Outdoor Signs

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.

 

Indoor/Outdoor Poster Paper - 10 mil

This heavy weight latex-saturated wet strength paper is tear resistant, water proof, fade resistant, and scuff and scratch resistant, making it an excellent choice for indoor and outdoor poster size prints and billboards. This paper can also be applied with standard wallpaper paste for an inexpensive short term wallpaper solution. Available in widths up to 54"

Approx. longevity of 6 months outdoors, and up to 20 years indoors.

 

Economy Calendered Matte Vinyl - 4 mil

With an outdoor longevity of up to 3 years, this removable adhesive backed vinyl is excellent for outdoor retail sales signs and POS poster graphics. 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 removable adhesive backed vinyl is excellent for outdoor retail sales signs and POS poster graphics. 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.

 

Textured Adhesive Vinyl - 5 mil

The textured finish of this permanent adhesive backed vinyl provides extra protection from scuffing, scratches and fingerprints, making it an ideal choice for unlaminated retail signage and mounted posters. An excellent choice for both interior display and outdoor use. Can be used on any smooth surface such as posterboard, corex, foamcore, gatorfoam, sintra, and Alumalite. Available in widths up to 50".

Longevity of up to 3 years outdoors, 5-25 years indoors.

 

Premium Calendered Matte Vinyl - 3.4 mil

This removable adhesive backed vinyl can be used as is for up to 3 years outdoors, or protected with Cast Vinyl for longevity of up to 5 years outdoors and up to 25 years indoors. Excellent indoors or out for installation on flat surfaces or compound curves making it excellent for custom vinyl decals and bumper stickers, and well as equipment labels. Will adhere to any smooth surface such as Alumalite, acrylic, Sintra, metal, or painted wood surfaces. Available in widths up to 60".

 

Premium Calendered Gloss Vinyl - 3.4 mil

This removable adhesive backed vinyl can be used as is for up to 3 years outdoors, or protected with Accushield or Cast Vinyl for longevity of up to 5 years. Excellent indoors or out for installation on flat surfaces or compound curves. Also available with a permanent adhesive. Will adhere to any smooth surface such as Alumalite, acrylic, Sintra, metal, or painted wood surfaces. Available in widths up to 60".

 

Arlon 8000 Adhesive Vinyl - 3.8 mil

This satin white engineered vinyl is designed for graphics that will be installed in cold temperatures or on hard to stick to surfaces. It features an aggressive, high tack, permanent adhesive that can stick to low energy surfaces such as concrete, brick, or polyethylene, that other adhesives will not adhere to. Available in widths up to 54".

Outdoor longevity of 2-3 years without lamination, or up to 5 years with lamination.

 

Building Wrap Vinyl - 3.5 mil

This opaque vinyl is used in wall and building wrap applications and decals where many standard products will not work. For rough textured concrete, cinder block, brick, and other low energy surfaces where normal adhesive vinyls could not typically be used. Removes cleanly with no adhesive residue. Available in widths up to 60".

Approximate longevity of 5-50 years indoors, 2 years outdoors.

 

3M Reflective 3200 Adhesive Vinyl

This engineer grade sheeting is a highly durable adhesive coated opaque vinyl that remains brilliantly reflective even when totally wet by rain. This is the same material used for traffic signs, so it makes for eye catching outdoor sign graphics that can be seen at night as the material will catch headlights or other light sources and illuminate the sign. For vehicles, see 3M 680. Available in widths up to 60".

Up to 5 year outdoor longevity with laminate.

 

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.

Cast Vinyl Laminate - Matte or Gloss

These pressure sensitive laminates are recommended to protect and extend the life of our Economy Calendered Adhesive Vinyl or MagicStik products. They have the highest degree of UV resistance and add thickness to the print making the graphics easier to install.

Polycarbonate Laminate - 5 and 10 Mil

These pressure sensitive laminates, also know as Lexan, are the most durable available. They resist scratches, abrasion and chemicals, and their textured velvet finish hides fingerprints and diffuses glare. They also provide a unique optical technology that prevents the laminate from making the print darker or dulling the color.

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.

Coroplast

This corrugated plastic is popular for inexpensive, short-term use signs like political signs, custom yard signs, custom real estate signs, and other outdoor signs that need to be light weight and cost effective. Also know as Corx, it's our least expensive mounting material. It's not as rigid as our other materials, especially in larger sizes, so more support must be used to keep larger signs flat.

Sintra

This expanded PVC plastic board is available in 1mm, 3mm and 6mm thicknesses. It's water resistant and fire retardant, making it desirable for display applications. Sintra expands and contracts with temperature changes, up to .05 mil/ft per degree F, so that must be taken into account when using it for outdoor signs.

Acrylic

Also called Plexiglas, this clear plastic sheeting is great for mounting backlit graphics, either on the surface, or face first the back side, called second surface mounting. It comes in many weights, but only the 1/4" thickness is on our price list, but all other weights are available. Lexan is also available when greater impact resistance is needed. Call for pricing.

Dibond

At only 3mm thick, this material is made from Sintra sandwiched between layers of aluminum sheeting. It has the strength of plywood with a fraction of the thickness and weight. Plus, it's a smooth and uniform surface so there are no surface imperfections to show through to the mounted graphics as with wood, and graphics can adhere better so they won't come off prematurely. It's similar to Alumalite, but thinner and more resistant to dents from physical impact due to the solid core, but not quite as rigid.

Alumalite

This is the premium mounting material for outdoor sign graphics. This material is 3/16 inch thick corrugated plastic sandwiched between layers of aluminum sheeting making it impervious to the elements. It has the strength of plywood with a fraction of the thickness and weight. Plus, it's a smooth and uniform surface so there are no surface imperfections to show through to the mounted graphics as with wood, and graphics can adhere better so they won't come off prematurely. It's similar to Dibond, but thicker and more susceptible to dents from physical impact due to the corrugated core, but more rigid.

Normal turnaround time is 4-5 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 the same day or the next day. Rush charges are typically 50% of your order up to a maximum of $75. 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.

For high quality prints that look good up close, we recommend files be 150dpi at the actual size they will be printed. For outdoor signs, lower resolution files tend to work since most outdoor signs will be viewed from 5 feet away or more. At that distance, 72-100 dpi files will still look fine. We use special software to enlarge smaller files for printing at larger sizes, but the larger your original files, the better the results will be so you should always use the largest files you can. 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.

We don't charge either of these common fees. In our opinion, charging setup and RIP fees would be like advertising a price for gasoline, but charging a pumping fee to get it into your car. It's misleading and since you can't print a job without setting it up and processing it through a RIP, like the gasoline is of no use if it isn't pumped into your tank, it should be reflected in the prices already. They are just hidden fees to increase the cost of your job in a way that makes a companies printing prices look more competitive. As long as you provide print ready files, there are no additional charges related to printing your job.

We can, but it's not always practical. If you have a large number of panels, it can be cost effective to have us ship your sign faces already mounted, but for small quantities, it's more cost effective to order the adhesive backed vinyl, with or without a laminate, and either mount it to the sign face material yourself, or even hire an installer to mount it for you. We use a nation wide network of installers so we can help you arrange for installation if needed.

These instructions are provided for our customers that want to install their own adhesive vinyl sign graphics. Tools you will need: Scissors, Xacto knife or razor blade, soft squeegee or protect the image with paper (hard squeegee will damage the print), and masking tape.

General Notes

• If applying a vinyl graphic that is not laminated, use a soft squeegee or protect the image with paper during installation to prevent damage to the printed image.
• Apply vinyl in the shade (no direct sunlight).
• The ideal temperature would be between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Wind or wind gusts will cause problems.

 

Surface Preparation

• All surfaces should be considered dirty and must be cleaned prior to installation. Clean the area where the graphics are to be applied with a household, non-ammonia based cleaner. We recommend an alcohol based cleaner such as denatured alcohol or equivalent. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
• Air and surface temperatures must be above 40 degrees.

 

Applying the Adhesive Vinyl

• Position your graphic in the desired location and tack into place on each end with small pieces of masking tape.
• Peel back about 2” of the release liner away from the top edge on the adhesive side of your graphic.
• Cut that section of the release liner off and discard.
• Squeegee down the exposed edge of the graphic starting from the center and working towards the edges. Let the squeegee cause the contact with the mounting surface and brush from the center outward using overlapping 45 degree angled strokes.
• Flip the graphic up, or have an assistant hold it up and start to peel back the remaining release liner.
• Pull back a few inches of the release liner at a time and squeegee the graphic into place using the same technique as above.
• If you get an air bubble, you can either lift the decal enough to release the air, or if the bubbles are not too large, you can pop them with a pin and squeegee the bubble toward the pin hole to squeeze out the air.
• Once the entire decal is applied, squeegee the entire decal once more to ensure a firm bond with the surface.

 

We get asked this all the time, but the answer isn't easy because the legibility of the type depends on the viewing distance. There is an actual math formula to calculate the best size for type legibility from a particular distance, but it's rather technical, so we like to use the simpler method of making the cap height of the type 1/200 of the viewing distance. For example, if you want your type to be legible from 100 feet, you would want 6 inch tall letters. Also, sans serif type faces are more legible from a distance and in short blocks, while serif type faces are easier to read in longer passages of text. That's why road signs are almost always in a sans serif type face such as Helvetica, and books and magazines are almost always in a serif type face such as Times.

Generally with a sign, the bigger the better. Depending on the type of sign you want, there are some practical considerations. If you are planning on ordering adhesive vinyl mounted to a rigid substrate, or ordering adhesive vinyl that you will mount to a substrate yourself, keep in mind the sizes that the substrate comes in. For example, virtually all mounting materials, such as coroplast, sintra, Dibond, or Alumalite, all come in 4x8 sheets. Some come in larger sizes like 4x10 or 5x10, but these sizes tend to be less common, more expensive and harder to find. Because of this, it's most economical to make your sign a size that will utilize as much of a 4x8 sheet, or one of the other sizes, as possible. When it comes to mounting, a 3x8 sign face will cost as much to mount as a 4x8 since the 1x8 scrap is not easily usable, so it would make more sense to do a full 4x8 if possible. Similarly a 3x3 is a bad fit since you can only get two of this size from a 4x8 sheet, where you could get 8 2x2 boards or 2 4x4 from the same board.

For larger sign faces, multiple boards are put together to form the sign, so keeping the size in multiples of full sheets is the most economical. Popular sizes are 8x8, 8x12 and 8x16 since they use 2, 3 and 4 full 4x8 sheets respectively.

It's a good idea to keep these kinds of sizing issues in mind when planning the size of your sign.

Depending on the size of your sign, the techniques can vary, but the most common way to install a sign face is to put wooden posts in the ground and attach the sign faces. For signs that are 4x8 or smaller, a channel can be routed in the post to make a slot for the sign face to sit in. A bottom and top cross bar can be used, and can also be routed to provide support on all 4 sides. This approach looks very finished and allows both sides of the sign face to be visible, so a graphic can be mounted on both sides of the same board for a more economical double sided sign. The down side to this approach is that in windy areas, it's possible for the sign face to flex enough to actually pop out of the routed channel, so for sizes over 4x4, it's best to either use an extra deep channel or a different mounting method.

For windy areas or larger signs, bolting the sign face to the posts is the best approach. Since the posts will block the back side of the sign face, you can't use this technique for double sided signs unless you put another set of sign faces on the opposite side of the posts, but it's the most secure method.

When selecting posts, 4x4 is the most common size, and the length should be sufficient to allow for 2-3 feet of the post to be in the ground and still be tall enough for the sign height you want. The taller and larger the sign, the further in the ground you should plant the posts for security. This also helps in windy areas. For a more finished looking sign, the posts can be painted a neutral color, or a matching color from your sign graphic.

This can be done, but it's difficult to get vinyl to stick securely over time to wood since it's not a smooth surface. Sanded, primed, and painted plywood or mdf works fairly well, and there are several products on the market that are either plywood or mdf with plastic or aluminum facing, but there are several reasons we don't like these options as well as Dibond or Alumalite. The main reason is that wood products are obviously not waterproof. Even primed and painted, wood products tend to absorb moisture and warp over time. This makes it even more difficult for vinyl to stick. If you look around and see warped signs or those where the vinyl is peeling off, they will most likely be mounted to wood. The products with plastic or metal faces have to be sealed on the edges to prevent the same thing. Without periodic maintenance, even a properly sealed sign will swell and warp. While the vinyl will tend to stay on because of the synthetic faces, the warping will still ruin the sign.

The other reason we don't like wood for sign faces is that it's very heavy. Alumalite is a fraction of the weight yet has the same strength as 1/2 inch plywood, can be handled by a single person, and is completely unaffected by weather. Since Alumalite is only about $20 more per 4x8 sheet than a plastic or aluminum faced wood product, you will see why we chose to just offer Alumalite and Dibond instead of wood based products.

If you already have a wood sign you want to use, we recommend wrapping it with a vinyl banner, similar to the way billboards are generally done. A vinyl banner is made slightly larger than the sign face with grommets all around the perimeter. The banner is then stretched over the face and attached to the wood sign face by either screws with washers through the grommets on the back side, or by the preferred method of using bungee cords stretched from grommet to grommet across the back side.

For short term use, either the Economy Adhesive Vinyl or Textured Adhesive Vinyl on coroplast is the least expensive combination, which makes it ideal for this type of sign.

Premium Adhesive Vinyl with a cast vinyl laminate mounted on Alumalite is the longest lasting and most durable combination that will provide trouble free use for 5 years or more.

Graphics laminated with Tedlar are the most graffiti proof available. We don't carry Tedlar on a regular basis since it's not necessary for most situations, but contact us if you need this level of graffiti protection. Keep in mind that Tedlar or any other laminate does not prevent graffiti, it just makes it possible to remove it without damaging the graphic.

Lamination protects the sign face from scratches and abrasion, and can extend the life of the sign with increased UV resistance. So, for the greatest durability and longest life, laminates are recommended.

When you first open the order form, there will be an expanding list of items on the left. If you use the Place Order button, you can skip to the next paragraph, otherwise, choose the Printing for Outdoor Use option, then choose the specific material you want from the drop down list under Adhesive Vinyls for those materials, or one of the other categories for materials for other uses. If you haven't already decided on a material, you can choose different items and read their descriptions to help you make a choice. If you need some help in deciding, you can also look in the Our Recommendations tab for some suggestions.

Once you have decided on the material, you will need to indicate if you are sending a file, providing a photo/film to be scanned, or if you need us to design your graphics. If you are sending a photo or film, you will need to indicate in the next step that a file is not needed for your order. If you are sending a digital photo or file, then you must indicate how you are sending the file. You can choose Upload Now and click the Upload button that appears to send your file at this point, which is recommended, you can choose to send your file later or one of the other options.

Once you tell us how you are sending your file, you will be presented with a form to complete. Here you need to tell us what size to print your graphic by entering the width and height in inches. This is the size you want the finished graphic to be, not the size of your file.

Next enter the number of copies you want printed in the quantity field and the price will be calculated. If you are ordering multiple graphics of different files, you should complete these steps for each graphic. To speed up the process, some customers prefer to attach all their graphics of the same size and indicate here the total number of prints they are ordering at this size, rather than complete the info for each file individually. You can do this if you prefer, but the prices shown will not be accurate in that case.

Next you can select from any available finishing options. In general, only finishing options that are appropriate for the type of printing material you have selected will be available. For instance, for window graphics, there would be no mounting substrate options available since those products are not designed to be mounted on a board. The die cutting option will be available under Other Finishing.

Next you can request a proof. A reduced size printed proof is $30 and will be printed on the same material as your final print, but an electronic pdf or jpg proof is free. A pdf proof is good for checking the general layout, proof reading, etc., but if you're concerned about color accuracy or the quality of an image when enlarged to full size, a physical proof is the best option. A reduced size proof of the overall design is good for proofing color, or we can print a section of the graphic at full size so you can see how an image will look when blown up. If we feel the file will print poorly, we will always contact you to discuss your options before printing, but since our expectations and yours may not match, and since custom printed graphics cannot be returned, a proof is your best way to verify what the final print will look like in advance.

The final step before adding your print to the shopping cart is to tell us what you want us to do if your file doesn't fit the dimensions you gave us. The options are to have us size your file to fit the dimensions you provided and crop any excess, or to contact you for instructions. If you're sure that your image actually sizes correctly to your dimensions, it doesn't really matter which option you choose because neither one will be necessary. But, if you're not sure, you should either choose to have us contact you, or tell us to crop the image to fit. We'll do our best to crop your image in way that makes sense, but you should also be sure to request a pdf proof so you can see the results of the cropping.

Once you've complete all the previous steps, click the Add to Cart button to add this print to your shopping cart. On the shopping cart screen you can see all the items you've added to your order, delete any that you don't want, and have another chance to upload your file if you chose Upload Later from the order form. You can also choose Add Another to add another item to your order.

You don't need to log in or create an account to select and add items to your shopping cart, but you will need to do so in order to complete your order. This is so your account history can be maintained for future reference and ordering convenience. Your account information is secure and confidential, and creating an account WILL NOT result in unwanted e-mails from us, or anyone else.

Once you have placed all the items you want in your cart, and are logged in to your account, click the Order Now button. You will be asked to specify either normal turnaround time for your order, or provide a specific due date. If you do specify a due date, you will also be given the option to authorize rush charge for your order. If you need your order completed in less than the normal 3-5 day turnaround, you should authorize rush charges to ensure you get your order on time. Rush charges are 50% of your order total, up to a maximum of $75. If we don't have to bump other jobs to meet your deadline, you won't be charged the rush fee, but if you don't authorize the charges, we'll do what we can to complete your order on time, but won't go so far as to bump other jobs. If you specify a due date, we will adjust the shipping method, if necessary, to ensure your order arrives by the date you specified. In this case, extra shipping charges may apply.

Next you will be asked to select the shipping method, and finally the payment type. Please note that we are not currently able to give you the shipping cost as part of the order. Our shipping charges are not fixed amounts, but are based on the actual cost to ship your order. Since there are so many variables in this, we have not been able to develop a reliable system for accurate shipping quotes that will work in all situations, so we are continuing to calculate the cost manually and adding it to your order before you are charged. You should also know that your credit card is not being charged when you submit the form. We are collecting the information for your order, but you will not usually be charged until your order ships. That way, if there are aspects of your order that change, we can adjust the cost of the print and include the shipping cost before you are charged.

Once you click the Order button, you will receive an order summary via e-mail for your records, and we will receive your order and the process can begin.

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please Contact Us and we'll be happy to help you with the process.