Outdoor display questions

[mstevensphoto]

Hi all, I've got an 8300 and a need to make an approx 16x20 piece to go Outside a shop on a SE wall. I don't care at all about archivability but I do need 3-4 years of looking great and not fading much. I'm in CO and we have almost constant sun and it's more damaging here at altitude. I'd really like something on metal so my questions is how/what? Should I even mess with this or is this project for a sign shop?

[bill t.]

A while back I got roped into trying to find a sign shop that could give me a rigid, inkjet-printed outdoor piece, and they were about as clueless as I was.

Most of the really durable media such as the media that can be applied to cars and such needs solvent ink.

I got a saleman's recommendation for this stuff, which works with aqueous ink.  I have never used it.

http://www.lexjet.com/i-14898-LexJet-TOUGHcoat-Blockout-Scrim-Banner-24in-x-50ft-BB2450.aspx

That's a banner material.  Your real trick is going to be getting it mounted.  If not as a banner, then you will definitely need a rigid substrate like metal.  Under that morning sun Gator and masonite and foamcore and all the old non-metal standbys will definitely warp like crazy.