Digitally printed traffic signs for agencies

The road sign industry is highly regulated with stringent color and retroreflectivity requirements. ASTM D4956 and EN 12899 standards serve as defining guidelines for jurisdictions.

Digital sign printing can meet these standards with a comprehensive production solution. When specifications for printers, sheeting, overlaminate, and ink work together to set a high-quality performance standard, road authorities can get dependable signs that meet their needs.

Decision-makers must consider a wide range of printers, inks, reflective sheeting types, and overlaminate films for sign specifications. These factors affect the sign’s sensitivity to light, heat, and water, as well as its retroreflectivity and color performance.

Not all printing methods meet traffic sign requirements. For example, many CMYK process colors do not produce enough saturation for effective road sign performance.₁ It’s critical to outline effective sign production methods in your specifications.

Signs printed on 3M qualified printers, using 3M’s matched components, are vigorously tested in real-world situations and weathered at our state-of-the-art Weathering Center.

Road sign specifications should have a foundation in weathering science. Weathering science brings together climatology, photochemistry, reaction kinetics, and materials science to determine how outdoor conditions affect road sign durability.

Digital sign printing methods incorporate these findings. A digitally printed sign can withstand sunlight, water, and other elements with the same durability as a traditionally produced sign if the right fabrication process and materials are used.

The road sign industry is highly regulated with stringent color and retroreflectivity requirements. ASTM D4956 and EN 12899 standards serve as defining guidelines for jurisdictions. Digital sign printing can meet these standards with a comprehensive production solution. When specifications for printers, sheeting, overlaminate, and ink work together to set a high-quality performance standard, road authorities can get dependable signs that meet their needs.

Screen printing methods lay colors and graphics down in a layer-by-layer process. This approach makes it difficult to develop custom signs with unique graphics. As there is an increasing interest in creating custom signage for city branding, wayfinding, tourist information, and other applications, digital printing can serve as a more efficient alternative. This method allows for highly customized signs in a wide range of colors.