#van graphics

In the competitive world of visual communication, the materials and finishes used in sign printing are more than just surface-level choices—they are fundamental to performance, appearance, and message delivery. Whether you’re branding a business façade or installing van graphics for mobile promotion, the correct material and finish will define how effective your signage truly is.

Let’s explore what goes into choosing the right materials and finishes in modern sign printing services.

1. Understanding the Role of Material in Sign Printing

When it comes to sign printing, the type of material used determines not only how your message looks, but how long it lasts. For businesses looking to leave a lasting impression, selecting the proper substrate is crucial. The material affects clarity, colour vibrancy, durability, resistance to elements, and application method.

A high-quality material will hold ink better, resist fading under UV exposure, and remain intact through variable weather. This is especially important for outdoor signage and vehicle wraps, where wear and tear are constant threats. On the other hand, for indoor signage, aesthetics and texture might be prioritised over extreme durability.

2. Common Materials Used in Professional Sign Printing

Here are some of the most commonly used materials in professional sign printing:

Vinyl: A versatile and popular choice, ideal for both indoor signs and van graphics. Vinyl is flexible, weather-resistant, and easy to apply.

Foamex (PVC foam board): Lightweight yet strong, it’s perfect for retail signs, event graphics, and wall-mounted displays.

Dibond (Aluminium Composite Panel): Excellent for long-term outdoor use due to its rigid, corrosion-resistant structure.

Correx (Fluted Polypropylene): Cost-effective and lightweight, great for temporary signage and site boards.

The material selection should always align with the intended purpose, exposure level, and installation environment.

3. Importance of Finish: Gloss, Matte, or Laminate?

The finish of a sign can dramatically affect how it's perceived and how well it performs. Just like materials, the finish plays a vital role in both protection and presentation.

Gloss Finish: Known for its shiny, reflective surface, gloss enhances colour vibrancy and draws attention. However, it may produce glare under bright lights.

Matte Finish: Offers a smooth, non-reflective surface ideal for readability in high-light areas and professional, understated visuals.

Laminated Finish: Often added on top of gloss or matte, laminate provides an additional layer of protection against scratches, UV damage, and moisture—essential for van graphics and exterior signage.

The right finish improves readability, brand perception, and resilience, especially for signs that face frequent public interaction or are part of a mobile marketing strategy.

4. How the Right Material Impacts Durability and Aesthetics

Choosing a suitable material isn’t just about practicality—it’s also about appearance. A sleek, premium sign speaks volumes about your brand, whereas faded or peeling signs suggest neglect. Signage needs to represent your business accurately and professionally at all times.

For example, investing in UV-stable vinyl for van graphics ensures your brand stays vibrant for years, even with constant sun exposure. Likewise, laminated Foamex boards in retail environments can prevent scuffs and scratches from foot traffic or accidental contact.

Aesthetic appeal combined with long-term durability creates maximum impact, helping your signage remain eye-catching and functional long after installation.

5. Sign Printing for Vehicles: Materials for Van Graphics

Vehicle branding—particularly van graphics—requires careful consideration of materials and finishes. Since vans are constantly exposed to changing weather conditions, road debris, and regular washing, only the most durable and flexible vinyl materials should be used.

High-performance cast vinyl is often the go-to option for van wraps. It conforms well to curves and contours and is less likely to peel or crack over time. Additionally, a UV-protective laminate ensures that graphics maintain their colour and vibrancy, even after prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Investing in the right combination of vinyl and finish not only protects your message but turns your vehicle into a consistent and powerful branding tool.

Conclusion

When it comes to sign printing, every detail matters—from the base material to the final finish. Making the right choices impacts not just how your signs look today, but how well they perform in the long run. Whether you're updating your store’s graphics or investing in van graphics for mobile marketing, the right blend of durability, quality, and visual appeal is non-negotiable.

Vehicle wrapping is one of the best ways to advertise your business, products, and services. These signs are versatile, eye-catching, and effective. However, choosing the right materials, creating a design, and custom vehicle wrap costs can be daunting.

Unsure of where to start? Here are five tips to get you on the right track with designing vehicle wraps near you.

Know Your Audience

One of the key elements of a successful marketing strategy is knowing your target market. This dictates the type of content you put out to attract their attention.

Think about the demographic of people who will likely be seeing your vehicle (or that you want to notice it). Consider what kind of message or imagery would be most effective at reaching them.

Color Matters

A good color scheme can make or break a wrap design. It’s important to go deep into which colors will work best for your brand. Letting branding elements guide your color choices is an excellent starting point for creating the right palette for your design.

Simplicity is Key

Less is more when it comes to vehicle wrapping designs. This is especially true when adding text and graphics. Too many details can be overwhelming and off-putting to the reader. Also, keep in mind that people will see your signs while on the move. Always keep the text short and sweet on your vehicle graphics.

Incorporate Eye-Catching Visuals

Vehicle vinyl wraps are vinyl adhesives printed and laser-cut with your specific design. This gives you the liberty to have any design added to your vehicles. Because they’re digitally printed, the design can include photos, graphics, illustrations, and the like.

This is perfect for creating a visual display using your vehicles. It makes your ad more eye-catching and engaging on the road.

Get the Help of Professional Vehicle Wrap Makers

Investing in vehicle wrapping can be one of the best decisions you can make for your business. Make sure you make the most of your investment by working with signage professionals. They have the experience and knowledge to not only get the job done but also troubleshoot possible issues and find solutions that you may not think of yourself.

Most importantly, they know how to install wraps seamlessly, which is a crucial factor in vehicle wrapping, both for a crisp look and a long-lasting wrap.

High-Quality Vehicle Wraps Near You

Vehicle vinyl wraps are an effective way to promote your business while on the go. However, they require careful planning and execution for maximum success. Hopefully, these 5 tips jump start your vehicle wrapping journey the right way.

If you’re looking for vehicle wrapping experts, Sunrise Signs is here to help. We are a full-service sign company that designs, creates, and installs your signage needs. When it comes to vinyl wraps, we only use the best vinyl material and advanced technology to create your signs. This ensures your wraps remain vibrant and last the test of time.

Learn more about wrap designs, vinyl options, and custom vehicle wrap costs by giving us a call today!

What are van wraps? Van wrapping falls within the wider category of automotive graphics. Essentially van wraps are large custom decals typically designed to cover a large portion or all of a business's vans. These custom wraps virtually personalize an otherwise standard van, turning it from a generic van to a highly customized vehicle that acts as a signage vehicle anywhere you or your staff drive and park.

As with any customization, van graphics require maintenance. While it's certainly true that van wraps can be completely removed, changed, or defaced without much difficulty, you may occasionally still want to keep your graphics in place. Whether you decide to keep your van graphics in place due to budgetary concerns or simply out of habit, you should be aware that a simple cleaning and repair for your van graphics will not only provide you with much more flexibility but will also save you money on routine maintenance, as well as installation and repair/removal work. To ensure the longevity of your graphic, you must take care of it properly.

When cleaning your van wraps, one of the most important things to remember is that vinyl is a very tough material. However, it's also fairly easy to damage vinyl; among other things, you can overheat the vinyl and cause it to crack, split or otherwise become damaged. To avoid this, it's advised that you either purchase a cleaner specifically made for vinyl or that you clean your van wraps using only products specifically designed for cleaning vinyl. It's also recommended that you only use cleaners that have been specifically designed for this type of material.

Keeping your graphics in place is not only about keeping them clean, it's also about protecting them from damage. If you have any exposed artwork, images, designs, or words on your van wraps, it's advised that you remove these before you store your van at any storage facility. This will ensure that the artwork doesn't get damaged in the process and that it will remain undamaged should you decide to sell your van in the future.

To install your van graphics, all you need are instructions that you can find online. Some people prefer to use templates when designing their vinyl decal, but a more creative option would be to make your template out of vinyl paper. The first step in creating your template is to cut out the required amount of vinyl based on the size of your original van and then carefully peel off the backing. Once the paper is completely removed, you can lay it flat and then carefully fold the two sides of the vinyl so that it is tightly pressed into place.

There are many reasons to use van wraps to promote your brand or business. One of the most obvious is that it makes your van look more attractive to potential customers. It also gives potential van owners a reflection of your company and what you stand for. Van wraps are used for commercial vehicles as well as private, so they can be used to help give your business a more professional image. A van wrap is a vinyl covering that can cover your van completely, making it look like a new vehicle. It is applied over your current paint scheme, but because it covers your entire van, it also offers protection from the elements in your area as well as giving you an improved look.

Many people also choose to use car graphics or  stickers to make their vans look more appealing. While car graphics or decals might not always appeal to everyone, they can make any car look more unique and customized. When you use vinyl graphics or stickers, you can add a design that is especially unique to your company. Many companies have tried to use these kinds of things to advertise and they can work very well to boost your visibility or brand.

Vinyl decals and graphics are also great because they are easy to apply. You won't need any special tools or skills to properly apply these things because most of them come pre-designed and ready to go. Even if you aren't good at applying stickers or graphics, you can still complete the task using a vinyl decal kit or a vinyl graphics printer. It's always easier to apply graphics on top of your existing decal rather than having to replace it.

Van wrap advertising can also give you a dramatic increase in the size of your customer base. Because more people see your graphic, you can draw more interest to your website or get your product out there to more potential customers. There are even companies that allow you to put more than one vinyl decal on your van. This way, you can change your graphics around and change the words of the promotion depending on where you are going. You can also take advantage of these things by using them in conjunction with other advertising methods.

Finally, van graphics are relatively inexpensive compared to other forms of advertising. They can cost anywhere from three hundred dollars to five thousand dollars for a custom graphic. For this kind of investment, you will most likely be making some profit since you will be putting a lot of money into advertising. This can help offset the cost of the van graphics as well. So, if you can spend a little money upfront and gain a lot of return later, this might be the way to go.

Have you ever wondered why most business vehicles are branded with vehicle graphics and livery? Well its probably one of the most cost effective ways to promote your business to potential customers. Everytime you drive your vehicle you are promoting your brand and its products or services. You don’t have to spend a fortune either, from as little as £200 you could achieve some basic branding on your vehicle. Want to know more? follow my blog for detailed studies.

This is why vehicle wraps can work so well for your business. Its simple yet extremely effective at advertising the business in question. So how does a plain vehicle end up so high impact. The entire vehicle would be wrapped with a special cast vinyl which can be printed and stretched to follow the contours of the van, truck or car. Cast vinyls are manufactured to release air bubbles and can be lifted and repositioned easily. Generally a good cast vinyl will have a 7 - 10 year guarantee. Although this type of vehicle graphics is one of the most expensive, done right it also provides the most stunning results. Always use a well known vinyl like 3M for your material, it may cost more, but well worth it.

Broadland Digital have alot of experience within the vehicle livery sector, speak to them and see how they can assist.