Printing
on Vinyl

Custom Printing on Adhesive Backed Vinyl Films

A sign-makers preferred material substrate is an adhesive backed vinyl film due to production ease, cost, versatility, and printability. For these reasons, printed vinyl films can be found on windows, floors, vehicles, walls, and fixtures of all types across the country.

This particular material doesn’t have a specific brand name or industry standard naming convention but it is frequently referred to as a thin vinyl film, decal vinyl, flex vinyl, pressure sensitive vinyl, calendered vinyl, or cast vinyl. No matter what you call it, printable vinyl films are extremely thin ranging from 2 mil (0.002”) to 8 mil (0.008”) thick, and it is assumed there is always an adhesive on the backside.

Printing on thin vinyl film is among the easiest ways to decorate an object because the printability and cost is much less than most alternatives. For decades, sign makers would prefer to print on a white vinyl film and would adhere it to a rigid surface because that was the easiest way to image something. Today, Hopkins Printing can also print direct to the flat surface by-passing the need to print onto vinyl films first. This saves a mounting step and the cost of the vinyl material.

However, vinyl films have still tons of value, functionality and won’t be going away anytime soon.

Cast and Calendered Vinyl Films

There are several varieties of vinyl films featuring different attributes and cost savings. Vinyl films come in in three distinct categories based on how they’re produced which in the end affects their attributes.

1. Calendered Vinyl

Calendered vinyl is made by squeezing PVC through heated rollers making the vinyl unstable in nature. It’s best used for simple curves or completely flat surfaces. They are generally not recommended for outdoor use as they can last from 2 to 6 years and can become brittle over time. Calendared vinyl will shrink in size at a rate much faster than cast vinyl as it tries to get to its original shape. While cast vinyl is generally a superior product in every way, calendared is nearly 1/3 the price and suitable for most applications. Calendered vinyl is typically coated with a permanent or removable adhesive.

2. Cast Vinyl

Cast vinyl is produced from a casting sheet, which allows the material to stretch and thin out. This reduces susceptibility to shrinkage in the manufacturing process, which is why it is ideal for compound curves or long-term uses. Cast vinyl is generally thinner than calendered vinyl and usually has a smoother face improving print quality overall. Many cast vinyls have a rated life span of over 7 years. The coated adhesive used on cast vinyl films is typically designed for permanent applications.

3. Specialty Vinyl

Specialty vinyl is really a generic term that encompasses vinyl films that have unique applications and features such as dry-erase, metallic, mirror, glow in the dark, perforated one-way vision, holographic, or even special adhesives. While these materials may be a form of calendered or cast vinyl, the type of vinyl is not important when one of these materials are being ordered. In fact, some specialty films are inaccurately referred to as vinyl when they are in fact polyester based. Regardless of the matter, what people are looking for when ordering a specialty film is a particular very unique characteristic.

Benefits of Printing on Vinyl

• Cost-efficiency and quick production

Choosing adhesive backed vinyl film is a cost-efficient product choice because it usually has good ink adhesion and thus prints well and die-cuts with ease minimizing production costs. The material also is in-expensive to procure and generally in-stock further minimizing costs and lead times.

• Versatility & durability

Vinyl is a durable material, resistant to all kinds of harsh conditions, making it perfect for both outdoor and indoor applications. Flex vinyl is extremely versatile because it be hung nearly anywhere making windows, walls, floors, and store fixtures possible placements for signage. Flex vinyl can be easily stored by rolling or stacking for later use and without any quality loss.

• Full customization

At Hopkins Printing, there aren’t many limitations when it comes to custom printing and cutting vinyl. After submission of a design, color combination, Hopkins can custom print decals as large as 63” x 125” then die cut them to shape. If there is a need for complete control over a material, this is the best option.

Types of Ink for Printing on Vinyl

Vinyl films are usually designed to accept water based, solvent based, latex, and UV based inks. At Hopkins we exclusively offer UV cured ink sets for both screen printing and digital printing. UV inks are a durable option for indoor and outdoor applications while offering no harmful VOCs into the air. With our capability to screen print and digitally print, we are able to print spot colors, white ink, CMYK process, and can even add gloss or matte finishes using our ink sets.

Hopkins Printing for Custom Printing on Vinyl

For over 60 years, Hopkins has been in the business of printing on vinyl films. We have the latest printing technology accompanied by software tech and graphics knowledge to deliver whatever is needed. Feel free to contact us today and see why we are the experts in custom vinyl printing.