Sign Maker Advice


Using the right vinyl for the right application


In this issue’s Sign Maker Advice column, Paul Hughes, owner of Sign Making Tools, talks about the difference having the right materials for the job can make for applying the vinyl.


M


ost sign making companies are going to use metres and metres of


self-adhesive vinyl, but I regularly come across sign makers who don’t really understand what they are using or why. It is also more common than you


would like that the sellers of such vinyl offer poor advice or just plain wrong advice on what materials to use. There is also no such thing as bad


vinyl per say, they are all designed to do different job and wading through all the different types available can be overwhelming, especially for those just starting out. The vinyl you are going to use for a


temporary village fête sign is going to be very different from that used on an Aston Martin vehicle wrap. Choosing a material purely on price


can result in premature fading, shrinking, lifting edges or difficult removal.


Monomeric calendered vinyl Monomeric calendered vinyl is generally the entry-level and most economical sign vinyl. It is produced by stretching the vinyl during manufacture, but it has relatively little long-term dimensional stability. Best used for flat signboards, short to


medium term outdoor signs, temporary promotions and signage, indoor graphics and basic cut lettering. The typical life of the material is


around three to five years outdoors, depending on the manufacturer, colour and exposure. Avoid using it for highly curved


surfaces, vehicle recesses or applications where long-term durability is required.


Polymeric calendered vinyl A step up from monomeric vinyl, polymeric vinyl contains polymeric plasticisers that improve dimensional stability and outdoor performance.


www.signupdate.co.uk Best used for permanent outdoor


signs, aluminium composite panels, windows, fleet graphics and general commercial signage. The product often does five to seven


years outdoors, although premium products can last considerably longer. The weapon of choice for many


everyday sign making applications, polymeric vinyl offers an excellent balance between price, performance and ease of application.


Cast vinyl Cast vinyl is manufactured differently from calendered vinyl. It starts as a liquid formulation which is cast onto a liner rather than being mechanically stretched. This produces a thinner and much more dimensionally stable material. Best used for: vehicle graphics and


lettering, complex curves, recesses, riveted panels and long-term outdoor graphics. The typical life of premium cast vinyl


can provide seven to 10+ years of outdoor performance, depending on the product. Cast vinyl is particularly important for


vehicle work, where the vinyl needs to conform to complicated shapes without excessive shrinkage.


Vehicle wrap vinyl Vehicle wrap vinyl is generally a specialist form of cast vinyl, often incorporating an air-release adhesive to make installation easier. Best used for full or partial vehicle


wraps, commercial fleets and promotional vehicles. It is designed to conform around curves,


door recesses and other complex areas. Important to note that a standard


sign vinyl should not automatically be substituted for a vehicle wrap film. The adhesive, flexibility and


dimensional stability are very different.


Choosing the right vinyl will make a difference to your application


Permanent vs removable vinyl and air release Vinyl isn’t only classified by how it is manufactured. The adhesive system is equally important. Permanent adhesive vinyl is designed


to remain bonded for the expected life of the product. It can be used for permanent signs,


fascias, long-term window graphics, fleet identification and exterior lettering. Removable vinyl is designed to be


removed more easily and with less risk of damaging the substrate. The product’s uses are for temporary


promotions, event and exhibition graphics, trail campaigns, seasonal window displays and short-term vehicle advertising. Air Release vinyl is designed to aid


and speed up fitting eliminating trapped air bubbles. Use it for any application to speed up fitting.


The golden rule Don’t choose vinyl by price alone. Choose it according to the substrate, shape, expected life, environmental conditions and whether the graphic needs to be removed. A small saving-per-metre on vinyl


can quickly become an expensive false economy if the graphic fails prematurely – or if a supposedly removable graphic leaves adhesive behind when the customer wants it removed. It does not matter how good you are


fitting or what fancy tools you have, get the choice of vinyl wrong and its down hill from there on in.


July/August 2026 | 51 |


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