What to print marquee on (need fairly quick answer!)

[pboreham]

Hi all,

I have taken the reins up of finishing my arcade machine now after a few lean weeks (months!)...

I am sorting out the marquee now and have the design at the printers ready to go. I have been asked by the printer which paper to print on as I explained it would be back lit (GGG Ice-LED light thingy!).

So, if anyone could let me know what would be best out of these options please...

1) 80gsm - 'recycled paper' - the guy said it would print a bit faded, but the light would probably be better.
2) 170gsm - 'satin paper' - better colour quality, but he isnt sure if the light will shine through to make any difference.

Now if anyone has one of the GGG lights, you will know how bloody bright they are - so do you think it will still show through the 170gsm?

Thanks for any help!!!

Paul.

[Mamed for life]

Hi,

I don't have the LEd strtip, but to give you an idea, 80gsm is the kind of paper you would use normally in your printer at home. 170 satin would be the kind of thing that you would get through your letterbox as maildrops, flyer, takeaway menus, that sort of thing. Satin means it's glossy.

I would guess that the satin is a better option, I think the light would be too strong on the 80. Try printing a picture on your own printer at home and put it up to the LED strip, you should have a better idea then.

Hope this helps

Mfl

[pboreham]

Cheers Mfl!

[unclet]

I printed my marquee on normal printing paper (using a plotter at work).  I then sandwiched the marquee image between two pieces of Plexiglas and installed it on my cabinet, however, I left the protective Plexiglas film on the back piece of Plexiglas so it would diffuse the light coming from the florescent light bulb I am using to light the marquee.

It works good for me .... hope this gives you another possibility.

[Kaytrim]

I backlit my marquee with 4 button blaster LEDs from GGG.  I printed on transperancy and sandwiched it between two sheets of Plexi.  The back plexi I sanded with a random orbit sander on both sides using 80 grit paper.  You can see the end result here.

[Jeff AMN]

I dropped by Kinkos and had them print up my marquee on backlit film. It looks just like a real marquee. I then used some marquee clips to clip it to the inside of a piece of glass to mount it.

[pboreham]

Thanks for all the help guys - some great ideas!