A UV printed backboard has full color artwork printed directly onto the acrylic behind the tube. The neon carries the parts that should glow; the print carries everything neon cannot do.
It costs nothing extra, and it is usually the answer when a logo has detail, fill color or small text.
What it is
UV printing puts ink directly onto the acrylic sheet and cures it instantly with ultraviolet light. The result is a hard, scratch resistant, full color image bonded to the surface rather than a sticker applied over it. The tube is then bent and mounted on top of the printed board.
When you need one
- ✓ A logo with a fill color. The outline glows and the fill is printed, so it reads as your actual logo rather than an outline of it.
- ✓ A tagline or small text. Anything under about 5 cm tall cannot be bent, so it gets printed instead of dropped.
- ✓ A background you want behind the tube. A pattern, a color block, a texture.
- ✓ Brand colors that are not in the eighteen. The print matches exactly even where the tube approximates.
- ✗ Not for a simple word or name. A clear or colored board is cleaner and lets the tube be the whole sign.
How it looks lit and unlit
| Lit | Unlit | |
|---|---|---|
| Clear acrylic | Tube only, board invisible | Almost disappears |
| UV printed | Tube glowing over full color artwork | A printed graphic panel, still complete |
This is the underrated part. A UV printed sign is one of the few backboard choices that looks finished with the power off, because the artwork does not depend on the light. For a business that is closed half the week, that matters.
What to send
The same as for any logo sign: the highest quality file you have, ideally vector (AI, EPS, SVG or vector PDF). For UV print, resolution matters more than usual, because the printed detail is reproduced at full size rather than traced into a bending path. A small web image will look soft when printed at 90 cm wide.
You will get a scaled drawing showing which parts are tube and which parts are print, before anything is made. Revisions are unlimited and free.
For a home sign, skip it. Clear acrylic and a bent word is a cleaner object. For a business sign, a logo sign, or anything with a tagline, UV print is usually the difference between a sign that suggests your brand and one that is your brand. It costs nothing extra, so the only reason not to use it is that your design does not need it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a UV printed backboard?
Full color artwork printed directly onto the acrylic panel behind the neon tube, cured instantly with ultraviolet light so the ink bonds to the surface rather than sitting on it as a sticker. The tube carries what should glow and the print carries everything neon cannot reproduce.
Does a UV printed backboard cost extra?
No. It is included, like every other backboard shape and finish we offer.
Why would I need a printed backboard for a logo?
Because tube cannot do fill colors, gradients, fine detail or text under about 5 cm tall. Printing those parts means your logo appears as it actually is, rather than as an outline of it with the tagline removed.
Will the print be visible when the sign is off?
Yes, and that is one of its real advantages. A UV printed sign is still a complete graphic panel with the power off, which matters for a business that is closed part of the week or a sign that is only lit in the evening.
What artwork should I send for UV printing?
The highest quality file you have, ideally a vector such as AI, EPS, SVG or vector PDF. Resolution matters more here than for a normal logo sign, because the artwork is printed at full size rather than traced into a bending path. A small web image will look soft at 90 cm wide.
Does the tube wash out the printed artwork?
It can, where the tube sits close to pale or low contrast areas. Bold, high contrast artwork handles it well. Send us the file and we will tell you honestly which category yours is in before it is made.
We have made neon since 1998, and we still make it ourselves. If something here does not answer your question, ask us.
