Signage is indispensable for every business. It can turn passersby into new customers and keep your existing clients well-informed about your latest offerings. Even virtual companies need digital signs to create a solid brand presence online. However, for brick-and-mortar stores, the choice of signage material is crucial.
Our clients at What The Big Idea? rely on us for custom signage as part of their site transformation projects. With a variety of signs made in a variety of materials, their sites stand out and are easy for visitors to navigate. Similarly, we provide signage for Enviropop’s site transformations, creating custom, unique, and eye-catching signs for many of their projects.
As you can see in the above examples, signage materials can convey essential brand traits and messages. Materials are as much a part of a sign’s design as the message conveyed on the sign itself. For example, wooden signs present a rustic, handcrafted theme, while polished brass conveys premium professionalism. Here’s a detailed guide to six of today’s most prevalent materials for signs.
Acrylic
Acrylic, also known as plexiglass, is a popular plastic signage for businesses. It is rigid and durable, with a smooth surface that catches the light. You can get acrylic in all the colors of the rainbow, including transparent and black, making it exceedingly versatile and customizable.
You can use acrylic signage indoors and outdoors. It generally does well in all weather conditions and can be translucent, opaque, or frosted, depending on how much light you want to let in. Product displays, custom wayfinding signs, wall plaques, and reception signage are all well suited to acrylic.
Metal
The most attractive benefit of metal signs is their superior durability. While the initial cost of metal may be higher, metal signs offer more longevity and strength than their plastic cousins. They are weatherproof and come in plenty of finishes and colors.
Aluminum
The most durable sign material. It’s lightweight, rust-resistant, and won’t bend or warp over time, unlike many other metals. The best thing about aluminum signs is that they require minimal maintenance. If you’re looking for something colorful, choose painted aluminum.
Stainless Steel
Corrosion resistant and best in areas where wear and tear is unavoidable. However, it is heavier and more expensive than aluminum, so use it sparingly. Stainless steel is shiny and silver, offering a high-tech, modern look and feel.
Bronze
One of the most popular finishes is Bronze, a warm-toned metal alloy made from copper, tin, and zinc that you can use outdoors or inside. Bronze signage is durable but requires regular polishing to keep it looking shiny. It will eventually tarnish, but the patina it develops can give signage a charming antique look.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a flexible plastic. Designers often use vinyl as a wrap for furniture, architectural elements, and irregularly shaped objects because it’s flexible and stretchable. It can also be used for wall wraps thanks to its flexibility and durability. It comes in several colors, patterns, and textures and is one of the most customizable signage types.
Wall Graphics
Wall graphics are printed on vinyl. They can be used to completely transform a space. Wall graphics can be laminated to achieve more durability in highly trafficked areas and to showcase either a gloss or matte finish.
Window Signs
Print a custom graphic or image on vinyl to turn it into an affordable window sticker for your storefront. Perforated vinyl is perfect for windows because it ensures that people can see out of a window, but that passersby cannot see in. Alternatively, regular vinyl wraps completely block out views — which may not be the goal of the wrap. You can make vinyl window signs to showcase your logo, opening hours, services, and other branding elements.
Banners
Banners are more affordable and easier to hang up and remove than other types of signage, making them an ideal choice for temporary messages. Thicker banners are chosen for long-term use or for locations where weather conditions are more taxing. Banners can be made with pole pocket and printed double sided, should clients desire, and can be installed by the client or by our team.
Car Wraps
Advertise anywhere by branding a truck, bus, or car. Wraps are available at numerous price points and can be installed as a full wrap (with complete coverage), partial wrap, or vinyl lettering and decals. A vinyl wrap is made from a thin layer of plastic with an adhesive backing that secures it to the vehicle. Temporary wraps, which can be changed every three months, are removable and won’t damage paint or other surfaces. However, long-lasting wraps, like those applied to semis, can last up to 10 years.
Frosted/Tinted Vinyl
Frost, or tinted vinyl, can be installed to existing glass using a permanent adhesive and is suitable for interior and exterior applications. Frost allows for an etched glass look at a fraction of what it would cost to replace full panes of glass. It allows light in and can be cut in any type of design that the customer prefers. It also comes in many different opacities and looks and is designed to last for years.
Tint for building windows is a permanent adhesive applied for privacy. There are many different shades of tint that vary in the amount of light they let in.
Foam Core
Foam core signage is made from a thin sheet of polystyrene laminated with plastic or paper on either side. It’s lightweight, affordable, and perfect for temporary indoor signage. You can easily print over foam core’s smooth, matte surface to create custom signage or displays. Many businesses use this material for event signage because it is so easy to use.
DI-NOC
DI-NOC is an architectural laminate with an adhesive that is used to reface an existing structure or object. With thousands of finishes and textures, Di-Noc can be used to update a space while saving on costs. For example, in a hotel where hallways need to be updated, a brand could select Di-Noc to wrap the doors and create an entirely new look for the space. Similarly, DI-NOC can be applied to cabinetry, doors, and furniture, giving each new life at a much lower cost than a replacement would require.
Order Custom Signage in Dallas and Fort Worth
Reveal Graphics has a proven record of signage design, fabrication, and installation in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. We do car wrapping, design, rebranding, ADA-compliant construction signage, and more. Explore our portfolio to find inspiration for your next project, or get in touch to get a quote.
