Indoor signs
9/19/2017
There are two types of vinyl films used in the sign industry – cast vinyl and calendered vinyl. But which vinyl film is the proper film to use for your project?
Cast and calendered vinyl films have similar “ingredients”, but the manufacturing process makes the films significantly different from one another.
Cast films are considered a premium vinyl product in the sign industry. This film starts in a liquid state with the ingredients blended together and then poured onto a casting sheet. The casting process produces a thin gauge film, usually 1 to 2 mil thick. In this state, the film stays more relaxed, resulting in a durable, flexible and conformable film that retains color very well. This film is ideally used for graphics that need to be applied to complex curves, such as vehicle wraps.
Calendered films are often referred to as intermediate or short-term films. This film is manufactured by extruding a molten mixture through a die that is then fed through a series of calendering rolls. The rolling and stretching process produces thicker films, usually 3 to 4 mil thick. This film has some inherent memory, making the film less conformable with a tendency to shrink when exposed to heat. This film is ideally used for simple or flat applications, such as floor graphics or window graphics.
Cast Film Advantages
Calendered Film Advantages
Always consider the types of vinyl film for your project before choosing your material. As with anything else, the finished product is only as good as what you put into it – this begins with choosing the right vinyl for the job. If you have additional questions on calendered or cast vinyl films, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by phone at 816-960-4546 or info@image360kcm.com.
