Design Mockups
Our large format printing equipment is well suited for press-accurate proofs including large design mockups or client presentations at actual size. Perfect for package prototypes or other large or unusually shaped projects, our digital output on a variety of proofing stocks is great for any project, including those oversize jobs that would normally require reduction or a lot of cutting and assembly. Our custom ICC profiles produce matchprint quality color that can be used for proofs of all the elements in your design. For special needs, we can print directly on virtually any material, and our advanced digital cutting technology means we can create complex folding packaging mockups, pop dispalys, or other difficult to produce proofs. Check out the Printing Materials tab below for our most popular printing materials for design mockups, or contact us with any special needs you may have.
If you would like to get prices on printing and shipping, or place an order, click the Pricing/Order button next to each item in the Printing Materials tab. The Pricing/Order wizard will prompt you for the necessary information such as quantity, dimensions and finishing options to show you prices in real time, and allow you to enter you state and zip code to see the shipping costs. If you're ready to order, you can provide additional information such as how you're sending files or if you need design work, if you want a proof, and how you want us to handle cropping of your files if necessary, and then add the print to your shopping cart. You can also compare product prices in the wizard by clicking the Products tab and selecting different materials from the drop down menu to see how the price changes.
The information below shows the variety of materials we offer for design mockups, our recommendations for the best materials to use in different situations, answers to common questions, and explains how to place an order.
This symbol denotes a eco-friendly option. These materials are generally PVC free, recyclable, and printed with water based inks as an earth-friendly option.
Materials for Design Mockups
Below are the most popular materials we offer for design mockups, but we can also print on custom materials, so be sure to contact us for any special needs. Look at the Recommendations tab for suggestions on the best materials for different situations.
Blue Back Poster Paper – 6.5 Mil
The blue backing on this economical media makes it highly opaque, while the satin finish provides brilliant, true-to-life color quality. Specially designed for outdoor billboards, poster printing and kiosks, it features water and scratch resistant durability and is also easily foldable without risk of scratching or rupturing. Available in widths up to 54".
Approx. longevity of 6 months to 1 year outdoors, and up to 20 years indoors.
Synthetic Satin Photo Paper - 7 mil
This synthetic paper is tear proof, water proof, fade resistant, and scuff and scratch resistant, making it an excellent choice for indoor and outdoor color poster printing without the need for lamination. It doesn't have quite the print quality of our high end photo papers, but is otherwise a great product that is also environmentally friendly. Available in widths up to 54".
Approx. longevity of 2 years outdoors and up to 25 years indoors.
Economy Calendered Matte Vinyl - 4 mil
With an outdoor longevity of up to 3 years, this permanent adhesive backed vinyl is excellent for vinyl decals, bumper stickers, and outdoor signs. It has a blockout layer for excellent hiding power and the matte finish helps reduce glare. Can also be used indoors for sign and point of purchase displays. Will adhere to any smooth surface such as Alumalite, acrylic, Sintra, metal, or painted wood surfaces. Available in widths up to 60".
Longevity of up to 3 years outdoors, 5-25 years indoors.
Economy Calendered Gloss Vinyl - 4 mil
With an outdoor longevity of up to 3 years, this permanent adhesive backed vinyl is excellent for vinyl decals, bumper stickers, and outdoor signs. It has a blockout layer for excellent hiding power and the gloss finish makes for excellent color depth. Can also be used indoors for sign and point of purchase displays. Will adhere to any smooth surface such as Alumalite, acrylic, Sintra, metal, or painted wood surfaces. Available in widths up to 84".
Longevity of up to 3 years outdoors, 5-25 years indoors.
Clear Adhesive Vinyl - 2 mil
This clear cast adhesive-back vinyl is designed for a variety of applications. It can be used for vehicle and fleet graphics, outdoor backlit displays and other applications where a clear base material is needed. It is durable both laminated and unlaminated, although lamination is recommended for protection against abrasion and chemical deterioration. Available in widths up to 54".
Approx. longevity of 2-5 years outdoors, and 5-10 years indoors.
Finishing Options
This panel contains information on finishing options for poster printing.
Satin Eco-Friendly Polypropylene Laminate - 3 Mil
This satin finished pressure sensitive laminate offers surface protection for long-lasting, durable graphics with materials that are free of PVC (vinyl) or heavy metals. The absence of heavy metals or phthalates reduces the risk of damaging the health of humans or the environment. Compared to PVC laminating films, polypropylene provides better image clarity for more accurate, vivid colors. This film is a great option for indoor graphics at children’s museums, or other environments, where visitors are encouraged to touch the displays. This laminate is intended for indoor use, but can be used outdoors for up to 6 months.
Vinyl Laminate - 4 Mil
This pressure sensitive laminate is available in gloss, luster or matte finishes, with the matte finish being the most popular as it has a sand texture like polycarbonate that diffuses glare without muting the colors of the print. Laminates offers surface protection and can change the finish of your print to suit the display environment. When a high-gloss finish is desired, and glare is not a concern, gloss is the appropriate choice. Keep in mind that a gloss finish will show flaws, scratches and fingerprints more than any other laminate. Luster and matte offer the same protection without these disadvantages.
Permanent Adhesive
While not technically a laminate, this pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the back turns any print into a decal, complete with peel-off release liner. We can apply the adhesive and either send the print rolled for mounting to the surface of your choice, or mount the print for you to a variety of substrates. See the Mounting Materials section below for more information.
Posterboard
This paper board comes in 22x28 and is an economical mounting material for short term posters that need enough rigidity to stand up in a poster frame or other sign holder. Other sizes are available on a special order basis.
Foamcore
This 3/16 inch thick foam board has a polystyrene core with paper facing. It's great for short term displays or those on a tight budget, but it's too easily dented when handled for long term or abusive environments. Available in black, or white by request.
Gatorfoam
This foam board has a styrofoam polystyrene core with a Luxcell veneer and is available in thicknesses of 3/16 and 1/2 inch. It's much more durable and harder than foamcore making it more suitable in situations where it will be handled frequently, but the corners will still dent with impact so careful handling is recommended. The faces are also archival so it's great for long term display of prints. Available in black, or white by request.
Sintra
This expanded PVC plastic board is available in a variety of thicknesses, but 3mm and 6mm are the most popular for mounting. It's water resistant and fire retardant, making is desirable for display applications. Since it's a solid board, it's more durable than foamcore or gatorfoam, but it's also heavier and not as rigid. It also expands and contracts with temperature changes, up to .05 mil/ft per degree F.
Design Mockups
Blue Back Poster Paper is great for building folding mockups, because it's light weight enough to make back to back pages without being too thick, the backing adds opacity so you don't get show through from the back side, and it will fold without cracking.
For packaging prototypes, our economy adhesive vinyls are great choices. They can be applied to your flattened packaging mockup and trimmed cleanly. The vinyl is flexible so it will bend and fold without any difficulty. For mockups on special printing stocks, the clear adhesive vinyl is a great choice since your custom stock will show through to simulate what it will look like in the final printed version.
Normal turnaround time is 4-5 business days. During the order process you will be asked if you have a specific due date, and if you do, we will adjust your shipping method, if necessary, to get your order to you on time. If you need your order even quicker, we also have a rush service. If you authorize rush charges, we can get your order shipped in 1-2 days. Rush charges are $75 per order. If we're able to meet your deadline without bumping other jobs, we won't actually charge the rush charge, but you must authorize the rush to guarantee delivery.
We recommend that bitmap images such as digital photos be 150dpi or more at the actual print size in order to look good from close range. Vector images, such as those from drawing programs like Adobe Illustrator or Corel draw will print well at any size, so they are preferred when possible. When in doubt, send us your file and we'll examine it and let you know how large we think it can go and still look good.
That depends on the specific material you choose. We can print at our highest quality up to 64" wide, and at our standard quality up to 104" wide, but different materials are available in different sizes. Look through the descriptions of the materials in the Printing Materials tab to find how big each material can be printed.