{"id":1899,"date":"2014-08-19T20:07:23","date_gmt":"2014-08-19T20:07:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theswitch.us\/blog\/?p=1899"},"modified":"2014-08-22T15:48:41","modified_gmt":"2014-08-22T15:48:41","slug":"best-substrates-outdoor-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/switch.us\/blog\/best-substrates-outdoor-events\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Substrates for Outdoor Events"},"content":{"rendered":"
For your brand activation or campaign to look and feel its best, make sure your outdoor prints stand up to the elements.<\/address>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cheap is good \u2026 sometimes. Netflix is cheap and good. Drip coffee is cheap and good. The Taco Bell dollar menu is cheap and good (well, that might be debatable). But the list pretty much ends there. Generally, if you want good,<\/i> you can\u2019t always run with what\u2019s cheap. And we\u2019re going to talk about how that theory applies to printed materials.<\/p>\n

Here at Switch, our printers are consistently moving paper through the press. Whether for internal signage, vehicle wraps or record-breaking cereal boxes, the printed material needs to be properly adhered to a base for reinforcement \u2013 we call this base a substrate. We use many types of substrates, ranging from lightweight corrugated plastic to thick fiberglass. Everything we print \u2013 whether used indoors or outdoors \u2013 is in need of a substrate for mounting, so we know the ins and outs of a variety of materials.<\/p>\n

Details, Details<\/h1>\n

So back to the topic of good and cheap: with every project we do, we find a substrate that delivers the best protection from outdoor elements at the right cost for a specified duration of time. So an afternoon activation might call for less expensive materials than a month-long campaign, but the quality is still the right match for that duration.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to ensure your presentation materials not only look good on the outside, but are also built to last for as long as you need them. If a client intends to add Velcro strips to the substrate so it can be repeatedly fused to and removed from a wall, it warrants a material that can handle the abuse. You don\u2019t want bent corners or creases in the print. A slight upgrade to a substrate that has a PVC coating or sturdy filling can make a world of difference.<\/p>\n

If Outdoors, Protect Against the Sun<\/h1>\n

For outdoor use, it\u2019s essential to take into account your worst enemy. The most damaging element to substrates isn\u2019t rain, wind or snow \u2013 but the beating sun. Harsh rays can warp the substrates and fade the print, especially during hot weather or over long periods of time. Determining the longevity of the campaign or activation is a good starting point for choosing a proper substrate.<\/p>\n

Varieties of Substrates<\/h1>\n

\"sintra\"<\/a>Closed-Cell PVC Foam Board:<\/strong> This material is a clear choice for a sturdy outdoor substrate. Made purely of PVC, this product is heavier and thicker than foam or paper. It\u2019s extremely durable, but comes at a higher price point.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"ultraplast\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Plastic-Coated Foam Board:<\/strong> These are two types of foam board that vary slightly in thickness and rigidity. While lightweight, they prevent signs from excessive wobbling.
\n <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"gatorplast-sample\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Polystyrene + Veneer:<\/strong> This substrate is great for outdoor use, because it features two thin layers of rigid plastic (polystyrene) around a piece of foam, making it quite firm. Plus it\u2019s resistant against water, so designs are protected.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"dibond-sample\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Aluminum Composite Material (ACM):<\/strong> This substrate is also made of two very thin sheets of aluminum, but instead of foam, there is a piece of plastic sandwiched between. It\u2019s very light and rigid, ranging only 3-6mm in thickness. It is also the most expensive substrate.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"coroplast\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Corrugated Plastic Sheets:<\/strong> You\u2019ve probably seen your fair share of this substrate during election season. The campaign signs that take over lawns are made up of this plastic corrugation material. The ribbed plastic allows yard stakes to easily fit through and into the ground. This material can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months \u2013 it depends on natural elements (including yard signs being confiscated by irate neighbors). It\u2019s fairly inexpensive and ideal for short-lived outdoor events.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Choosing the best substrate is simple: it just comes down to knowing what the prints will be used for, where they\u2019ll be and for how long. Substrates come in 4\u2019x8\u2019 rectangles, so there is (nearly) no limit to how big or small we scale the project.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

To find out which substrate best fits your next project, get in touch with the experts at\u00a0JannC@theswitch.us<\/a> or TomS@theswitch.us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For your brand activation or campaign to look and feel its best, make sure your outdoor prints stand up to the elements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":1916,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-featured-home","category-how-to"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Best Substrates for Outdoor Events - sw:tch blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/switch.us\/blog\/best-substrates-outdoor-events\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Best Substrates for Outdoor Events - sw:tch blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For your brand activation or campaign to look and feel its best, make sure your outdoor prints stand up to the elements.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/switch.us\/blog\/best-substrates-outdoor-events\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"sw:tch blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-08-19T20:07:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2014-08-22T15:48:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/switch.us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/outdoor-substrates.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"575\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Switch Marketing Team\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Switch Marketing Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/best-substrates-outdoor-events\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/best-substrates-outdoor-events\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Switch Marketing Team\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3faa6a5ff850b9c26f73be6015a7367c\"},\"headline\":\"The Best Substrates for Outdoor Events\",\"datePublished\":\"2014-08-19T20:07:23+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2014-08-22T15:48:41+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/best-substrates-outdoor-events\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":722,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/best-substrates-outdoor-events\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/08\\\/outdoor-substrates.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Featured\",\"Featured Home\",\"How To\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/best-substrates-outdoor-events\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/best-substrates-outdoor-events\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/best-substrates-outdoor-events\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Best Substrates for Outdoor Events - 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