What type of material to use to print a marquee

[2PacMan]

I have my design ready for my mame marquee and im ready to print it.  I have the two pieces of plexi to sandwich the paper in between.  Do you just use regular paper to print it and then sandwich it between the plexi?  Does it look good??  I'm a little aprehensive about using just regular paper.

I know there's a place online that prints marquees, but that seems like a lot of hassle, i just wanted to run to kinkos or some place like that.  I'm pretty set on using my plexi i bought, but does regular paper work, or should i print it on vinyl, or that window cling stuff, or thick paper??

Any suggestions?

[Goz]

Kinko's has a material that they can print on called "Back Light Film" this would be your best bet at Kinko's. If the people at your local Kinkos are intelligent you can expect to pay arround $30 and it should look arcade quality. If your local kinko's sucks, they will try to rape you on the $ and it could come out looking like crap. Just don't pay for it until you see the finished product.

-Goz

[SteveJ34]

I have good experience with printing on "backlit" material in the signs/banner dept at Kinkos. I did my upright machine this way and have done several "marquee lightbox" signs for family and friends.

This is a translucent "plastic" feeling material that by design is made for being backlit.

It runs about $12 a square foot so a 8 x 24-28 marquee for example will run you about $20.

Sometimes Kinkos will charge a $25.00 minimum for printing on this material, sometimes they won't. FWIW, If you pay with AMEX you get an additional 10% or so discount.

[Veinman]

Just my opinion, but considering the cost of a good DIY job, it's worth just sending it off to mamemarquees.com. At least you know they know what they are doing.