Printing direct to acrylic is a fun option in our digital printing service arsenal, offering unique versatility, durability, and aesthetic appeal. At Makepeace/AIR Graphics, we specialize in transforming acrylic into environmental graphics through cutting-edge technology and techniques like latex flatbed printing, heat bending, and router cutting. Whether you're designing physical signage, unique awards, or retail point of purchase displays, acrylic is the perfect medium for creative and impactful solutions.
Why Choose Acrylic Printing?
Acrylic printing stands out for its ability to deliver vibrant, high-resolution images on a durable substrate. By printing directly onto acrylic, we eliminate the need for adhesives or laminates, ensuring a crisp, professional finish.
With capabilities like printing on both sides of acrylic, we offer even more design flexibility. For example, text or images can appear on the front while a complementary design or background enhances the back, creating a dimensional effect that captivates viewers.
Acrylic Options
The choice of acrylic opens up endless creative possibilities. Clear acrylic is a great starting place for adding custom brand colors, PMS and pantone matching. Opaque acrylic is a great substrate for bold prints.
Non-Colored Acrylic Options:
- Clear/Gloss Acrylic: A sleek, modern option ideal for awards, advertising displays, point of purchase displays and wayfinding signs where a translucent or layered look adds sophistication.
- Frosted Acrylic: Provides a soft, diffused appearance while maintaining privacy, making it popular for signage or decorative panels.
- Non-Glare Acrylic: Reduces reflections and enhances readability in brightly lit environments, perfect for wayfinding, other signage, or menu boards.
Opaque Acrylic Options:
- White Acrylic: A solid, opaque background that ensures high contrast for readability, making it ideal for ADA-compliant signage and bold, vibrant designs.
- Black Acrylic: Adds a rich, elegant backdrop that makes lighter colors pop, perfect for luxury branding or professional signage.
- Colored Acrylic: Available in a range of hues, adding vibrancy and personality to custom displays or branding projects.
Design Idea!
Adding a flood color to the back of clear acrylic, also known as second-surface printing (where the ink is printed on the underside of the acrylic), can create a stunning glowing effect along the edges. A flood color refers to a solid, uniform layer of color printed across the entire surface, which allows light to refract through the clear material. This technique enhances the vibrancy of the edges, giving them a unique, illuminated appearance that adds depth and dimension to the design.
The Power of White Ink
One of our unique capabilities is printing with white ink, a feature not available on all flatbed printers. White ink allows for enhanced color reproduction on clear acrylic, adding depth and vibrancy to your designs. This is especially useful for:
- Highlighting specific elements in a design
- Creating frosted effects or adding opacity
- Ensuring clear visibility on both light and dark backgrounds
Did you know?
CMYK ink from our flatbed printer is translucent! The white color of the paper or substrate beneath the ink enhances its vibrancy. When printing on a clear substrate, printing an element like text first in white and then CMYK ink directly on top helps restore that vibrancy while allowing for see-through areas where white ink isn’t applied.
Router Cutting: Bring Your Designs to Life
Want to add a little extra flair to your acrylic projects? Enter router cutting! This precision technique lets us shape acrylic into almost any design you can dream up. From intricate logos to custom shapes for awards and signage, router cutting ensures that your pieces are as unique as your vision. Whether it’s a sleek geometric pattern or a playful custom contour, we’ll make sure your acrylic designs stand out from the crowd.
Heat-Bent Acrylic: Adding Dimension and Functionality
Heat bending transforms flat acrylic sheets into dynamic, three-dimensional forms. This technique is ideal for creating:
- Freestanding Signs: Perfect for advertising or wayfinding in retail and corporate environments.
- Custom Displays: Eye-catching environmental graphics for exhibitions, product launches, or trade shows.
- Unique Awards: Personalized designs that stand out from traditional plaques or trophies.
By combining heat bending with direct printing and router cutting, we deliver functional and visually striking pieces that elevate any project.
Applications of Acrylic Printing
Acrylic's versatility makes it a go-to solution for various industries. Here are just a few examples of its applications:
Museum Exhibits and Art Installations:
- Eye-catching exhibit graphics for museums, showcasing vibrant colors and layered designs.
- Large-scale art pieces for galleries or public spaces, as well as commercial and corporate art displays.
Advertising and Promotions:
- High impact displays for retail stores, events, or promotional campaigns.
- Backlit displays that bring visuals to life with enhanced illumination and vibrancy.
Corporate and Wayfinding Signage:
- Branded wayfinding and ADA-compliant signage that meets accessibility standards while reinforcing brand identity.
- Interactive dry erase boards, where clear acrylic overlays a printed design, such as maps or diagrams, for a functional yet visually appealing solution.
Custom Awards and Recognition:
- Unique, tailored designs for employee recognition, sports events, or community honors.
Quick Turnaround Times
Our advanced digital printing technology ensures high quality production with quick turnaround times, making it easy to meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality. Whether you need a small batch for a boutique event or bulk signage for a large-scale rollout, we’ve got you covered.
Partner with Us for Your Acrylic Printing Needs
From concept to completion, our team of experts is here to help you bring your ideas to life. By leveraging state-of-the-art equipment and innovative techniques, we deliver results that exceed expectations. And let’s be honest—we love geeking out over cool designs just as much as you do!
Whether you’re a designer, business owner, or part of the visual arts community, our acrylic printing solutions provide the perfect blend of creativity and functionality. Contact us today to explore how we can help with your next project!