There are two types of vinyl most widely used in the sign industry for vinyl cut application. 2-mil or cast vinyl and 3-mil, or calendered vinyl. There are many other types of vinyl including specialty vinyl such as translucent, reflective, metallic, etc. There are also many different brands of vinyl in the market.

2-mil Vinyl:

2-mil Vinyl is a high grade cast vinyl, which has up 7 years outdoor durability. This vinyl is ideal for all outdoor signs especially vehicle lettering. It is thinner and has more elasticity and therefore has better forming properties.

3-mil Vinyl:

3-mil is a less expensive calendered vinyl. It is an excellent product for banners (both indoor and outdoor). It is also better for indoor use on all signs and some short-term outdoor use. However, the 3-mil vinyl can shrink and lift over time with the outdoor temperature changes.

Translucent Vinyl:

Translucent vinyl is primarily used for back lit fascia signs to provide an excellent bright see-through effect.

Reflective Vinyl:

Reflective vinyl is an expensive vinyl. It is available in Engineer and Custom grades. Primarily used where shiny reflective effect is required. This type of vinyl has a shorter life span.

Fluorescent Vinyl:

There is an indoor use fluorescent vinyl and a 2-year outdoor durability fluorescent vinyl. The outdoor-fluorescent vinyl is about 2 to 3 times more expensive than the indoor one. This type of vinyl has a short life span.

WHAT VINYL TO USE?

Ask yourself the following questions to help you in determining what vinyl to use for a sign.

Colour choices, etc. Colours generally determine what type of vinyl needs to be used. There are more colour choices available in the 2-mil vinyl then in 3-mil vinyl.

Dry Mounting and Lamination:

As with any image processing it is necessary to protect and/or to enhance the image. As such, It is important to Laminate with a high quality pressure-sensitive cast vinyl Lamination to provide adequate UV protection, scratch and abrasion resistance for most types of applications depending environmental conditions and use or just to enhance the image with different effect. A unique, premium-quality Teflon glossy film of various thickness’( from 1mil to 12mil), suitable for the environmental condition, can generally withstand harsh conditions for the most durable protection for indoor or outdoor graphic applications.

Our capabilities include Large Format Lamination - Up to 61 inches wide, with both Hot and Cold Lamination. We use only Quality High performance laminating films.

Depending on your needs, the important thing is to choose an appropriate finishing for the type of application and mounting, and the environmental condition of use.

Laminating Film:

Floor Marking Overlaminate - This specially embossed 9 mil overlaminate film is a textured matte finish for floor graphics or any indoor graphics requiring a unique finish. It is durable and slip-resistant and is good for up to 6 month for floor graphics when used with a Premium Matte Vinyl.

Perforated Window Film - Perforated to allow window view-through effect. This type of film is white on the image side, black on the reverse side. It has a clear, removable, pressure-sensitive adhesive and a polyethylene-coated paper liner with a clear film backing. This cast, vinyl film is generally 4 mil thick and good for exterior, short term use. It is intended used both for promotional architectural and vehicle window graphics. This highly perforated film has a 50 percent perforation pattern which allows a full image to be seen from the outside while still allowing good viewing from the inside. It is suitable for most window graphics where restricted viewing regulations are enforced.

This film's pressure-sensitive adhesive allows quick adhesion to a substrate. The applications include printed graphics for use on flat or simple curved, transparent surfaces such as bus windows and store windows. Application substrates include transparent acrylic, glass, polycarbonate, painted metal or vinyl films between vehicle windows. Additional optically Clear Overlaminate may be required over film to protect the graphic from environmental factors such as dust, water and dirt that may collect in the perforated areas. The Film is removable with heat for up to one year from glass, acrylic and polycarbonate substrates.

High-Performance Marking Film- Repositionable, excellent hiding power, for corrugated surfaces and compound curves.

Finishing/Enhancing Film

Gloss - Brilliant, high-polished finish that enhances colour and sharpens definition for a dramatic visual impact.

Luster - Adds a sparkling sheen for richer colour with semi-reflective finish for high contrast and low glare.

Satin - Further reduces glare and reflections while at the same time adding soft and sophisticated glow to the image.

Matte - Maintains a Flat, non-reflective finish that deepens colours and hide imperfections.

Application and Use: