Super Media

 Our super media. It meets or exceeds all our specifications.

Our latest test media may be better than our current super media - look down the page but being plastic it may be temperature sensitive.

          This is heavy paper with nylon embedded designed for signs and outside use- details below.

  • Water Resistant
  • In use for 12 years with nearly no problems
  • super white
  • super flat - no reflectivity
  • no waves or wrinkles
  • very strong
  • not affected by temperature
  • weight about 3 pounds per 36 in. x 160 in.

Almost indestructible

We don't recommend this method, but our media is tough. In the end it looked great. If the end results look the way you want, then however you do it is ok.

This media is a heavy weight paper (12 mils) latex saturated, and nylon reinforcement, designed for outside-in-the-sun use, which means it has a long life indoors. It feels like light weight leather and is designed for the UV protected inks that we use. It comes with a one year limited warrantee on the media (see additional info below). We have sold many many 1000s of feet without a single problem.  In all our years we have never had a torn backdrop.

WATER RESISTANT - The ink soaks into the surface coating so that it will not peel, crack or run if wet. The printed surface will not scratch unless you tear the paper. Accidental water splashed on the surface has no effect. Heavy and continuous wetting may require our spray.  Let the water evaporate or blow dry, do not rub or sponge off. We have a water proofing spray if you need it, but on most layouts the backdrop can be protected by a plastic cover during construction. Although the media is water resistant, use caution.

Inks are long life UV protected. 3M advertised indoor life at 20 years under indoor lighting and we have seen specs as long as no fade for 300 yrs (wonder how they arrived at this). Our test sample is 2 feet from a south facing window which puts direct sun on the test piece at least part of the day.  The test started July 2000 and there is no fading to date. We have a water proofing spray if you need it, but on most layouts the backdrop can be protected by a plastic cover during construction. Although the media is water resistant, use caution.

BackDrops are printed with 6 ink colors where BackGrounds are 4 ink colors. The color, contrast and overall look are calibrated to be the same. 6 ink vs. 4 ink may give better color tone on many scenes but without comparing the two, differences may be minimal especially eastern hills and mountains.  The best chance to see a difference is on commercial scenes where there are many colors, the least chance is on landscape where there is less red and blue as the additional colors are red (light magenta) and blue (light cyan). Scenes with a Backdrop stock number of 85xxxx and greater may have a more noticeable difference.

6 ink colors doesn't mean 6 colors. Most prints are made with 4 inks (CMYK). Two additional inks means a wider range of colors and shades in the millions of colors and shades.

You cannot see through this media so no white backing is needed.

Warrantee:- We will replace at no charge any "super media" panels that fade, crack, yellow or loss of ink within a five (5) year period from date of purchase. Replacement will be the same scenes, scale and size, panels must be returned to us, does not cover damage to panels or discolor due to adhesive or location (smoke & dirt), one replacement session per customer. In 15 years only one such incident and that was due to the adhesive paste used. Some types of experimental installations may also be covered. Please check with us before attempting an installation method not listed on our web page.

Because this media is so expensive for us, we have a $17 media charge per panel (scene), but well worth it.

New  Media  available now

Similar to Super Media but is a plastic material, improved scratch resistance, water proof on back so wall paper paste can be used, improved moisture resistance, improved tear resistance, improved front water resistance.  Other features (UV ink, whiteness, flatness) are the same. Is slightly thicker and heavier.  Same price.  This media is great for high humidity areas, rough environments or using wallpaper paste. It is plastic so there may be size changes in temperature swing locations but none detected so far.  This is our only media for the future.

Ask for SCRIM

Standard Media

Similar to Super Media but, no nylon mesh, not water resistant, will tear more easily.  Other features (UV ink, whiteness, flatness) are the same.  Use more care with paste as it may soak through. May be used on EB scenes. We will not use on our regular lines of BG and BD.

Backlit Media limited supply