Abstract

The permanence of large format, outdoor inkjet signs is a concern for many advertisers and companies creating signs that will be displayed for years or months in such an environment. The permanence industry has focused their research on using equipment to simulate these outdoor conditions the prints face to gauge their fading properties. This research took a more direct approach by placing the prints in an actual outdoor environment and tracking the rate of color change (∆Eab), and the environmental variables. A multiple regression analysis of the data was then used to create prediction models and to eliminate environmental variables which did not affect the fading. The multiple regression analysis was able to create a prediction model for only two of the patches tested on one of the substrates. The test included three substrates (uncoated vinyl, coated vinyl and Tyvek (DuPont)) and ten color patches (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green, blue, two grays, and plain substrate). The successful models were for the measured substrate patch and the cyan patch on the ESM (uncoated vinyl) substrate. The model showed that the substrate patch was affected by the average high and low temperatures and by the amount of time exposed in weeks. A second model showed that the cyan patch on the ESM substrate was affected by the UV index and the amount of time exposed in weeks. Further examination of the study showed that the ESM substrate was the most stable under the experiment conditions out of the three substrates. Cyan ink was the least stable ink on the Tyvek (DuPont) and coated vinyl and that the coatings on the substrates play a role in their ability to maintain color integrity of the print.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Ink-jet printing--Quality control; Signs and signboards; Printing ink--Testing

Publication Date

12-5-2006

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

School of Print Media (CIAS)

Advisor

Frey, Franziska

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: Z252.5.I48 K54 2006

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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