From plastic, to foam core, to wood, we print on just about any type of surface using our DIRECT2BOARD Large Format Technology. Our boards are available in sizes up to 96″ in length and in a variety of thicknesses. They can be custom cut into unique shapes or milled to your specifications.
Signage should be an important part of any marketing mix, because it spurs impulse buys and/or helps to inform prospects about your products/services.
Your first step is to decide on where you want to place your signage and how long you want to use it. The type of board you choose will affect the overall image print quality and longevity of your sign.
In this blog article, we describe the most common types of surfaces for both indoor and outdoor usage. Our boards, as described, are by no means an all-inclusive list. We carry a wide variety of surfaces to choose from. You needn’t worry, we consult with and ensure that you choose the best option for your application.
Our boards are perfect for:
- Oversized and/or custom cut signage
- Standees
- Presentations
- Tabletop signs
- Yard or lawn signs
Top ways to display your signage:
- Hang them with zip ties, rope, or hooks
- Prop them on an easel stand or against a wall
- Attach them with Velcro, Command Strips, double sided tape, or screws
- Adhere them to easel backs
- Exhibit them in custom stands
Need tips on how to design an effective sign? Read about it here.
Foam Core Board
Foam core board a.k.a Fome-Cor® has two sheets of paper with a layer of foam in the middle. It’s rigid enough to be mounted on a wall with or without a frame.
The benefits:
- Cost-effective
- Easily cut into shapes
- Extremely lightweight and portable
- Can be printed on both sides
- Available in acid-free and self-adhesive versions
The drawbacks:
- Meant for short-term use, can dent or bend
- For interior use only
Use foam core board if you want short-term indoor signage and are on a tight budget.
Gator Board
Gator Board a.k.a Gatorfoam® Board is an extruded polystyrene foam bonded between two layers of wood fiber veneer. It’s ideal for presentations and displays that require stability and easy portability.
The benefits:
- More durable and longer-lasting than foam core board
- About the same weight as foam core board
- Scratch resistant
- Brilliant white, smooth surface with excellent image quality
- Holes can be drilled without cracking
- Can be printed on both sides
- Easily cut into shapes
The drawbacks:
- Can break if bent
- Not acid-free
- Can withstand only slight moisture
Use Gator Board for indoor presentations and displays that require more stability than foam core board. If stored correctly, it can last up to 2 years.
Gatorplast®
Gatorplast Board is an extruded, rigid, lightweight polystyrene foam board bonded between two layers of hi-impact ultra polystyrene sheets.
The benefits:
- Bright white facer is the brightest board of its kind
- Easily cut into shapes
- Dent and scratch resistant
- Resists warping
- Lightweight and water-resistant
- Vinyl graphics are repositionable
- Available in white or black
- Can be printed on both sides
The drawbacks:
- Could bend or snap
- Water-resistant, could be used for short-term outdoor displays, but not recommended
Use GatorPlast for interior signage that you want to last. It’s longer-lasting than foam core or Gator Foam.
Falconboard®
Falconboard is constructed with two paper faces with honeycomb cardboard sandwiched in between. Falconboard’s honeycomb core gives the board a three dimensional look and is extremely rigid.
The benefits:
- Strong, flat, dimensionally stable, and rigid
- 100% recyclable and fully biodegradable
- SFI Certified (Sustainable Forestry Initiative®) and uses up to 20% recycled paper content
- Lightweight and unlikely to bend or snap
- Easily cut into shapes
- Easily scored
- Resists denting, scratch, and warp resistant
- Can be printed on both sides
- Budget-friendly
- Available in white and black
The drawbacks:
- For interior short-term interior use only
Use Falconboard if you want a three dimensional look. It’s also eco-friendly, so you can do your part to save the planet.
Corrugated Plastic
Corrugated plastic a.k.a Coroplast® a.k.a plastic cardboard, is made from a polypropylene material and is tougher than corrugated fiberboard and lighter than an extruded plastic sheet.
The benefits:
- Lower cost than other types of rigid boards
- Looks like higher quality from a distance
- Lightweight and weatherproof
- Easily cut into shapes
- Multiple colors available
- Can be printed on both sides
The drawbacks:
- Flutes are visible
- Can swell in heat, if not anchored properly
- Can get brittle over multi-year use
Coroplast is the standard board for outdoor short-term yard and lawn signage. Use it for real estate signs, parking signs, or election signs.
PVC Board
PVC/Polystyrene board a.k.a Sintra® PVC is made of solid plastic and is the strongest and most durable board.
The benefits:
- Perfect for long-term indoor or mid-term outdoor use
- Won’t break, scratch, or dent
- Heat, chemical resistant, and flexible
- Water-resistant
- Extremely durable material for outdoor signage
- Easily cut into shapes
- Can be printed on both sides
- Low gloss matte finish, easy to clean and maintain
- Produces little glare due to the textured surface
- Available in various colors
The drawbacks:
- Most expensive, but longest lasting
A perfect use for real estate signs or advertisements, it will remain strong and sturdy through temperature and changing weather conditions. It is a preferred material for outdoor use.
From oversized specialty cut signage to custom business cards, we provide a full range of print solutions. As your single-source print specialist, we’ll help you to:
- Save time and money by streamlining your procurement process
- Ensure consistent print quality and color across your brand
- Maximize volume leverage with attractive pricing
- Reduce project coordination time with expert guidance and education
Contact us and we’ll help you pick the best board for your custom signage.
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