Alumalite Alumalite is a strong, aluminum composite panel with a high density, corrugated polyallomer (CPA) core that will not swell, wick water, corrode, rot, or delaminate due to prolonged water exposure. The surface is .016-inch high-gloss painted aluminum. An aluminum surface is required on both sides for rigidity and to minimize warping. Alumalite features a factory baked acrylic-painted aluminum faces for high gloss brilliance and is warranted not to crack, chip, flake or peel.
Alumalite is ideal for paints, screen print inks, and pressure sensitive vinyl which bonds securely to it. It has the same reflective surface as vinyl graphics, so the final sign is visually coordinated. Alumalite is strong and lightweight. It’s the same weight as .040 aluminum sheet metal, tipping the scales at just 24 lbs. However, Alumalite is over 50 times stronger for a 4' x 8' sheet. Alumalite has an average outdoor life expectancy of 10 years (when properly installed).
What are the recommended applications?
- All outdoor applications including: post and panel, hanging, wall mount, multiple panel signs, point of purchase displays, cut-outs, kiosk, laser printing, silk-screening and more.
- For a low cost alternative to Alumalite, see Econolite or D-Lite.
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Bitmap Files Bitmap files are created using pixels. Photographs and scanned images are bitmap images. Software programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Photopaint are bitmap based programs. Signs BC supports the following bitmap file formats:
BMP, JPEG, GIF, TIF, PSD, PDF
We only accept bitmap images with a minimum resolution of 150dpi
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Coroplast Coroplast comes in a variety of styles, all based upon the Coroplast high quality corrugated plastic sheet. Our standard sheet has been treated to allow for excellent adhesion quality to aid in printing for the graphics arts fields. It is also extremely durable because of its waterproof and resistance to stains and most chemicals
The name Coroplast‘ applies to a wide range of extruded twinwall plastic sheet products produced from a high impact polypropylene copolymer. Coroplast uses a copolymer resin in order to increase impact and low temperature performance. Chemically, the sheet is inert, with a NIL pH factor. At regular temperatures most oils, solvents and water have no effect, allowing it to perform under adverse weather conditions or as a product component exposed to harsh chemicals.
All Coroplast twinwall profile sheets can be modified with additives, which are melt-blended into the sheet to meet the specific needs of the customer. Special products that require additives include: ultra violet protection, anti-stat, flame retardant, custom colors, corrosive inhibitors, static-dissipative, etc.
Coroplast products are offered in a wide range of standard and opaque colors. The sheet is extruded in widths across the corrugation up to 96" with gauges of 3mm and 10mm in thickness.
The Coroplast™ name is known throughout the Sign Industry for a Consistent High Quality Printable Surface. COROPLAST™ is the material of choice for today's screen printing industry. COROPLAST™ is ideal for indoor and outdoor applications. It is tougher than corrugated fiberboard and lighter than extruded plastic sheet. It is waterproof, stain-resistant.
Graphic houses have been using COROPLAST™ successfully for years with some of the uses being: Retail Signs, Real Estate Signs, Political Signs, P.O.P.Displays, Bus and Truck Signage, Election Signs, Yard Signs, Agricultural Signage, Special Event Advertising and Trade Displays.
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Econolite The core is a high density, corrugated polyallomer (CPA), that will not swell, wick water, corrode, rot, or delaminate due to prolonged water exposure, making it perfect for all outdoor applications. The finished surface is .016-inch high-gloss white aluminum, with a light gauge aluminum backer. Econolite features a highly reflective, factory baked, acrylic paint surface that is warranted not to crack, chip, flake or peel. Colorfast 10 year limited warranty.
Econolite is an economical alternative to Alumalite, but with only one painted aluminum side. The other side is a light gauge, aluminum backer. When properly supported on 24" center, Econolite can be used for post and panel and/or billboard applications. Cannot be used in all the same applications as Alumalite because Econolite’s aluminum backer is not as strong as Alumalite’s thicker, .016 aluminum backer. Econolite is best used in applications when all four edges of the panel are supported, such as wall mount signs, canopy, or supported post and panel.
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Fonts Please convert all fonts to outlines where possible. If not possible use only postscript fonts.
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HDU HDU is a closed cell urethane that is made by pouring proprietary chemicals into a mold, after which a chemical reaction causes the material to foam. It is then cooled into sheets, usually 4’ x 8’, but larger panels are available, and in various thickness’. Different densities of HDU are available for various applications including 4, 6, 10, 15, 18, 22 and 30 pounds per cubic foot. The lower the density number the softer the HDU.
HDU is light weight and easily worked with standard woodworking tools: surfaces can be carved, scraped, routed, sandblasted or sanded. It’s durable. It’s water, rot, and termite resistant, and doesn’t need to be edge laminated.
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Hot Stamping Hot Stamping can be defined as custom printing napkins, pens, key chains, etc. usually with a logo and promotional message. Hot Stamped impressions are especially nice looking. They can be bold colours or very expensive looking “metallic ink” because they are actually printed with melted plastic.
Hot Foil Stamping is a very versatile method of printing. Using foils (available on a roll) it offers instant dry printing without using any messy inks. Hundreds of colors and shades from metallic matte, gloss, pearl and even 22k gold are available
Hot Stamping machines have electrically heated type holders. A type is a block of metal with a reversed raised letter or sign at the printing end. The operator loads the type holder with the appropriate reverse type, logo, illustration or die, and positions it in the machine with set screws.
When the type reaches the desired temperature, pulling a lever causes the hot type to be pressed against a strip from a roll of plastic (mounted on the machine), and a reverse image is “melted” onto the paper or other receiving item held position by the machine’s jaws.
The basic principle is similar to iron-on transfers. You can tell hot stamped materials by the especially vivid colours and slight indentation where the design is applied as apposed to top printing (smooth) or embossing (raised)
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Images for Stamps All images for stamps must be converted to black and white. We do not accept multi-colour image files for creating stamps
Please note that complicated files that require clean up or fixing will be charged at $50.00 per hour
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Pressure Sensitive Vinyl This is the most widely used material of the vinyl sign business. Once applied, pressure sensitive vinyl looks just like a custom painted surface with only a fraction of the labor. It consists of a layer of colored, opaque or translucent vinyl material and silicone coated kraft paper with a transparent adhesive between the two. The kraft paper acts as a carrier and is eventually peeled away. It can also be obtained in various thicknesses (2 mil or 4 mil), with 2 mil being used more frequently as it is easier to work with and lasts longer. The range of metallic, fluorescent, matte, shiny, reflective, opaque or translucent choices is overwhelming. New vinyl products are constantly being introduced to achieve different effects and facilitate production.
This vinyl material is cut by a computer cutting plotter that contains a small knife which does not penetrate the backing kraft paper. The part of the image that is not desired is then lifted or weeded off from the paper. What remains will be the vinyl lettering or logo that will be applied to the finished surface. But, wait, not so fast! The image is then covered with a transfer masking tape that is designed for this purpose. This application tape is available in various sizes for your particular needs. The paper backing is then peeled away to reveal your graphic stuck to the masking tape backwards. Now the cut vinyl is ready to be applied.
The cut vinyl image can then be positioned in the appropriate area and on the surface desired. When in place, the transfer masking tape is removed and "Presto!" you have your finished product.
Pressure sensitive vinyl can be applied to almost any smooth, clean surface. As you scan your surroundings, the possibilities are astounding. There are just a few unacceptable surfaces, though. These would be rough concrete or brick, and latex painted wood board or plywood.
HOW IS VINYL MADE?
Calendered Intermediate
This vinyl film is generally made in a 3 mil thickness. "Mil" means "one-thousandth" an inch. Thus 3 mils are three thousandths of an inch. Usually, the thickness refers to the film itself and not the adhesive that is applied. The adhesive can add another 1 to 2 mils to the thickness. First the raw materials (including resins, plasticizers, stabilizers, color pigments, etc) are combined and heated, producing "melt". Then the melt is fed into a two-story high calendering machine that consists of a series of rollers. One group of rollers produces the rough gauge. The next group of rollers determines gloss levels and final thickness. It is important to note that calendered vinyl is manufactured in a continual web process. It's made by putting continuous stress, pressure, and heat on the vinyl; it is literally pulled through the machine. The process resembles the way Salt Water Taffy is made; remember the huge arms that around and stretch and pull the taffy until it cools down?Because the film is stretched and pressured into its final form, it has little dimensional stability. This means that if extremes of heat and cold affect it, it will tend to shrink back to its original size. This caused adhesive ooze around the letters, as well as cracking and peeling. Calendered vinyl must be produced in large quantities due to the sheer size of the machinery involved. These large batches limit the number of colors that are available. It is this fast and economical process that establishes the lower cost of calendered vinyl for the signmaker.
Cast High Performance
This film is made in 2 mil thickness, then the adhesive is added. This thinner film is easier to mold over irregular surfaces and is easier to weed, especially those tiny letters and delicate graphics. There are two main reasons why 2 mil high performance vinyl is much superior to calendered vinyl. The raw materials are of better quality in cast films and the manufacturing process is totally different. There is virtually no stress, no stretching, and no pressure applied to cast films. The high quality cast vinyl raw materials are mixed and then poured out, or cast on the casting roller. The mixture is then transferred through rollers to the casting paper. Since the cast liquid vinyl is supported by the casting paper once the liquid leaves the rollers, very little stress is applied. Heat and pressure are not applied like in the calendering process. This means that the higher quality cast films are suitable for outdoor use and long exposure to extremes of heat and cold. Since the film is not forced into a size that it wasn't originally made for, shrinkage, splitting, and cracking is significantly less than in the calendered vinyl films. Because casting machines are small in comparison to the mammoth calendering equipment, runs are short and a wider variety of colors are available in cast vinyl.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT VINYL FOR THE JOB
The first step in choosing the right vinyl is to determine whether or not the signage you are designing will be for indoor or outdoor use. If the sign will be indoors, the less expensive calendered vinyl may do the job. If the sign is to be outdoors or on the inside of an exterior door or window, a premium grade cast vinyl is the better choice. Why?
That’s because the cast vinyl will resist bubbling, fading, and peeling due to long term exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. These rays cause eventual deterioration of both the vinyl and the adhesive. For most applications, 2 mil cast vinyl is the best choice. It conforms well to uneven surfaces, is more flexible, and has a longer life expectancy when exposed to harsh weather conditions. The quality of 2 mil vinyl's adhesive usually matches the the quality of the vinyl. Put simply, this means that premium 2 mil high performance cast film will stick better, longer, and faster than the adhesive on calendered vinyl. Lower quality adhesives as in calendered vinyl are more easily affected by moisture, solvents, and sunlight. This may cause the vinyl sign or graphic to turn yellow or curl
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Sintra Sintra material is closed-cell, expanded plastic, high-density polyvinylchloride sheet. Sintra is a homogeneous material that allows the ease of cutting without regard for grain. At half the weight of solid PVC, Sintra may be stapled, nailed, riveted, glued, and thermoformed. Forming may be done on conventional forming machines. Because this material is not hydroscopic, it needs no drying pre-forming.
Sintra is available in 9 thickness' 1mm-13mm all thickness' are available in white, some thickness' are also available in black & colors. A Sintra sheet size is 48" x 96". Cut to size sheet is available on request.
SINTRA® as described in our introduction is also fire resistant, water resistant, and resistant to certain chemicals. It will stay flat, yet it is flexible enough for exacting shapes and intricate designs. It provides a non-warping mounting surface that maintains uniform color throughout. Sintra material can be silk-screened and painted without priming.
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Vector Files Vector Files are files that are created mathematically and not with pixels. Software programs such as Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw are Vector based programs. Signs BC supports the following vector file formats:
EPS, PS, CDR, AI, PDF
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