Printed Rigid Signs

What are Rigid Display Signs?

Durable, Bend Resistant Sign Substrates for Indoor and Outdoors

Rigid Signs aren’t called “rigid” for nothing! Rigid Signs and sign boards are made from a variety of firm, flat materials, also known as rigid substrates or board signs at sign and print shops. Rigid substrates include just about everything except vinyl, canvas, fabrics, and other flexible materials and textiles. Rigid sign materials are not easily pliable, making them resistant to bends and creases. Sign board substrates are durable and long-lasting, providing sign displays with a sleek and sturdy finish that can be used in a wide range of applications and settings.

Key Advantages of Digitally Printed Rigid Signs and Sign Boards

• Rigid Signs and Sign Boards are Cost effective

• Sign boards Can Be Mass Manufactured

• Smaller size sign boards are easy to ship

• Sign boards can be inserted into standard sign frames

• Maintains its structure without additional support

• Comes in a variety of material options

• Easy to clean and maintain

Rigid Substrate Sizes and Cutting

Rigid substrates come in 4’x8’ sheets and can be tiled and joined as needed to create larger Rigid Signs displays and sign boards. With modern machining, rigid signs can be cut into various different shapes, from simple shapes to the contour of your company’s logo design. Rigid Signs and sign boards can me manufactured on any shape to achieve your desired sign design. When a lot of detailed cutting is required, Rigid Signs are often CNC cut to shape. 

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control, which in simpler terms means computer-controlled. CNC routers and mills are high-speed cutting machines, designed to cut through rigid substrates like ACM, EPVC, Acrylic and more. CNC routers are great for detailed cuts and designs as they can also engrave, carve, drill and mill through sign substrates. 

For simpler designs, various saws are used to cut through Rigid Signs such as a table saw, skill saw and panel saw. If you wish to cut and provide your own rigid substrate or sign board, we recommend confirming you have the right blades needed before cutting your substrate for optimal quality.

Wide Format Printing Rigid Signs and Sign Boards

Digitally Printed Signs

All of our Rigid Signs and sign boards are designed for use with Latex and UV Print Technology. Both UV and Latex ink dry instantly and offer great durability for both indoor and outdoor rigid sign and sign board applications. Depending on the sign and print application, UV ink can be applied directly to substrates, or we can print latex ink onto vinyl and mount it onto the rigid substrate and sign boards. 

UV Printed Signs

UV ink is ideal for direct to substrate printing. Direct to substrate UV Printing is quick, economical, provides good durability and works great for indoors sign applications. Compared to other printing methods, direct to substrate UV Printing is a more efficient and cost effective printing process as it eliminates various laborious tasks like mounting and transferring prints. The sign material and sign board can be fed right into the UV printer directly. A print head scans the substrate for thickness and prints directly onto the sign material. The result is a finished sign board when the rigid sign substrate passes through the printer.

Outdoor Rigid Signs with UV prints should be laminated to protect the print from fading and drying out. Without the protection of lamination, long term exposure to UV rays from the sun can wear down UV prints, causing them to dry out and crack. Depending on the environment, Rigid Signs can remain crisp for a few years using Latex ink instead. 

Latex Printed Signs

We print latex onto sign vinyl which is then mounted onto the rigid substrate. The sign vinyl covers the whole substrate material providing protection to the original material. Latex print is flexible and has great durability. Overtime, Latex Prints won’t crack but instead fade similar to eco solvent prints. Latex Prints don’t contain off-gas producing chemicals or odors and can be used immediately after printing

Latex print is printed in layers with a primer being the first layer. The primer that is printed on by the latex printer is clear and helps the pigments and latex inks to bond to the sign substrate. Once the primer is printed, then the colour layer is printed on top to recreate your print design.

For extended durability Latex prints can be laminated. Your latex laminated sign will hold out longer out doors and retain its vibrant colors longer.

Rigid Printed Signs that are expected to be used for more than 1 year, we recommend applying an over-laminate.

Single side & Double Sided Printed Signs

Many rigid substrates can be printed on a single side, or on both sides for double sided sign applications. Signs are generally printed single sided if the reverse face is not visible or used for mounting. Double sided printed signs are great for applications where the sign would be visible on both sides.

Laminating Signs with Overlaminates

An overlaminate can be applied to Rigid Printed Signs on top of your sign print to provide additional durability. Laminated signs are protected from direct exposure to the elements, including rain, oils, dirt and sunlight. Overlaminates are especially important when rigid signs and sign boards are placed in high foot traffic areas and exposed to a lot of sunlight. Overlaminates are commonly applied to showroom displays, maps, and roadside advertisements, as they are susceptible to physical contact like fingerprints. A laminated sign extends the life of any digital prints as it has UV inhibitors which protects the printed inks from drying out and fading. We recommend laminating your signs. Laminated signs are good for for long-term rigid signs, outdoor rigid sign board applications and for those extra important sign prints to look their best. Since no outgassing time is required after printing, Rigid Signs and sign board prints can be laminated right away.

How to install Rigid Signs

Rigid Printed Signs are great to work with as they retain their own shape and can be cut using common trade tools. Installation of Rigid Signs can easily be done with a variety of methods using various hardware, mechanical fasteners, and adhesives, including:

• Visible Fasteners

  In sign applications where Fasteners don’t create an eye sore or can be neatly arranged into the design of the sign, passing a Fastener through the substrate into the mounting fixture or wall is a great option. Whenever possible, removal fasteners such as a screw is preferred. This allows the Digitally Printed Rigid Sign to be updated while reusing the fasteners.

• French Cleat

  If you don’t want any fasteners to show, hidden hardware like a French Cleat is another great option. A French Cleat, also known as Z Clips, works by utilizing gravity by fastening the supporting cleat to the mounting surface and fastening the hanging portion to the substrate. When the two pieces connect, gravity keeps them in place. French Cleats work best with Rigid Substrates that have some weight to them, such as EPVC/PVC and Acrylic Plexiglass. Some French Cleats also have a latching mechanic for additional security of your rigid substrate.

• Hidden Hardware

  Hidden Hardware is engineered to hide all fasteners and provide a clean finish. Hidden Hardware is commonly disguised as frames or standoffs. Sometimes special tools are required to secure and remove signage secured by Hidden Hardware. Hidden Hardware is a great option for installing high end Rigid Signage and tends to be on the more expensive side.

• Adhesives

  Adhesives can be a good solution for permanent sign displays, but if you plan on removing the sign at a later date, you may need to refinish the mounting surface as Adhesives can be aggressive and difficult to remove. Construction glue, epoxy and silicone are common adhesives used for mounting rigid substrates.

• Very High Bond Double Sided Tape (3M VHB)

  3M Double Sided Tape is similar to using an adhesive but with a quicker cure time. Once tacked onto a surface, most Double Sided Tape will instantly have holding power. Some Double Sided Tape such as 3M VBH can reach its full strength within 48 hours. Since Double Sided Tape is difficult to reposition and remove, it’s important to double check your measurements before application.

• Extruded Retainer Frames

  For removable sign applications, Velcro makes a great alternative to Adhesives and Double Sided Tape. Velcro is predominantly used indoors for quick and simple sign displays.

• Velcro Patches

  For removable sign applications, Velcro makes a great alternative to Adhesives and Double Sided Tape. Velcro is predominantly used indoors for quick and simple sign displays.

• Easel Backs & Stands

  Similar to the stands attached to the back of picture frames, Easel Backs are designed to carry the weight of leaning signage. Made from sturdy cardboard, Easel Backs are commonly used to support Coroplast Signs, Foam Board Signs and other lightweight Rigid Signs. Self-Stick Easel Backs can also be used to mount your Rigid Sign for a more permanent sign solution.

• Standoffs

  Standoffs are a great option for permanent mounted sign displays, providing a highly secure and visually appealing hanging solution. Standoffs give Rigid Sign displays an added layer of dimension by leaving a gap of space between the wall and signage, making your sign literally stand out! Standoffs come in several pieces of hardware: the standoff mount, standoff screw, washer and dry wall anchor. Standoffs are typically round in shape and placed at each corner of the sign. To use this hanging method, signs will need to have pre-drilled holes for the Standoffs to fit into.

Maintaining Printed Rigid Signs and Sign Boards

To keep your signs looking fresh, we recommend using a microfibre cloth or nonabrasive cloth with a simple dish detergent and water solution. Using a microfibre cloth will help attract and remove dirt, while preventing scratches and any unwanted marks that a rough cloth, sponge or scrub tend to provide. We don’t recommend using harsh cleaning solutions that contain alcohol, gasoline or ammonia, as chemical cleaners can tarnish UV and Latex Prints overtime, especially if they are not laminated. 

If you need help improving the appearance of scratches and fine grooves, we recommend using a polishing wax to help hide imperfections. 

Depending on the size and substrate, you can store Rigid Signs in boxes, cover them with protective materials like moving blankets or packaging wrap and can store them in a dry and cool area as some substrates may warp overtime if left in heat and moisture for too long.

Production and Shipping of Printed Rigid Signs and Sign Boards

Our Printed Rigid Signs and sign boards are stocked, printed, assembled and packaged from our sign shop in Surrey, BC. For your safety and convenience, we currently offer contactless curbside pick up at our head office location in Surrey, BC. Pick up is quick and convenient for our neighbours in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, New West, Langley, White Rock and surrounding areas throughout Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. We ship Printed Rigid Signs across Canada and provide local and nationwide delivery. Smaller Rigid Signs are packaged in boxes and protected with reinforced corners and encased with foam. Large Rigid Sign orders are securely packaged into wooden crates and shipped on pallets. All orders are shipped from our Greater Vancouver sign shop in Surrey, BC.