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Hello all,

This is my first time posting to this forum so I'm hoping I'm doing this correctly.

I work as a graphic designer for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. We usually print our signage for our subgardens on vinyl-wrapped sintra. After a couple of years, we'll usually have to switch out the signage do to wear or especially sun fading. If we love the signs and they are working well for us, we'll print them on phenolic, which is more permanent.

Since the color fades so much on the sintra signs, does anyone have a suggestion on what could be a better "temporary" (couple years) solution in terms of sign material? Any suggestions are welcome.

Also, something to keep in mind- The garden I'm designing for right now is in a humid conservatory. Although, I welcome any and all suggestions for temporary signage options.



Thank you so much in advance

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Anette Franek
Graphic Designer
Brooklyn NY
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Could you include an image of the sign? Is it the material that's shows weathering, the ink or both?

We work with a variety of sign-grade materials and might be able to suggest an alternative. Celtec, from Vycom, is comparable to Sintra board. I'm not sure how their UV characteristics match-up.  

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Zach Loeprich
Marketing Manager
Total Plastic, Inc
Kalamazoo MI

We use diBond for signs lasting up to a few years in our conservatories and outside as well. It's a plastic substrate sandwiched between aluminum. It comes in various widths. It costs a little more than sintra, but it's not super expensive. It holds up well to weathering.

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Tammi Freehling
Communications Project Manager
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Grand Rapids MI

We have used the company, Fossil, which is high pressure laminate signs (come in many thicknesses). This is a permanent solution. However, depending on the size of your sign, they can be quite affordable if you are doing 1/8" thickness. A 6"x6" sign is approx. $20 which is what we use for individual animal signs in our zoo. There are other high pressure laminate companies but I have had great success with Fossil. 

I am now just noticing that some of the Fossil signs need to be replaced after 8 years in the beating sun. They haven't faded but the edges are starting to look worn. 

For temporary signs, if they are small we print them on an in-house printer and laminate with 10 mil UV lamination film. It holds up approximately 6 months depending on weather.  

We have also done sintra with vinyl wrap and had similar success. You may want to check with the printer to see if there are UV inks they could use. 

One other thing I have tried is printing on Tyvek. Tyvek banners are more expensive than Vinyl banners but are made for outdoor use. They are recyclable and better for the environment than vinyl. They are a little tricky to figure out how to mount to a backboard. I can't recall what I did. I think I wrapped a backboard with them.

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Tina Keegan
Exhibits Director
Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo
Palo Alto CA