Most Frequently Asked Sign & Graphic Display “How to” Questions

How to Paint on Our Products:

Painting on Aluminum:
Laminators’ aluminum-surfaced panel products surfaces are comprised of a high gloss, factory-baked, polyester paint finish. Please use paints recommended for painting on this type of surface. Refer to the 'Sign Panel Tips And Tricks' section of our Resource Guide (“Your Guide to Producing Quality Signs") for painting recommendations. Our panel surfaces are ideal for digital inks (both UV and solvent cured), screen print inks, automotive acrylic enamels, polyurethanes, and lacquers (some may require light scuffing with fine grit sandpaper prior to painting). Follow paint manufacturer’s recommendations for proper application, thinning and cure times. The panel surface must remain dry, clean, and grease free prior to painting. Please consult with your local distributor to find the best inks and paints to use with our aluminum-surfaced panels.

We recommend prior to painting, performing a small paint adhesion test to check for adhesion. A cross-hatch test is a method for testing paint adhesion. Below is an explanation how to perform the test.

Painting on Vinyl:
Laminators’ vinyl-surfaced panel products surfaces are also high gloss. Please use paints recommended for painting on this type of surface. Refer to the 'Sign Panel Tips And Tricks' section of our Resource Guide (“Your Guide to Producing Quality Signs") for general painting recommendations, but consult with your local distributor to find the best inks and paints to use with our vinyl-surfaced panels. Our surfaces are ideal for automotive acrylic enamels, polyurethanes, lacquers, Krylon spray paints, and vinyl inks without any board preparation. The surface must remain dry, clean, and grease free prior to painting. Follow paint manufacturer’s recommendations for proper application, thinning and cure times.

We recommend performing a small paint adhesion test prior to painting. A cross-hatch test is a method for testing paint adhesion. Below is an explanation how to perform the test.

Painting on Omega-EP
Laminators’ Omega-EP should be painted with paints known to have compatibility with rigid PVC. Please consult with your local distributor to find the best inks and paints to use with Omega-EP. UV, solvent-based and acrylic inks and paints are compatible with Omega-EP. The surface must remain dry, clean, and grease free prior to painting. Follow paint manufacturer’s recommendations for proper application, thinning and cure times.

We recommend prior to painting, performing a small paint adhesion test to check for adhesion. A cross-hatch test is a method for testing paint adhesion. Below is an explanation how to perform the test.

Cross-Hatch Test:
All you need is a good grade of masking tape and a sharp utility (or Exacto) knife. You begin by making eleven parallel cuts 1/4” apart vertically and horizontally, about 1 inch long with the utility knife over the cured paint. The end result should look similar to a “Tic-Tac-Toe” game pattern. Apply the masking tape over the scored area and press firmly. Immediately remove the tape by pulling it back upon itself at 180° in one rapid motion. Then inspect the cross hatch to see if any of the finish has pulled away with the tape from the cut area, or if it is intact. There should be no removal of the paint squares.


How to Edge Seal Our Panels:

Please refer to the 'Edge Capping' section of our Resource Guide (“Your Guide to Producing Quality Signs”) for recommended edge seal instructions. While there are many other “industry-accepted” edge sealing methods that may provide adequate results, we cannot recommend each alternate edge-sealing method used in the industry.

How to Cut Our Panels:

Please refer to the 'Sign Panel Tips And Techniques' section of our Resource Guide (“Your Guide to Producing Quality Signs”) for recommended cutting instructions and techniques.


Recommended Sign Applications And Installation Techniques:

Please Refer to the 'Sign Panel Applications' and 'Sign Panel Installation' sections of our Resource Guide (“Your Guide to Producing Quality Signs”) for recommended panel applications and installation techniques. The recommendations within the Resource Guide are general industry accepted techniques. Please consult the local township where your sign will be installed for proper codes and ordinances required to properly install the sign.

How to Clean Our Panels:

Wipe the surface with a damp cloth. Alcohol is recommended for this process to remove any body oils (contamination is usually caused by body oils). Wipe again with a clean cloth or tack cloth and your surface to ready.