Sign Mounting – Solid & Core
Mounting & substrates
At ADGraphics, we provide professional sign mounting and print substrate solutions designed for durability, precision, and visual impact. Mounting is an essential step in transforming printed graphics into finished displays that are ready for installation in corporate offices, retail environments, trade shows, and outdoor locations.
Whether you need lightweight mounting for temporary indoor signage, or heavy-duty rigid boards for long-term outdoor use, our wide range of substrates ensures your project is tailored to its environment. From foam core to acrylic, PVC to Dibond, each material offers unique benefits in strength, flexibility, weight, and finish.
For more than 30 years, ADGraphics has partnered with leading corporations to deliver custom mounting services that protect graphics, enhance longevity, and present a professional look. Our team helps you choose the right substrate for your application, so your brand is always represented with clarity and quality.
Core boards
Corex (Coroplast)
- Thickness: 3/16″ & 3/8″ corrugated plastic
- Colors: Available in all colors
- Best for: Lightweight, sturdy exterior use
Corex, also known as Coroplast, is a popular choice for outdoor signs, event displays, and temporary signage. Its corrugated structure makes it durable yet economical, perfect for campaigns or short-term exterior displays.
Foam Core
- Thickness: 3/16″ white or black
- Options: Available with or without adhesive backing
- Best for: Lightweight interior signage
Foam Core is ideal for posters, presentations, and indoor displays where low weight and smooth finish are important. It is not recommended for exterior use, but remains a cost-effective solution for short-term interior applications.
Gator Board
- Thickness: 1/4″ & 1/2″ black
- Properties: Very rigid, lightweight
- Best for: High-end interior displays
Stronger than Foam Core, Gator Board offers superior rigidity and durability. It is perfect for retail displays, exhibits, and presentations that require a more professional, long-lasting finish indoors.
C-Bond (Sign-Bond)
- Thickness: 1/8″ & 1/4″ double-faced aluminum with plastic core
- Properties: Rigid, strong, weather-resistant
- Best for: Exterior signs and long-term displays
C-Bond, also known as Sign-Bond, is the best choice for outdoor signage. The aluminum faces combined with a solid plastic core provide excellent strength, flatness, and resistance to weather, making it the go-to material for long-lasting professional signs.
Protectors & illuminates
When your project requires both graphic protection and illumination, ADGraphics offers specialized substrates that enhance durability and bring signage to life with vibrant backlighting. These materials are ideal for corporate branding, retail environments, transportation hubs, and outdoor displays where visibility and performance matter most.
Clear Acrylic
- Thickness: 1/8″ & 1/4″
- Best for: Second-surface mounting & backlit signs
Clear acrylic provides a sleek, glass-like surface that is both durable and versatile. It’s commonly used for second-surface mounting applications where graphics are applied behind the acrylic for added protection, as well as for backlit signs that require crisp light transmission.
White Plexiglass (Translucent Acrylic)
- Thickness: 1/8″ & 1/4″ Plexiglas
- Best for: Illuminated backlit signs
White translucent acrylic—often referred to as Plexiglass—is specifically designed for backlit and illuminated signage. It diffuses light evenly, making graphics appear bright, clear, and vibrant in both indoor and outdoor illuminated displays.
Polycarbonate (Lexan)
- Thickness: 1/8″ & 1/4″
- Properties: Very strong, virtually unbreakable
- Best for: Illuminated backlit signs, protective sign faces
Polycarbonate, also known by the brand name Lexan, is one of the most durable signage materials available. It is virtually unbreakable and resistant to impact, making it the best choice for illuminated backlit signs in high-traffic or outdoor environments. Available in any size, it ensures long-lasting performance.
3M Panaflex
- Thickness: 1/32″ flexible material
- Best for: Wrap-around illuminated backlit billboards
3M Panaflex is a flexible substrate designed specifically for large-format illuminated billboards. Its flexibility allows it to wrap around structures, providing seamless illuminated surfaces for corporate campaigns, retail advertising, and outdoor branding.
Wood boards
For projects that demand strength, durability, and long life in outdoor environments, ADGraphics offers several wood-based mounting substrates. These boards are ideal for exterior signage, construction sites, real estate displays, and long-term outdoor branding where toughness is essential.
Raw MDO
- Thickness: 1/4″ & 1/2″
- Best for: Strong exterior use, long-lasting outdoor signs
Raw Medium Density Overlay (MDO) is a highly durable wood substrate designed for harsh exterior conditions. It is resistant to warping and weather damage, making it a reliable option for outdoor signage and construction signs.
Painted MDO
- Thickness: 1/4″ & 1/2″
- Finish: Available finished on 1 or 2 sides
- Best for: Finished outdoor signs with extended lifespan
Painted MDO offers the same durability as raw MDO, but comes pre-finished for a professional appearance. With one or both sides coated, it delivers a smooth, ready-to-use surface that extends the life of outdoor signs.
Chip Board
- Thickness: 1/4″ & 1/2″
- Finish: Available 1 or 2 sided
- Best for: Inexpensive, strong exterior signage
Chip Board is an economical choice for temporary or budget-conscious exterior signage. Despite its lower cost, it provides strength and durability, making it a practical solution for short-term outdoor projects or campaign signs.
Masonite
- Thickness: 1/4″
- Finish: Available 1 or 2 sided
- Best for: Strong, long-lasting exterior applications
Masonite is a dense wood-based substrate offering excellent strength and resilience. It is often used for long-term exterior signage where a rigid and durable board is required.
Solid boards
Our solid board substrates offer a balance of strength, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. These materials are commonly used in both interior signage and select exterior applications where rigidity and durability are required. From lightweight plastics to reinforced fiberglass, ADGraphics provides mounting options to fit a variety of project needs.
PVC Plastic
- Thickness: 1/8″, 1/4″ & 1/2″
- Colors: Available in all colors
- Best for: Sturdy interior use, limited exterior lifespan
PVC Plastic is a versatile substrate widely used for indoor signage, retail displays, and wall-mounted graphics. While it offers good strength and a clean finish indoors, its outdoor lifespan is limited, making it better suited for interior projects.
Fiberglass (Fiber-Brite)
- Thickness: 1/16″ reinforced fiberglass
- Properties: Flexible or rigid
- Best for: Long-life exterior signage
Fiber-Brite is a reinforced fiberglass panel designed for long-term outdoor durability. Available in flexible or rigid formats, it is an excellent choice for permanent exterior signs that must withstand weather and wear.
Polystyrene
- Thickness: 1/32″ light plastic
- Properties: Flexible, lightweight
- Best for: Interior signs, short-term exterior use
Polystyrene is a cost-effective, lightweight substrate that works well for interior displays, menu boards, and temporary signs. It can be used outdoors for short periods, but its limited durability makes it best for indoor or short-term projects.
Celuka
- Thickness: 1/2″ & 1″
- Colors: White or black
- Best for: Strong interior signage, limited exterior use
Celuka is a dense, rigid PVC board offering excellent strength and flatness. It is commonly used for dimensional lettering, indoor displays, and structural signage. While suitable for some exterior projects, its lifespan outdoors is limited compared to other rigid substrates.
Request a quote
Ready to give your graphics a professional finish? Contact ADGraphics today to learn more about our expert mounting solutions. From foam board and acrylic to specialty substrates, our team ensures your prints are displayed with precision, durability, and impact. We’ll guide you through material options, sizing, and installation so your graphics look their best in any setting.