See Casting on our Processes Page.

Any font or typeface that lacks serifs. In most sans serif fonts, there is little differentiation between the width of strokes within the letter, are common sans serif fonts.
See Serif.

Satin Finish

A lustrous, smooth finish between glossy and matte.
See Brushed Finish.

See Screen Printing on our Processes Page.

Refers to an item made of a clear substrate where the image is reversed and produced on the backside (or second-surface) of the substrate for viewing from the front side. Products that have second-surface printing or engraving have an advantage of having the clear substrate protect the image from abrasion, chemicals, and/or fading.
See Reverse Engraving on our Processes Page and Sub-Surface.

A small line or embellishment finishing off the strokes of letters in some fonts. Well-known serif fonts include

Temperature range over which the properties of a product remain unchanged if exposed incidentally.

A color made darker than the original by adding black to it.

(1.) A general classification of substrates made to distinguish material in sheet form from materials in film form. A sheet is a thin, relatively rigid piece of material used as a substrate when producing nameplates, signs, overlays and legend plates and tags. Common materials used in sheet (or rigid) form are plastics such as acrylic & polycarbonate, and metals (sheet metal) such as stainless steel, aluminum, and brass.
See also Film.
(2.) A thin flat piece of material, such as a sheet of paper.

A rigid substrate processed and/or decorated to produce a durable item for conveying information in the form of text and graphics. The most common substrates are metals and plastics. Signs are typically used to communicate directions, instructions, warnings, and advertisements when the message must be viewed from a distance or while in motion. Although signs and nameplates are made from many of the same materials utilizing many of the same processes, signs are larger than nameplates relatively speaking, and are intended for viewing at a greater distance. Sign is commonly used as a generic term for Labels, Decals, Nameplates, Overlays, Legend Plates, and Tags, as well as Signs.
VIEW SAMPLE SIGNS.

(1.) The use of graphic designs such, as symbols, emblems, or words, for identification or as a means of giving directions or warning.
(2.) Signs considered as a group.
(3.) Signage is commonly used as a generic term for Labels, Decals, Nameplates, Overlays, Legend Plates, and Tags, as well as Signs.

See Screen Printing on our Processes Page.

Trade name for PVC Foam Sheet.
See PVC Foam Sheet on our Materials Reference Chart.

A color that is printed utilizing only one color of ink, as opposed to four-color process printing.

The ability of a product to resist the deteriorating action of specific liquids such as: water, ethanol, MEK, acetone, ammonia, etc.

(1.) A tool to aid in the application of pre-spaced or printed vinyl decals. A hard plastic or nylon blade used to apply pressure to increase surface adhesion between a vinyl film and the surface it is being applied to.
(2.) In screen-printing, a flexible blade, mounted in a wood or metal handle, that is used to force ink through a stencil mounted on a screen.

A thin sheet of material into which a design is cut. When a stencil is placed on another substrate and paint or ink is applied, the image represented by the cut out portion of the stencil is printed on the substrate below it. Stencils range from metal to card stock to photo emulsions.

An adhesive backed label or decal. Sticker is commonly used as a generic term for Labels, Decals, Nameplates, Overlays, Legend Plates and Tags.
VIEW SAMPLE STICKERS.

(1.) The surface to which a self-adhesive material is applied.
(2.) The base material onto which printing, engraving, etching, vinyl application or other processes are performed to produce nameplates, decals, overlays, legend plates, signs, and tags. Example: The substrate of a screen-printed vinyl decal is vinyl film.

Sub-surface printing or engraving refers to printing or engraving done below the surface (or on the back) of the substrate.
See Second Surface.  See Reverse Engraving on our Processes Page.

The balance of design elements in which one side equals the other.

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