The 3-ft.-tall letters are router-cut white ACM board faced with metallic blue and orange high performance vinyl. The yellow graphic is finished with exterior acrylic paint. Steve Luck, Sign Magic, Godfrey, Illinois
Letters are black PVC board faced with printed vinyl with matte laminate mounted on a 48-by-66-in. background made from pallet wood. Braun Bleamer, Jet Signs, Palmerton, Pennsylvania
Stage-blasted plank effect background on HDU panel with ¾-in. PVC letters mounted on it. Braun Bleamer, Jet Signs, Palmerton, Pennsylvania
Sandblasted redwood panel with a hand-carved texture on the HDU letters. Josey Reinhardt, Davinci Signs, Jasper, Georgia
The lettering was cut from an aluminum panel then backed up by a matte black panel. The yarn ball was made of steel and allowed to rust, then clear coated so as not to stain the building. Knitting needles are aluminum. Judy Grossman, JG Signs & Designs, Sonora, California
Sandblasted cedar panel with HDU letters and ribbon panel. Josey Reinhardt, Davinci Signs, Jasper, Georgia
CNC-cut ½-in. painted acrylic letters stud mounted on black ½-in. Sintra PVC panel. Letters are finished with gloss Matthews Acrylic Polyurethane paint. Dennis Stanworth, Stanworth Signs, Walnut Creek, California

Substrate roundup: Balancing cost and performance

Knowing your options helps you get the most value from the materials

By signcraft

Posted on Friday, August 31st, 2018

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Sourcelist: substrates

Aluminum composite material/ACM
3A Composites USA
Grimco
Laminators Inc.
Mitsubishi Plastic Composites
Nudo Products Inc.
United Industries

Engraving materials
Duets by Gemini
Rowmark

Foam core
3A Composites USA
Encore Products
Gilman Brothers
United Industries

Laminated plywood
Laminators Inc.
Nudo Products Inc.

Medium density fiberboard/MDF
Extira

PVC board
3A Composites USA
Kommerling
Vycom

High density urethane board/HDU
Coastal Enterprises
Corafoam HDU
SignArts Products

Wood panels
Allwood Sign Blanks
When it comes to substrates for signs, you have plenty of possibilities. A quick count on the website of a major sign supplier yields over 90 different signage substrate materials, and that’s not counting the thickness and color options.

Most of the substrates that sign makers use every day are not materials that are used every day in most other industries, such as construction. Many are specialized materials that found a home in the sign industry because of the unique characteristics they offer. You won’t find most of them at a big box home improvement store.


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