Computer Cut Lettering

Computer cut vinyl is still the cheapest method of creating a text sign. Available in a range of vibrant colours and special effects, self-adhesive vinyl is a long lasting material and very adaptable. Sunquest has three  vinyl cutter ranging in size from 630mm to 1300mm wide. The main two types of self-adhesive vinyls are calendared and cast. Cast vinyl generally has an outdoor life of seven years in Australia and is recommended for vehicles, boats and where complex curves are to be adhered to, such as wheel flares on cars. Calendared vinyl is cheaper and normally lasts five years outdoors. Because the calendaring process induces a longitudinal stress in the vinyl it does not conform to curves well, tending to shrink back over time. Sunquest only uses cast grade signwriter’s self-adhesive vinyl.

Special Vinyls

Etchmark or frosted glass vinyl is a very popular for office windows, offering privacy and yet subtle decoration. Another common type of signwriting vinyl is Translucent vinyl for lightbox illuminated signs, made especially to illuminate evenly.

Reflective vinyls come in four grades promotional, engineering, honeycomb and diamond as you move up the scale the life and reflectiveness increases with the highest grade being ‘diamond’, which is used on traffic signs. For commercial uses the pattern in Honeycomb and Diamond tends to be too noticeable, making the Engineering grade the normal choice. Reflective vinyl only works when viewed within 5 degrees of the light source.

There are printed vinyls (wood grain etc), metallic vinyls (these are mylar laminates, but have a relatively short outdoor life). There is also Holographic vinyl, and Blackboard vinyl (works much better than paint) there's even a 23 carat Gold vinyl, need we tell you it's expensive.