Q. What is the difference between calendered and cast vinyl and laminates?
Calendered vinyl starts from a ball and is pressed between rollers to achieve 2 to 3 mil thickness then trimmed and rolled. The vinyl has a tendency to shrink after time similar to bread dough. Calendared is still great vinyl to use and will last between 2-5 years even in direct sunlight. Cast vinyl is poured into molds and cast to achieve 2-3 mil thickness then trimmed and rolled. Casts vinyl holds its shape much longer and has a longer life span. Signs that will be outdoors for 5 plus years should be printed or cut from cast vinyl. This includes vehicle wraps, channel letter translucent faces, back-lit panface signs, plotter cut letters and numbers.
Q. How long does UV laminate protect my signs.
Laminates come in several different qualities including economy 18 month, 2 year, 4 year, 5 year and longer. The laminate when added to a printed vinyl sign or poster will add from plus 1, plus 2, plus 3, to plus 4 years life to the printed sign. Cast lamination must be matched up with cast vinyl to maintain optimal life. You can apply a cast laminate to a calendered vinyl, but you should not put a calendered laminate on a cast vinyl. They must be matched up so they shrink in time at the same rate to avoid de-lamination.
Q. What are my laminate choices?
Adhesive laminates come in several sheens like gloss, matte, semi-gloss and luster. Their are also several applications for laminates including: dry erase, anti-graffiti, indoor, outdoor, floor textured, optically clear and curving lamination. Your sign professional at Precision Signs and Imaging in Burnsville, MN will steer you in the right direction and help you choose the right lamination for your needs.
Should I laminate my sign? - Burnsville, MN
SYNOPSIS: Q. What is the difference between calendered and cast vinyl and laminates?
Calendered vinyl starts from a ball and is pressed between rollers to achieve 2 to 3 mil thickness then trimmed and rolled. The vinyl has a tendency to shrink after time
Laminate choices explained: calendered vs cast vinyl
BY: John Swaney, Precision Signs & Imaging
Q. What is the difference between calendered and cast vinyl and laminates?
Calendered vinyl starts from a ball and is pressed between rollers to achieve 2 to 3 mil thickness then trimmed and rolled. The vinyl has a tendency to shrink after time similar to bread dough. Calendared is still great vinyl to use and will last between 2-5 years even in direct sunlight. Cast vinyl is poured into molds and cast to achieve 2-3 mil thickness then trimmed and rolled. Casts vinyl holds its shape much longer and has a longer life span. Signs that will be outdoors for 5 plus years should be printed or cut from cast vinyl. This includes vehicle wraps, channel letter translucent faces, back-lit panface signs, plotter cut letters and numbers.
Q. How long does UV laminate protect my signs.
Laminates come in several different qualities including economy 18 month, 2 year, 4 year, 5 year and longer. The laminate when added to a printed vinyl sign or poster will add from plus 1, plus 2, plus 3, to plus 4 years life to the printed sign. Cast lamination must be matched up with cast vinyl to maintain optimal life. You can apply a cast laminate to a calendered vinyl, but you should not put a calendered laminate on a cast vinyl. They must be matched up so they shrink in time at the same rate to avoid de-lamination.
Q. What are my laminate choices?
Adhesive laminates come in several sheens like gloss, matte, semi-gloss and luster. Their are also several applications for laminates including: dry erase, anti-graffiti, indoor, outdoor, floor textured, optically clear and curving lamination. Your sign professional at Precision Signs and Imaging in Burnsville, MN will steer you in the right direction and help you choose the right lamination for your needs.
