Outdoor Interpretation for Natural and Heritage sites has to meet a number of important criteria. It has to:
Be attractive and informative
Blend
sympathetically with the surroundings
Be
weatherproof and vandal resistant
Wherever
possible, use eco-friendly materials
The manufacturing methods used need to be very adaptable, to cater for the diversity in style and approach which different designers or organisations adopt, and also very robust to ensure the panels will have an extended outdoor life.
Our tried and tested solution to meeting these needs is the use of reverse-printed high impact acrylic. It is a method which we have used successfully for over 20 years and which has been proven by longterm use in some of the most exposed areas of Britain.
High impact acrylic is a clear material which has been toughened to withstand impact from stones, air-rifle pellets etc. The graphics are applied to its reverse face and so are afforded the full protection of the material (normally 5mm thick). It also allows all kinds of artwork to be reproduced in great clarity and with excellent colour strength. Depending on content, the graphics are normally reproduced by either screen printing or digital imaging.
Screen printing is best suited for spot colours, text, line drawings and background colours whilst digital imaging has to be used for toned artwork and full colour images such as watercolours or photographs. Most digital printing techniques are unsuitable for outdoor use as they have severe limitations in terms of the lightfastness but the process we use, along with the screen printing, gives excellent lightfast properties and will not fade or yellow significantly even when exposed to sunlight for a period of years.
Mounting. We are happy to supply panels unframed for customers to mount in whichever way they please, but we also provide a full mounting service ranging from a simple backing, through frames and lecterns in a choice of timbers or steel, upto a full canopied shelter. We can generally adapt our framing and fixing methods to suit the needs of the location. Normally, however, we do not get involved with erecting signs on site.
Design and artwork. We have our own in-house design department which can undertake most layout and illustrative work, including the production of maps. However, because many of our clients have design capabilities, they often supply their own artwork in a wide variety of formats which we can adapt to suit our processes. Please do not hesitate to get in touch for advice regarding the best ways to present artwork to us as we may be able to suggest ways to make things easier or save on costs. N.B. Since panel artwork can often be adapted for use on leaflets, we also offer a leaflet design and print service.
The photographs on this page show just a few of the styles of interpretive panels we have produced. For more examples, look at our GALLERY page.
