaporate. Whereas the ink jet printers print on a roll of media which can later be applied to a substrate, a UV printer can print direct to the surface of most materials, including glass and ceramic.

Latex printers

Hewlett Packard (HP) have invested millions in their Latex printing process, and now other manufacturers are also releasing Latex printers. This is a version of ink jet printing that eliminates many of the problems.

A Latex printer is an aqueous (water based) inkjet that embeds the pigment in a microscopic film of latex (same material as the base of plastic paint). Heat is used to evaporate the water and set the latex. Full pigment inks are used.

Latex printers are environmentally friendly (no solvent) and produce a wide colour gamut, with waterproof print with good scratch resistance. The print does not contain any solvent so there is no risk of the adhesive being denatured by solvents. It is ready for use immediately after printing.

How many colours?

All the above printers use 4 colour process CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). The best printers add light cyan and light magenta colours to provide smoother transitions between light and dark colours. This is called 6 colour process. Some printers also have additional greys for the same reason.

Our printers

Signarama Dandenong currently utilise the latest generation HP Latex printers and an HP flatbed UV printer. Both are 6 colour printers.

What does ‘Computer Cut’ mean?

What is a Substrate?

A substrate is just the panel you put your graphics on. This can be a flat panel which is then attached to a wall, or it can be a vehicle or a shop window.

Below are the most common substrate panels used in signage, with a brief description of characteristics, benefits and drawbacks.

Aluminium Composite Material (ACM)

This is a panel made from a composite of 2 sheets of aluminium bonded either side of an inert polyethylene sheet. The result is a light, rigid, weatherproof panel which is used for building external cladding, and is ideal for signage.

ACM has a low rate of thermal expansion. This is an important consideration in signage as we often use large panels where expansion and contraction due to heat can amount to significant dimensional change.

It comes in either 3mm or 4mm thick sheets, with the aluminium skin available in 0.21mm and 0.3mm thickness. It is available in a range of panel sizes. The sheets are often supplied with a highly durable polyester paint finish, and can also be supplied with various metallic finishes.

Another attribute of ACP is the way it can be folded. By routing a ‘U’ shaped groove out of the rear through the aluminium sheet and the polyethylene core, the material bends evenly on the outer aluminium sheet. We only groove ACM with the .3mm skin. This is ideal for wrapping a panel around a frame, or on a pylon sign cover.

ACM is also ideal for CNC Routing where cut out letters and shapes can be made for application to walls and other panels. We also rout ACM for push through letters, where the letter or logo shape is cut out of a panel, and letters of another material and thickness (usually opal acrylic for light boxes) is accurately inserted into the cut out.

Acrylic

Acrylic panels are also know by the trade names Plexiglass and Perspex. It is available in transparent, translucent (coloured but light still passes through) and opaque, and comes in a range of thicknesses.

Opal acrylic is white with enough translucency to pass light, but enough opacity to avoid ‘hot spots’. is used for lightbox faces where high strength is not required.

Clear acrylic is often used for transparent signage including clear reception signs. Generally these are 6 or 10mm thick and can have graphics on the front or the back, or both. Clear acrylic panels with polished edges look very bespoke, and you can separate the background from the logo by placing the background colour or design on the back of the panel so it is viewed through the clear acrylic. The logo or text on the front of the acrylic can cast a shadow onto the back, giving a visually interesting perception of depth.

Opaque acrylic is commonly used for profile cut letters and logos. It comes in a range of colours plus white and can be used self coloured, or painted to requirements. When cut acrylic letters, logos or panels are used outside, the high expansion rate of the material needs to be taken into consideration when installing to avoid failure.

Colorbond

Colorbond is a thin steel sheet product which has a long outdoor life and is inexpensive.

It was a common material for signage, but many Colorbond applications are now handled by ACM panels.

Because it is thin and flexible, colorbond panels do not always lay flat. If you see a sign that bows out visibly between attachment points, it is probably colorbond. It has a higher rate of expansion than ACP, and this causes the bowing.

Weathertex

Weathertex is now obsolete as a signage material. It is made of compressed hardwood, and has high outdoor durability. The material is very heavy, and requires painting prior to use for signage. Our older production team members have fond memories of painting large Weathertex panels in preparation for graphics install.

Aluminium

Aluminium panels are also used in signage. Ranging in thickness between 1.2mm and 3mm these are strong and rigid and have a long outdoor life. They are ideal for traffic signs and pole mounted signs, but are too expensive for larger panels where ACP is now used. Aluminium panels are ideal for fabrication. They then need to be 2 pack painted.

Why is colour such a big subject in Signage?

Our aim is to provide our customers with signage which looks the way they expect and which accurately reproduces colours in logos and other artwork.

Although we are surrounded by colour, it is not a simple subject and there are some principles which are helpful in understanding how to get the best colour results in digitally printed signage.

COLOUR GAMUT

This is the term used to specify the range of colours (colour space) which can be reproduced by a colour process. A large colour gamut means that most visible colours can be reproduced, a small colour gamut means that some colours cannot be reproduced accurately, and a closest match colour is substituted.

COLOUR MATCHING SYSTEMS

The most common colour matching system in signage in Australia is PMS (Pantone Matching System). This comprises a set of swatches with a wide range of colours, each with an identifying number.

Matching systems are really useful because they give your designer the ability to specify a specific colour to us. We can check PMS colours against our swatch books to ensure that we have reproduced your colour accurately. As our equipment is calibrated to reproduce PMS colours, we can get as close as possible to the specified colour.

The other important thing to know about colour matching systems is that they are usually produced using a wide range of pigments, and each colour has a formula for combining the pigments. This gives a wide colour gamut.

In signage and most printing, we use a six colour process which consists of three colours, cyan, magenta and yellow plus black (this is called CMYK) plus light cyan and light magenta. This produces a smaller colour gamut than the Pantone print inks, meaning that some PMS colours cannot be reproduced, mainly in the range of oranges, where a nice bright PMS orange can look ‘muddy’ when printed in CMYK.

CMYK AND RGB

The colour used in printing and signage is CMYK, this comprises Cyan Magenta, Yellow and Black pigments. It is used on a white background and is called Subtractive colour because you are subtracting colour from white.

The colour used in a TV or monitor is RGB which comprises Red Green and Blue. It is used on the black background of your TV or monitor and is called Additive colour because you are adding colour to black.

Both of these have a limited colour gamut, with RGB having a wider gamut than CMYK. Hence, there are colours you can see on your monitor that you cannot fully reproduce in signage and printing.

The other thing to understand about CMYK and RGB is that the same colour will look different on each output device, whether it is a printer or a monitor.

Colour in signage is also complicated by the gloss level of the graphics and substrate and particularly by the effect of ambient light either inside or outside. The eye is good at adjusting for this, but, as you can see, colour in signage is not ‘black & white’.

HOW WE CAN HELP

There are many other aspects to the technology of colour reproduction, but the three principles above are helpful in understanding the pitfalls of colour reproduction. This is why we are always ready to provide proof colour samples in the actual materials and finishes when we are dealing with colours that are critical to your design or branding.

What are the different types of vinyl film?

Are all signage vinyls the same?

Short answer: No

Vinyl films used in signage are a highly engineered material and different types are specifically tailored for different applications. The variations lie in the manufacturing process of the vinyl, the additives used, the type of adhesive, the type of liner (backing) and in the various over laminates designed for different digital signage applications.

The right material for the job:

Is it going to be cut into shapes with the colour embedded in the vinyl? Is it opaque white for digital printing or translucent for internally illuminated signs? Does it need a grey back adhesive to block out substrate background? Signage vinyl also varies greatly in life expectancy, from cheap short-term promotional vinyls to very expensive conformable vehicle wrap vinyls and a wide range in between.

Vinyl can also be chemical, oil, and seawater resistant for boats and equipment. Cheap vinyl with low tack adhesive is ideal for short-term promotional needs. There are specialty vinyls, such as frosted etch vinyl for privacy in offices and reflective vinyl where you need the signage to stand out at night.

Two ways to make signage vinyl film:

Signage vinyl falls into two distinct types due to the method of manufacture. These methods are Casting and Calendering.

The illustrations below are supplied by 3M, and explain the manufacturing process of Cast and Calendered vinyl.

Most general purpose vinyl film is produced by the calendering process as shown in the illustration below, where a ‘block’ of vinyl is heated, then rolled into a film of the required thickness. The vinyl used in this process is divided into two types, depending on the molecular structure and the amount of additives and plasticisers in the feed stock.

The cheap version of calendered vinyl is called monomeric vinyl. It is cheap to produce, uses fewer additives and produces a thicker film that is prone to shrinkage and denaturing over a fairly short life. Monomeric calendered vinyl is used for short term applications where a low price is more important than long life.

The more expensive type of calendered film is made from polymeric vinyl which has a more complex molecular structure and uses more plasticisers and additives to give a much longer life. Polymeric calendered vinyl has limited shrinkage and excellent outdoor life. Good quality polymeric calendered vinyl film is used for general applications by good quality sign shops.

The illustration below shows the casting process. This produces the thinnest film, and there is no shrinkage because the film is formed from a molten state into its final shape, rather than being squeezed into a film as in the calendering process. Cast vinyl is expensive because the plants required to make it are very expensive to install and to run and there are only a few in the world. Only the best quality vinyl is used in the casting process due to the cost of manufacture. Due to the thin film and lack of shrinkage, cast vinyl is most commonly used in any signage application that requires conformability. The most common such application is vehicle wraps, where the vinyl film is wrapped over the body of a car, van or other vehicle and has to stretch or shrink to conform to the shape of the body.

Cast vinyl also comes in different grades. The most highly conformable cast vinyl is the most expensive (by a large margin), but this is the right material to use for high conform applications such as vehicle bumpers, and window pressings on the side of vans.

Quality outdoor signage that has been digitally printed, requires overlamination to achieve maximum outdoor life. Most overlaminates absorb harmful UV radiation to greatly increase the life of the graphic. The overlaminate also acts as a protective covering over the printed graphic, and can be specified in various gloss levels from full gloss to matt. The overlaminate must be correctly matched to the vinyl print stock or early failure of the graphic will occur.

There are as many different types of adhesive as there are vinyls, plus different printing processes and application techniques for different types of work. Long gone are the days of the simple painted sign!

A quality sign shop such as Signarama Dandenong will ensure that the correct materials and processes are used to suit your specific signage requirements. Cheaper products are usually inferior, so beware of taking the cheapest price.

As you can see, all signs are not created equal!