Adhesive Translucent Vinyl at a Glance
Adhesive translucent vinyl is the material used to print the face of a lit sign. Light passes through the print instead of bouncing off it, so your logo and lettering glow evenly once the box is switched on. It is a printed decal with a permanent adhesive back, applied straight onto the acrylic, Lexan or polycarbonate face you already have.
Every print is finished with a 2.5 mil matte overlaminate, which cuts glare and protects the ink from weather, cleaning and daily handling.
Benefits
- Built for backlighting — even, consistent glow at night
- Matte overlaminate included on every order
- Permanent adhesive that holds on acrylic, Lexan and glass
- Waterproof and UV safe, indoor or outdoor
- Printed to your exact size, up to 52″ high
Where Translucent Vinyl Is Used
Light Box Faces
The most common use. If your light box face is faded, cracked or carries the wrong business name, you do not need a whole new box — you need a new printed face. We print your artwork to the exact panel size and you apply it to the existing acrylic.
Channel Letters and Cabinet Signs
Translucent vinyl is applied to the faces of channel letters and sign cabinets to add colour, gradients and full-colour logos that coloured acrylic alone cannot produce.
Backlit Window and P.O.P. Displays
Menu light boxes, poster frames, counter displays and illuminated directory signs all use the same material. It suits any display where the graphic is lit from behind rather than from the front.
Specifications
Material and Printing
3 mil matte translucent adhesive vinyl, printed with eco-solvent ink and finished with a 2.5 mil matte laminate. Printed on one side only. Maximum printed size is 52″ high by 159′ wide, so tall panels are produced in sections and seamed on site.
Single Layer or Double Layer Print
This is the choice that matters most, so it is worth getting right.
- Double layer — the ink is laid down twice for higher density. This is the right choice for a sign that is lit at night. In daylight, or with the light off, the print will look darker than your artwork.
- Single layer — a lighter print, better for a sign seen mostly in daylight. Under backlight at night the colours will look washed out.
If you are unsure, tell us when the sign is mostly seen and we will pick for you.
Surfaces
The adhesive is permanent and needs a flat, clean, smooth surface. It works on acrylic, plexiglass, Lexan, polycarbonate and glass. It is not intended for textured walls, brick or fabric.
Light Box Acrylic
Translucent vinyl performs best over white acrylic. Clear acrylic is not recommended — without a white layer to diffuse the light you will see hot spots and the tubes or LEDs behind the face.
Installation
Clean the panel thoroughly and let it dry — any dust or grease under the vinyl will show once the sign is lit. Lay the print over the panel with the backing on and mark your position. Peel back a section of the liner, tack the top edge down, then squeegee from the centre outwards, removing the liner as you go. Trim the edges with a sharp blade.
We also install across Los Angeles and Orange County if you would rather not do it yourself — ask when you order.
Artwork
Send a print-ready PDF or JPEG at 150 dpi, built to the finished size, in CMYK with no crop marks or bleed. Convert fonts to outlines and Pantone colours to CMYK. No artwork yet? Our design team can build it for you.
