Different Types of Vinyl, Qualities, Their Differences, and Applications

The Little Guide to Vinyl

Choosing the right application-specific film is crucial for success in digital printing, advertising technology, building protection, and interior design. Films vary not only in quality but also in material composition, durability, and use. Here’s a detailed overview of key film types, their differences, and specific applications:

Basically, digital printing or advertising technology films are divided into three different, initially quality-independent types of films:

1. Opaque films are typically white for digital printing or solid-colored for other advertising applications like cut graphics. The latter can also be printed using appropriate printing techniques.
2. Transparent films, clear and colorless for digital printing, or also transparent and colored for other advertising applications such as plots. Here too, the latter films can be printed using the appropriate printing technology.
3. Translucent or opal films, white, opaque, but light-permeable for digital printing, or also transparent and colored for other advertising applications such as plots. These films can also be printed using the appropriate printing technology. Translucent films are almost exclusively used in light advertising, such as on light boxes or illuminated signs.

Opaque digital printing vinyl

Characteristics:

• Light-Blocking: Opaque films block light completely and are fully opaque.
• Material: Usually made of PVC with a specially pigmented layer for light blocking.
• Printing Effect: Colors appear vibrant and intense, as no light scattering occurs through the film.

Applications:

1. Signs & Posters: Ideal for advertising signs, construction fence banners, and trade show displays where clear readability and color impact are crucial, even under bright lighting.
2. Vehicle Lettering: Often used for vehicle advertising, as no background structures are visible.
3. Privacy Window Films: Opaque films excel at preventing visibility into spaces, e.g., for storefronts or offices.

Advantages:

• Perfect coverage of surfaces, regardless of their color or texture.
• Excellent color reproduction, as no light enters from the backside.

Disadvantages:

• No light permeability, making it unsuitable for applications where light effects are desired.

Transparent digital printing vinyl

Characteristics:

• Completely light-permeable: Transparent films allow light to pass through unhindered, making the underlying surface visible.
• Material: Typically thin PVC or polyester without light-blocking pigments.
• Print effect: Ink is semi-transparent, allowing the background to show through.

Applications:

1. Window Decoration: Perfect for glass surfaces where the view to the outside should be preserved, such as in shop windows or glass partitions.
2. Backlit Advertising: Advertising graphics applied to the inside of a window to be viewed from the outside.
3. Protective Films with Branding: Can be used as the top layer to protect glass surfaces while integrating a design.

Advantages:

• Allows for creative designs where the background is part of the concept.
• Ideal for transparent surfaces and applications where light effects play a role.

Disadvantages:

• Less vibrant color reproduction, as the background can affect the print colors.
• Not suitable for complete privacy or light blockage.

Translucent vinyl

Characteristics:

• Partially light-permeable: Translucent films scatter light but allow it to pass through. The background is not clearly visible but appears diffuse.
• Material: PVC or polyester with a specialized light-diffusing layer.
• Printing Effect: Print colors appear vibrant as the light is evenly distributed and not affected by direct visibility.

Applications:

1. Illuminated Advertising: Ideal for backlit signs or light boxes, as the light is evenly distributed and the colors appear radiant.
2. Decorative Window Films: For stylish privacy solutions where a diffuse light effect is desired.
3. Architecture and Interior Design: Used for partition walls or decorations with indirect lighting.

Advantages:

• Even light diffusion for a homogeneous appearance, especially when illuminated.
• Versatile applications in advertising and architecture.

Disadvantages:

• Not fully light-opaque, thus unsuitable for privacy solutions requiring complete blockage.

Overview of vinyl qualities

The different film qualities determine the properties and application areas of a film. We work with 7 different film qualities to provide flexibility in our projects.

1. Monomeric vinyl

Characteristics:

• Material: Soft PVC with high flexibility.
• Durability: 1 to 4 years (depending on manufacturer and environmental factors).
• Adhesive: Often permanent, semi-permanent or removable.
• Thickness: 80–100 micrometers (µm).

Applications:

• Short-term and medium-term applications for both indoor and outdoor use.
• Advertising signs, trade fair construction, limited short-term vehicle lettering, only on flat, smooth surfaces.
• Store front decoration.

Limitations:

• Limited durability outdoors (UV and weather resistance).
• Lower dimensional stability on uneven or curved surfaces.

2. Polymer vinyl

Characteristics:

• Material: High-quality soft PVC with optimized dimensional stability.
• Durability: 5 to 7 years (depending on UV exposure and processing).
• Adhesive: Usually permanent or repositionable.
• Thickness: 60–80 µm.

Applications:

• Long-term outdoor advertising technology.
• Limited vehicle lettering on straight or slightly curved surfaces on the vehicle.
• Store front display and outdoor advertising.
• Surfaces with slight curvature or texture.

Advantages:

• Higher stability and weather resistance than monomeric films.
• Less shrinkage in use.

Limitations:

• More expensive than monomeric films.
• Not suitable for extreme 3D surfaces.

3. Cast vinyl

Characteristics:

• Material: Highest quality PVC with maximum flexibility.
• Durability: 7 to 12 years (depending on UV exposure and care).
• Adhesive: Permanent, repositionable or with air channels for bubble-free bonding.
• Thickness: 50–60 µm.

Applications:

• Full vehicle wrapping (car wrapping).
• Building cladding and surfaces with complex 3D structures.
• Long-term outdoor applications.

Advantages:

• Excellent formability and dimensional stability, even under extreme deformations.
• Very long durability and UV resistance.
• Premium surface finish, e.g. high-gloss, matte or metallic.

Limitations:

• Higher price and more complex processing require specialist knowledge.

4. Special vinyls

Characteristics:

• Films with special functions or surfaces, such as UV protection, anti-graffiti, thermal insulation or reflective properties.
• Material: Varies depending on the application (PVC, PET, polycarbonate).
• Durability: 2 to 10 years depending on film type and application.

Types and applications:

• Reflective vinyl: For traffic signs, safety markings and vehicle identification.
• Sun protection vinyl: Reduction of UV and heat radiation in buildings.
• Anti-graffiti vinyl: Protect surfaces from paint damage and vandalism.
• Frosted glass vinyl: Decorative privacy screens, e.g., for offices or bathrooms.

Advantages:

• Additional functionality.
• Often also aesthetically demanding (e.g. metallic effects).

Limitations:

• Special vinyl often requires precise processing and are often relatively expensive.

5. Polyolefin and PET films

Characteristics:

• Material: Polyolefin (more environmentally friendly) or polyester (PET) for specific applications.
• Shelf life: 3 to 7 years.

Applications:

• Polyolefin vinyl: packaging applications and temporary advertising technology.
• PET vinyl: screen protection, security graphics and heat-resistant applications.

Advantages:

• PET is extremely durable and chemical-resistant.
• Polyolefin is a more environmentally friendly alternative to PVC.

Limitations:

• Less elastic than PVC, therefore limited formability.

6. Application Tape

Characteristics:

• Material: Paper or plastic vinyl with weak adhesive.
• Durability: Short-term, as it is only used for bonding or transferring plotter letters, patterns or appropriately prepared contour-cut digital prints.

Applications:

• Transfer of plotted lettering, logos or graphics to the target surface.

Advantages:

• Facilitates the precise positioning of films.

Limitations:

• Just an aid, not a permanent vinyl.

7. Stencil vinyl

Properties and materials of stencil vinyl

Stencil vinyl are made of durable, thin materials that are easy to cut and place. Depending on the application, these vinyls can be made from different types of materials; this is usually done with plotters, but can also be done manually.

Types and applications:

1. Polyester films (PET): Robust and tear-resistant, suitable for delicate patterns and multiple uses.
2. Adhesive vinyl: Flexible and self-adhesive, often used for temporary stencils or applications on uneven surfaces.
3. Paper-based adhesive stencil vinyl: Environmentally friendly, suitable for single use.

• Alignment for attaching individual letters made of different materials such as metal, wood or PVC and other materials.
• Preparation, positioning and alignment of surfaces to be painted on objects such as furniture or exhibition areas, banners, displays, walls or floors.

It is particularly used in event marketing, event decorations, festivals, for short and long-term marking work, labeling on machines or equipment, designing interior and exterior walls or wall designs, airbrush graphics of text and logos, and also for creating decorative patterns, including on asphalt or paving stones as floor markings in one or more colors.

Conclusion

The choice of the right film quality depends on the project's requirements, desired durability, and budget. As a professional printing service provider, we support our customers through:

• Individual Consultation: Analysis of requirements and selection of the optimal vinyl quality.
• Precise Production: Production of the desired vinyl, their further processing, and installation even for the most demanding projects.
• Long-term Support: Care instructions and replacement as needed.

As a professional printing service provider, we assist you in selecting and processing the optimal film. Whether monomeric films for short-term advertising, polymeric films for durable lettering, or cast films for demanding car wrapping projects – we find the perfect solution for your project.