Finishing Services

Numerous mounting and lamination options are available to provide the ideal presentation for your display print. Substrate materials may include foam board, gatorboard, sintra, plexiglass, lexan and dibond. High quality lamination provides a choice of print surface finishes as well as UV protection for long lasting image stability.

Substrates

Foam Board
This is the most common and economical substrate to mount prints onto. It is lightweight and low cost to ship and is ideal for short-term indoor applications. Availability is in white (standard) or black and the standard thickness is 3/16 inch.

Gatorboard
Similar to foam board in weight and appearance, gatorboard is more rigid than foam board and is water resistant, making it less likely to warp in humid conditions. Available in 3/16" or 1/2" thicknesses and either white or black.

Sintra
This dense, plastic material is heavier than form board or gatorboard. It has an incredible strength-to-weight ratio. It is water resistant and is flexible depending on thickness. Normally available in 3mm, other thicknesses ranging from 1mm to 1/2" are available. It has proven popular for permanent displays and other applications requiring increased durability. Available in a variety of colors.

Plexiglass or Acrylic
A sturdy plastic product which offers excellent physical protection. Often used for transmounts (face mounting) where the clear plastic is mounted with optically clear acrylic glue to the face of the print or transparency for backlit displays.

Lexan
Similar to Plexiglass but stronger and lighter.

Dibond
Extremely flat and rigid material that is very strong, yet lightweight composite. Ideally suited for outdoor signage mounting.

Mounting
The process of adhering the print to the selected substrate is done using one of two methods of mounting:

Pressure Sensitive or Heat Activated Mounting
More expensive than spray adhesive, it provides an extremely strong and permanent bond and is recommended for long term projects.

Lamination
Provides your prints with a tough, durable exterior and are available in a variety of finishes: matte, satin, and gloss. These laminates have a UV inhibitor to extend the life of your image. Laminates, depending on the material, are applied using either a heated or cold laminator and are available in varying thickness commonly being 3mil, 5mil and 10mil. The ultimate trade show lamination is Lexan which is 20mil in thickness, durable, non glare and a very scratch resistant product.

Trimming
Prints are carefully trimmed after mounting to ensure that the printing media, substrate and lamination are trimmed together to create a precise, clean edge. You may specify whether to trim to the edge of the image or leave a white border surrounding the image. Standard trimming policy is to trim to the image.