When it comes to signage, there are MANY substrates to choose from.  Your choice depends on the application.  Will it be an indoor sign or an outdoor sign.  Does it require lighting?  Does it need to be weather resistant?  Below, we describe several signage substrates, their characteristics, and various applications.  We hope you find this information helpful.

PVC RIGID BOARDS
Lightweight yet rigid board of moderately expanded closed-cell polyvinyl chloride (PVC) extruded in a homogenous sheet with a low gloss matte finish.

Characteristics

Lightweight yet rigid and durable
Easily formed into just about any shape imaginable using wood and foam board fabrication techniques
Heat formable and chemical resistant
Superior dent and scratch resistance

Applications

POP Displays - Medium-term application life
Exhibits & Kiosks - Medium-term application life
Signage - Interior - Medium-term application life
Signage - Exterior - Medium-term application life

ACRYLIC SHEETS
Acrylic Sheet is a lightweight substitute for glass that has better optical quality and is more economical.
It is available with Glossy, Matte and textured finish.

Characteristics

High impact strength,
Transmits up to 99% of visible light.
UV resistant and cold formable
Low distortion.
4 times more impact resistance than glass.
Applications

Signs - Medium-term application life
Museum displays - Medium-term application life
Menu boards - Medium-term application life
Skylights - Medium-term application life
Windows - Medium-term application life

POLYCARBONATE GLASS
An uncoated sheet which is excellent for general purpose use where impact strength is needed. In addition to its inherent strength

Characteristics

Durability, 250 times stronger than glass
30 times stronger than acrylic
Lightweight
Thermoformable
Cold-formable
Virtually unbreakable.
Requires less structural support than glass

Applications

Signs - Long-term application life
Skylights - Long-term application life
Windows - Long-term application life

ALUMINUM SHEET
Aluminum composite material made of two pre-painted sheets of .012-inch aluminum with a solid polyethylene core.

Characteristics

Flattest panel on the market
Superior surface protects expensive digital and screenprinted graphics
Provides excellent durability in outdoor applications
Won’t bow or oil can
Approximately one half the weight of aluminum

ApplicationsPOP Displays - Long-term application life
Exhibits & Kiosks - Long-term application life
Signage – Interior & Exterior - Long-term application life

 

FRONTLIT
Flexible sign face material for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Applications

Trade show banners
In-store displays
Billboards
Banners
Building murals, both indoor and outdoor
POP/POS display graphics
Exhibition booth decoration

Characteristics

White background for more accurate colors
Black back seamless material to prevent transparency
Material consistency for image quality
Stretch-free for long-term mechanical stability
Semi-gloss finish for luminescent graphics
Resists scratches, punctures, wrinkles and folds
Weather resistant (UV, rain and frost)
Seamable
Repels pollution and washes clean in water
The special surface coating optimizes ink adhesion and color reproduction

BACKLIT
Is a unique translucent flexible sign face material, ideal for Backlit displays. It is an extremely flat material, offering excellent results.

Applications

Airport light boxes
Backlit bus & train shelters
Backlit financial institution infoboards
In-store displays
Large-format light boxes

Characteristics

Bright translucent background for accurate colors
Material consistency for image quality
Stretch-free for long-term mechanical stability
Semi-gloss finish for luminescent graphics
Resists scratches, punctures, wrinkles and folds
Weather resistant (UV, rain and frost)
Seamable
Repels pollution and washes clean in water
Flame retardant version available
Tolerates repeated rolling and unrolling

MESH
Is a unique open-weave flexible sign face material. The special mesh size is optimized for superb graphics and allows wind to pass through the face.

Applications

Banners
Building murals, both indoor and outdoor
Building wraps
Scaffolding covers
Trade show banners

Characteristics

Bright white background for accurate colors
Material consistency for image quality
Strong lightweight flexible material
Stretch-free for long-term mechanical stability
Semi-gloss finish for luminescent graphics
Resists scratches, punctures, wrinkles and folds
Seamable
Repels pollution and washes clean in water
Flame retardant
Tolerates repeated rolling and unrolling
Weather resistant (UV, rain and frost)

CANVAS
This is an environmentally friendly polyester fabric. The special acrylic coating optimizes ink adhesion and color reproduction for vibrant images with the look and feel of original art.

Applications

Banners
Building murals, both indoor and outdoor
Custom indoor wall decoration
Exhibition booth decoration
Free-hanging banners
In-store displays
Photographer’s backdrops
POP/POS display graphics
Stage set production
Theatre backdrops
Trade show banners

Characteristics

Bright white background for more accurate colors
Material consistency for image quality
Unique texture for optimized print results
Stretchable fabric for framing
Optimized tensile strength for long-term mechanical stability
Matte finish for indoor application
Sewable
Repels pollution and washes clean in water
Tolerates repeated rolling and unrolling

PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE (PSA) FILM
This pressure-sensitive adhesive film is easy to apply to rigid substrates - simply peel and stick. PSA films may be hand-cut, die-cut or kiss-cut. The special surface optimizes ink adhesion and color reproduction.

Applications

Bus, truck sides and train exteriors
Shop door signage
POP/POS advertising
Promotions on vehicles and billboards
In-store displays
Retail window displays
Window shades

Characteristics

White background for more accurate colors
Material consistency for image quality
Easy cutting
Applicable on a wide variety of flexible substrates
Resists repeated rolling and unrolling

CLEAR PSA
This is an ultra-smooth, translucent adhesive. This is the product of choice when face-mounting images to clear plastics such as acrylic boards.

Applications

Shop door signage
POP/POS advertising
Tradeshow illuminated displays
In-store displays
Retail window displays

Characteristics

Translucent background
Material consistency for image quality
Easy cutting
Applicable on a wide variety of flexible substrates
Tolerates repeated rolling and unrolling

WINDOW FILM
This material is especially designed for windows. The special surface optimizes ink adhesion and color reproduction.

Applications

Vehicle windows
Shop window door markings
Tradeshow illuminated displays
Retail window displays

Characteristics

Traslucent white background for more accurate colors
Material consistency for image quality
Easy cutting
Tolerates repeated rolling and unrolling
Unique texture for optimized print results

INKJET POLYFAB
This highly refined Polypropylene substrate, provides near-photographic quality reproduction for images as well as providing a beautiful “draping” effect.

Applications

Banners
Building murals, both indoor and outdoor
Custom indoor wall decoration
Exhibition booth decoration
Free-hanging banners
In-store displays
Photographer’s backdrops
POP/POS display graphics
Stage set production
Theatre backdrops
Trade show banners

Characteristics

Bright white background for more accurate colors
Material consistency for image quality
Unique texture for optimized print results
Stretchable fabric for framing
Optimized tensile strength for long-term mechanical stability
Sewable
Repels pollution and washes clean in water
Tolerates repeated rolling and unrolling

FOAM-CORE BOARDS
Multipurpose Foam board it’s foam center is specifically designed to retain it thickness during processes such as mounting, laminating, screen-printing, and die-cutting and incorporates a smooth paper with heavier surface coatings that promote superior ink holdout

Characteristics

Super flat surface
Well suited for direct printing applications, either screen print or digital
Perfect for die cutting and provides a compressed edge that stays closed
Broad selection of specialty products
Great for more demanding mounting jobs for display, signage and framing
Exceptional warp resistance
Superior compressive strength
Highly water resistant

Applications

POP Displays - Short-term application life
Exhibits & Kiosks - Short-term application life
Framing - Long-term application life
Signage - Interior - Short-term application life.

PVC FOAM
Versatile closed-cell PVC sheet ideal for digital flat bed printing.

Characteristics

Excellent adhesion at production speeds
High clarity at production speeds
No burnt edges
Matte surface finish, both sides
Vibration- and sound-absorbent
Low weight
Chemical-resistant, non-corroding
Weather-resistant
Low water absorption, no rotting
Easy workability
Low flammability
Easy to bond and weld

Applications

POP Displays – Long term application life
Store fixturing – Long term application life
Exhibits & Kiosks - Long-term application life
Framing - Long-term application life
Signage - Interior - Long-term application life

PLASTIC FOAM
High impact polystyrene facers combined with a high-density, fine celled foam center makes these durable all-plastic foamboard moisture proof and extremely warp resistant. The smooth washable surfaces offer high definition of color and superior image quality

Characteristics

Smooth, high-impact facers resist warping
Lightweight and water resistant
Excellent adhesion at production speeds
Homogeneous coloring
Weather-resistant
Low water absorption, no rotting
Easy workability
Easy to bond and weld

ApplicationsPOP Displays - Medium-term application life
Exhibits & Kiosks - Medium-term application life
Framing - Long-term application life
Signage - Interior - Medium-term application life
Signage - Exterior - Medium-term application life

 

CORRUGATED PLASTIC (FLUTED POLYPROPYLENE)
Fluted Polypropylene Board is a sturdy fluted plastic board extruded from polypropylene. This product is more durable than corrugated fiberboard,

Characteristics

Lighter weight than wood
Chemical and water resistant
Retain the ability to be flexed an unlimited number of times without breaking

ApplicationsPOP Displays - Medium-term application life
Packaging – Medium-term application life
Exhibits & Kiosks - Medium-term application life
Signage - Interior & Exterior - Medium-term application life