Substrates & materials
From premium thick stocks to acrylic, PVC, styrene, corrugated plastic, metal, magnets, foam board, and PETG, Execuprint helps match the substrate to the job—not just the artwork.
Rigid displays — PVC, styrene, foam and metal
Clear materials — acrylic, plexi and PETG
Premium feel — 24 pt and 48 pt stock
Material strategy
A substrate affects how a piece feels, installs, ships, lasts, and performs. If you already know the manufacturer, grade, weight, thickness, or color, send the specification. If the material is open, tell us what the finished piece needs to do.
We can review the requested construction and confirm the practical production path.
We can narrow practical options from the application and performance requirements.
Material families
These are broad material categories, not inventory commitments. The production specification should narrow the manufacturer, grade, color, finish, size, weight, or thickness required for the job.
Coated and uncoated text and cover, synthetic sheets, paperboard, and premium thick constructions for commercial print, books, cards, covers, inserts, and packaging.
Coated / uncoated / synthetic / 24 pt / 48 ptPVC and styrene provide a clean, printable surface for signs, panels, shelf graphics, retail displays, and other applications needing more structure than paper.
PVC / styrene / multiple thicknessesFoam board, Ultra Board, corrugated plastic, and E-flute board balance rigidity and weight for presentations, signs, dimensional displays, packaging, events, and point-of-purchase programs.
Foam / Ultra Board / corrugated plastic / E-fluteAcrylic, plexiglass, and PETG support clear panels, overlays, dimensional pieces, and polished displays where transparency, reverse printing, or white ink may be part of the build.
Acrylic / plexiglass / PETGPressure-sensitive films and magnetic substrates can support wall, window, floor, counter, promotional, vehicle, and changeable graphic applications when matched to the surface and intended use.
Adhesive / removable / magnetic / laminated optionsAluminum and other approved specialty substrates can provide added durability, rigidity, or presentation value for signage, displays, panels, and custom applications.
Application and equipment compatibility requiredOptional specification reference
For buyers who want more detail, this expandable reference summarizes common ranges. It is not a stock list; current options should be confirmed for the project.
Text:
60, 70, 80 and 100 lb.
Cover:
65, 80, 100, 110 and 130 lb.
Bright white, blue white, warm white, natural and ivory are common. Gloss, silk, dull, matte and uncoated surfaces vary by grade. Black, kraft and other colors are generally specialty papers.
Ranges can extend from 24 lb writing through 80–100 lb text, 80–130 lb cover and selected 165–220 lb double-thick covers.
Whites, naturals, gray, black, blue, red, kraft, brights, pearl and metallic colors are available across different lines. Not every color is offered in every weight, finish or digital size.
12, 14, 16, 18 and 24 pt are common categories. Heavier 32–48 pt pieces may require a selected double-thick grade or a laminated construction.
White coated and uncoated faces are most common. Natural, black, colored, kraft and contrasting duplex combinations depend on the mill grade and construction.
Common graphic grades include 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 12.7 mm. Some product families extend from 1–38 mm.
Bright white and black have the broadest thickness coverage. Gray, light gray, red, yellow, green and blue are commonly limited to selected gauges—often 3 or 6 mm. Custom sizes or colors may require minimums.
Manufacturing ranges extend from approximately .020 to .250 in. Common display gauges include .020, .030, .040 and .060 in.
Dead white is the normal print surface. Black and natural are also available; custom colors, corona treatment, texture and print grade may require a specific run or minimum quantity.
Foam board is commonly 1/8, 3/16, 3/8 and 1/2 in. Rigid wood-fiber-faced boards are commonly 3/16, 3/8 and 1/2 in., with thicker grades available in selected constructions.
Bright white and black are the main face colors. White/black combinations, natural faces and white or black foam cores are available in selected gauges.
2–10 mm is the published graphic-sheet range. Four millimeter is the most familiar sign gauge; heavier panels use thicker flute structures.
White, black and natural are widely offered. Blue, red, yellow, green, orange, gray, brown and ivory appear in manufacturer ranges, but color availability depends heavily on gauge, size and quantity.
Approximately 1/16 in. thick. Board strength and weight are defined by the liners, medium, flute and combined-board construction—not by thickness alone.
White-top and natural kraft faces are common starting points. Clay-coated, coated, colored or specialty liners should be confirmed by board grade and converting requirements.
Broad manufacturing ranges run from about .040 in. to 1 in. Common display gauges include .060, .080, .118, .177, .236, .354 and .472 in.
Clear, white and black are core choices. Bronze, smoke gray and selected transparent, translucent, fluorescent, mirrored and opaque colors are available—but specific color/thickness combinations may carry minimums.
Published sheet ranges extend from .020 to .500 in., with custom sheet dimensions and thicknesses available by manufacturer.
Clear is the primary choice. White, black, bronze, smoke gray and satin options exist in selected product lines; non-stock colors and sizes may require a minimum order.
Three millimeter is a common aluminum-composite sign panel. Solid sign aluminum is commonly specified at .040, .063 or .080 in.
White, black, aluminum metallic, brushed metal and bronze are common families. Selected composite lines also include blue, green, red and yellow—usually in specific gauges and sheet sizes.
Manufacturer ranges span approximately .007–.060 in. Common printable constructions include .015, .020 and .030 in.; some digital sheet products are 11–17 mil overall.
Matte white and gloss white printable faces are most common. Black, blue, yellow, red, green, silver, gold and orange vinyl laminates are available in selected constructions.
Printable cast and calendered films are commonly about 2–4 mil before the liner; laminate and adhesive construction add to the finished system.
White and clear dominate printable films; black is available in selected products. Cut-vinyl and translucent systems offer dozens of colors, while reflective, perforated, metallic, textured and floor products use application-specific constructions.
“100 lb” text and “100 lb” cover are different constructions. GSM gives a better cross-category weight comparison; caliper describes thickness.
A product family may offer many colors, but only a few may be stocked in the required thickness and sheet size. Confirm before artwork release.
Finished weight depends on density, thickness, sheet size, ink, laminate, hardware and fabrication. Calculate it from the approved construction.
Before production release
The substrate affects print response, converting, installation, packing, freight, and service life. These are the variables most likely to change performance or the delivered result.
White point, surface finish, dyne level, transparency, material color, ink laydown, white ink, coating, and lamination can change appearance and adhesion. Critical expectations should be defined before production.
Caliper, rigidity, grain or flute direction, brittleness, liner, protective mask, and finished geometry affect scoring, folding, digital cutting, routing, registration, assembly, and achievable tolerance.
Surface type, texture, paint condition, temperature, removability, installation method, hardware, and expected duration should guide adhesive or mounting choices.
Weight, dimensions, rigidity, edge vulnerability, scuffing, bend risk, carton size, stacking, and destination handling affect how finished materials should be packed and shipped.
Indoor versus outdoor use, UV, moisture, cleaning, abrasion, temperature, wind, handling, and installation conditions influence the material and protective finish.
Food contact, fire rating, recycled content, recyclability, chemical resistance, or other regulated requirements may require supplier documentation and application-specific validation.
Material samples
When suitable samples are available, we can ship them for review. Tell us what you are producing, the material or performance you are considering, and where the samples should be sent. We will select the most useful available examples.
Quote and production handoff
A complete handoff lets us evaluate the material with the production, finishing, packing, and delivery requirements—not as an isolated line item. If the material is open, provide the same application details and we can help define a practical specification.
Material names can describe a family rather than one exact product. Thickness, stiffness, surface, color, print response, availability, and suitability may vary by manufacturer and grade. Final specifications, samples, testing, and documentation should be confirmed for the intended application before production.
Material review
Send the material specification with the quantity, finished size, converting, delivery, and required date. If the substrate is still open, tell us what the finished piece must do and we can help identify practical options to evaluate.
Final recommendations depend on application, artwork, specifications, availability, equipment compatibility, finishing, quantity, testing requirements, and timeline.