Acrylic Plastic: First produced in 1933, acrylic plastic's first big demand was as aircraft canopies and gun turrets on bombers during WWII. In the 1950's, lighted signs with flat or "pan-formed" translucent Plexi­glas® sign faces became an economical alter­na­tive to neon signage.

While it is still used in the pro­duc­tion of sign faces for plastic lighted signs, acrylic plastic is even more popular in the pro­duc­tion of router-cut sign letters and faces for neon-lighted and LED-lighted channel letters for storefront signage.

Polycarbonate Plastic Sign Faces: Like acrylic plastic, poly­car­bo­nate can be flat or "pan-formed", and is an excellent ma­ter­ial for use as sign faces in illuminated signs.

An advantage polycarbonate has over acrylic plastic is that does not crack or break easily, and is therefore less likely to be dam­aged during fabrication, transport, installation, or acts of van­dal­ism.

"Solar-grade" polycarbonate plastic, with UV protection, minimizes yellowing, which has been an advantage of acrylic over polycarbonate. This is what Aztec Signs uses for new and replacement outdoor fluorescent lighted sign faces.

Aluminum Composites: Aka Alucobond®, Dibond®, Alu­ma­lite™, Signabond®, etc. A rigid sheet material made of a ther­mo­plas­tic core sandwiched between two layers of thin aluminum. Available in a range of colors, thicknesses and sheet dimensions, some are manu­factured with a solid core, others with a fluted (corrugated) core to increase rigidity.

An excellent lightweight material for building signs and many other signage applications where the economy, quality, and dura­bil­ity of the factory finish are important.

Aluminum composites require more support structure against windload than MDO, LusterBoard, or Omega SignBoard when used as faces on freestanding signs.

Aluminum: Vinyl and nylon banner materials, decorated with computer-cut vinyl lettering, screen printing, or photo quality digital printing.

Want a giant banner? No problem, and we compete! Call us for a quote, your design our ours.

2-Sided MDO Plywood*: An exterior grade plywood with weather-resis­tant resin overlays bonded to the front and back wood sur­faces by heat and pressure. This process fuses the molecules of the resin with the fibers of the wood to form a bond as strong as the wood itself.

MDO has all the advantages of regular plywood as well as addi­tional properties. The overlay, which has 28% resin content, re­sists water, weather, wear and degradation. It has texture that paint can grip with remarkable tenacity. Paint finishes on MDO are up to three times more durable than the same finish applied to ordinary plywood.

* The front and back resin overlays on 2-sided MDO plywood minimize warping. Because 1-sided MDO doesn't offer this protection, and is nearly impossible to seal with primer and paint on the back side, we do not use it as a sign material.

Omega LusterBoard: Ready-to-letter, 1/2" thick exterior furniture-grade plywood, with aluminum surfaces front and back.

We use LusterBoard for short- or medium-term (7 years max) signage that is needed "rush", and when a nicer looking back­ground, white or colored, is called for.

Plastic edge cap and sealant are required to achieve life ex­pec­tancy beyond short-term.

Omega SignBoard: Ready-to-letter, 1/2" thick exterior furniture-grade plywood. 1-sided panels have a white vinyl face and plastic backing. 2-sided panels have white vinyl surfaces front and back.

We use Omega Signboard for short-term (5 years max) signage that is needed "rush", and when a white background is acceptable.

Plastic edge cap and sealant are required to achieve life ex­pec­tancy beyond short-term.

PVC Foam Board: Aka Sintra®, Komatex®, Corocel®, etc. A lightweight, rigid sheet of moderately expanded closed-cell polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with a low gloss matte finish which is perfect for indoor signage such as menus, posters, POP and trade show displays, etc. Superior backing for digital graphics, prints, and photos.

Economical and available in several colors and thicknesses. Excellent for indoor displays/signage, and outdoor use in some applications.

Coroplast™: Aka corrugated plastic, fluted plastic, Correx®, Corflute®, Fluteboard®, etc. Even less expensive than standard banner materials, corrugated plastic is one of the most eco­nom­i­cal sign materials avail­able.

Coro­plast is popular as a lightweight, weatherproof polypropylene sub­strate for con­trac­tors' and po­lit­ical yard signs, real estate signs, "bandit" signs, and other temporary signs.

Magnetic Sign Material: Flexible rubber sheet containing magnetic ferrite powder; one side is laminated with vinyl sheet which will accept ink, paint, or vinyl graphics. For indoor/outdoor magnetic signs that can be easily attached to steel surfaces such as vehicles, steel doors, etc., and leave no trace when removed.

For flat or curved smooth metal surfaces. Entire sign must be flat against surface for use on vehicles. Surfaces beneath magnetic signs should always be maintained clean and dry, to avoid dam­age to paint finishes underneath. Should not be used on vehicles recently painted. Store flat when not in use.

Tabbee Letters: White plastic letters with tabs on the back, for use in grooved directory boards, menu boards. Order tabbee letter sets in letter heights of 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1.5", 2", or 3", through our online shopping cart at SignLetterSupply.com.

We can also help you select the options you will need for a new interior or exterior directory or announcement board to match your needs... just give us a call.

Yard Signs: If you are in need of real estate signs, political signs, contractor signs, call us for the most competitive pricing in central Iowa at any quantity.

Need photo quality full color? Need thousands of them? Only need one? We do it.