Throughout your day, whether you are walking down the sidewalk, driving down the road, shopping at the mall, or dining out at a restaurant, you are guaranteed to see a wide variety of signage. Ever stop and wonder how that piece of signage was made or what it’s printed on?
Throughout your day, whether you are walking down the sidewalk, driving down the road, shopping at the mall, or dining out at a restaurant, you are guaranteed to see a wide variety of signage. Ever stop and wonder how that piece of signage was made or what it’s printed on?
In the world of signage, there is a large selection of materials you can choose from to advertise your business, products and services. Below we explain the common type of materials you will see, what they are used for, and what you should know about each.
Don’t forget that Avalon can help with any of your signage printing needs!
COROPLAST
Definition: Coroplast is a high-quality polypropylene twin-wall sheet. Coroplast is a brand name of corrugated plastic and a registered trademark of Coroplast, Inc. The typical thickness of coroplast is 4mm, or just less than ¼” thick.
Commonly used for:
- Election signs
- Lawn promotional signs
- For sale/lease signs
- Directional signs
- Golf tee signs
What to know:
- Weatherproof/waterproof
- Short-term outdoor use (outside during parts of the year, not all year round)
- Recyclable/environment Friendly
- Stiff & resilient
- Offered in variety of color options
- Ability to stake into the ground
- Lightweight
- Double-sided print capability
FOAMCORE
Definition: Foamcore is made of a type of Styrofoam covered on both sides with paper or plastic so that the foam is the core of the sandwich. Foamcore is 1/8” or 3/16” (0.3 or 0.5 cm) thick.
Commonly used for:
- Exhibit boards
- Large photo mounts
- Architectural presentation models
- Photo/bulletin boards
- Event sponsorship boards
- Framing artwork
What to know:
- Indoor applications only
- Lightweight
- One time/short time use
- Easy to cut
- Breaks down after extended period of time
- Ability to be scored & partially folded
- Offered in white or black
- Double-sided print capability
SINTRA
Definition: Sintra is a lightweight, rigid board made of moderately expanded, closed-cell polyvinyl chloride (PVC) extruded in a homogenous sheet with a low-gloss matte finish. It is dent and scratch resistant.
Commonly used for:
- Construction site signs
- Large wall menus
- Point-of-purchase (POP) displays
- Directional signs
- Promotional signs
- Building/parking signs
What to know:
- Water/weatherproof
- Excellent for outdoor applications
- Long-term/everyday outdoor use
- Indoor applications
- Superior dent & scratch resistance
- Double-sided print capability
- Lightweight
- Smooth surface
- Ability to be drilled through
- Offered in variety of color options
VINYL BANNERS
Definition: Vinyl banner material is usually made by a polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Banners can be printed in any size. Standard vinyl banners typically weigh from 9 ounces to 22 ounces per square yard.
Commonly used for:
- Signage at events
- Promotions
- Grand opening announcements
- Trade show displays
- Light Pole/Street Displays
- Point-of-purchase (POP) displays
- Special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries)
What to know:
- Indoor/outdoor applications
- Double-sided print capability
- Easily stored & transported
- Grommets & pole pockets for hanging
- Long-lasting & durable
- Lightweight
- Low cost
For assistance with signage, contact our experts today!
