Available in 1/8" thickness

Available in Gloss Finish

European Gold is not recommended for harsh or high humidity indoor or outdoor applications.

Multi-ply layered sheet material consisting of a laminated top piece over a base layer. The cap layer is engraved or lasered through to expose the core layer, thus providing a color contrast between cap and core.

Signage produced for indoor applications where UV stability and weather-ability are not required.

Acrylic core materials with thin cap surfaces that can be easily engraved with minimal wattage at increased speeds. ABS materials are not recommended for lasering applications.

The ability of plastic engraving material to withstand exterior weathering conditions. Rowmark products designated as "outdoor weatherable" are designed to withstand average conditions and temperatures for up to 2 years without significant degradation. Although no specific life can be designated to any product, Rowmark recognizes that under normal conditions the material will not break down physically. Materials may become brittle and some discoloration or fading will occur when used in harsh environments or exposed for extended periods of time.

Clear cap with microsurface or laminated core, machined from the reverse or backside of the material. Back-painting is a popular method of achieving contrast in color. (Example: Rowmark's Ultra-Mattes Reverse-Engravable)

This marking method uses a single or multiple fluted cutting tool which rotates through the work to remove material, leaving a trough of exposed core. As compared to diamond-drag, rotary engraving may result in deep cutting or the complete cutout of a letter or object. The cutter's tip size determines the width of the cut. In most applications, the spindle micrometer setting controls the depth of cut. This process is suitable for most commercial and industrial work. Unlike diamond-drag, rotary engraving is the only means of engraving plastic materials with controlled depth.

The ability of the engraving material to maintain its colorfastness in UV conditions for a limited period of time. Although colorfastness is a desirable condition, no man-made product will remain colorfast in an exterior environment indefinitely. Rowmark uses UV stable plastic resins and foils in many products to prolong the useful life of the material when used in exterior conditions.

Acrylonytrile and styrene liquids and butadiene gas are polymerized together in a variety of ratios to produce a family of ABS resins. Rowmark uses ABS resins in the manufacture of the core material for products such as Satins and Mattes. ABS resins are good for interior use products and are selected for their moderate costs and excellent engraving characteristics.

A thermoplastic material compound of polymers of methyl methacrylate. It is a transparent solid with exceptional optical properties and good resistance to water. It is obtainable in the form of sheets, granules, solutions, and emulsions. It is extensively used for, lighting, fixtures, decorative articles, etc.; it is also used in optical instruments and surgical appliances. The molecular structure of acrylic provides increased protection from sunlight’s ultraviolet rays; material is noted for outdoor durability and colorfastness. Typically marketed under trade names such as Plexiglas and Lucite. Rowmark uses blends in the construction of its various products such as Lacquers, Ultra-Mattes, laser engravable products.

ADA requirements are part of the broader ADA accessibility guidelines (ADAAG), which contain requirements for new construction and alteration. The Access Board develops ADAAG guidelines to serve as the basis for standards like the ADA. ADA regulation is relevant in a portion of ADAAG, including public accommodation, commercial facilities and state and local government facilities. ADAAG is derived from the earlier UFAS (Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards) and was created in 1991.

American National Standards Institute. The Institute oversees the creation of thousands of US consensus standards that directly impact US businesses to strengthen the country’s global position. ANSI does not develop standards like the ADA, but rather accredits/validates the process.

Material that is applied to a background substrate material. This material is adhesive backed and is 1/32"(.78 mm) thick. The outlines of characters and pictograms are cut out using a rotary or laser system. The excess material is removed, leaving the raised characters.

The optional air assist package directs a constant stream of compressed air across the engraving or cutting surface at the point of burn. An invaluable tool for deep, clean engraving and cutting, the air assist removes the heat and combustible gases from the surface of the material. This allows you to use all of the available laser power to cut deeply into materials such as wood, acrylic, rubber or other materials that are susceptible to burning and scorching.

Procedure to join together two sheets of plastic or to join plastic to another substrate. It is recommended that the user test any new adhesive or bonding agent prior to use. Many solvent type adhesives will break down plastics or cause bleeding of pigments. Superglue is not recommended.

The beam handling/flying optics employs the use of a stationary laser and a stationary table, with flying x-y optics and vector positioning. In the case of most 10 watt – 100 watt systems including Vision Pro Laser Systems, the laser beam generated in the laser tube is directed to the focusing lens by a series of special mirrors fix-mounted. The focusing lens travels in the x and y directions by servo or stepper motor control. Although there are several types of beam handling systems, this approach is common to all industry systems.

In general terms, bitmaps are patterns of dots that blend together to form pictures. They are dot-like computer images designed to display on computer screens and print in ink. Collections of dots make up raster images, which do not have vector outlines, and therefore cannot be engraved without "vectorizing". A computer scanner creates raster images, as well as most paint-type computer programs. Grayscale bitmaps are used when engraving photographs. Color bitmaps are not recommended for laser engraving.

Laminated top piece in sheet materials with multi-ply layers. The Cap Layer is engraved or lasered through to expose the core layer thus providing a color "contrast" between the cap and core.

CO2 refers to the gas mixture used to generate the laser beam. CO2 laser systems used in the engraving and marking industry can range from 10 watts of power to over 1000. Most compact laser systems are offered in the 10–100 watt ranges. These units are capable of marking or engraving wood, glass, Plexiglas, acrylic, rubber, ceramics, coated metals and marble. In the higher wattage (25 or greater), material such as acrylic may be completely and accurately cut out to form various shapes.

The base layer(s) in a multi-ply sheet. Rowmark provides core layer products in modified acrylic and ABS plastics. The core is the foundation or base that the cap layer is applied to.

A pre-printing surface modification technique involving the discharge of corona plasma through the application of high voltages to impart changes in material's properties and surface energy. This is often conducted on plastic sheet materials, as most have a low surface tension. Rowmark's DigiMark OSi does not require corona treating or any pre-printing surface modification.

The application of paint to the engraved areas of substrate. This technique is most commonly used in reverse engraving applications.

Printing high quality, full color images directly onto a variety of flat and 3-dimensional substrates without the use of a transfer paper or heat press. Direct ink-jet printing is done today in both large format (large scale projects, bigger applications) and small format (more custom gifts, etc.)

The Department of Justice. The DOJ helps to create and enforce ADA regulation and is the governing body that fines violations/takes them to court. (Up to $55,000 for the first ADA violation and up to $110,000 for further violations.)

A method of putting a hole into a piece of plastic using a press or hand drill. When mounting plastic signs, the hole size should be 1 ½ larger than the mounting screw or bolt to allow for the thermal expansion and contraction of the plastic.

Running multiple passes over an area to achieve deep results. This may be necessary when the laser is of low power or the material is unusually hard.

Digital printing inks with outdoor weatherable properties. ECO Solvent inks have potential to last up to two years outdoors when flooded with clear coat and up to at least six months unprotected, depending on the climate.

The amount of laser power that is applied to the material surface. For a given speed, the higher the power setting, the deeper the cut or engraving. Adjustable in 1% increments, the power can be controlled from either your computer or from the laser control panel. Power can also equate to speed. For a given depth of cut, a 50 watt laser can travel significantly faster than a 25 watt laser and achieve the same depth of cut without a subsequent loss in quality. This means with a higher watt laser, you can produce more products faster. In addition, a 50-watt laser will also cut through thicker materials than either a 12 or 25 watt laser system.

The speed at which the engraving head travels is expressed in inches per second (IPS). High speeds mean high productivity. Speed is also used to control the depth of cut. For a given power level, the slower the speed, the deeper the laser will engrave or cut. The speed is adjustable in 1% increments and can be controlled either from your computer or from the control panel on the laser engraver.

A very thin gauge material that is applied as a cap to the core layer. This applied material is sometimes referred to as a "Micro-surfaced" material. Foils are heat transferable to the core. Rowmark uses foils on products such as LaserMAX, Mattes, FlexiColor/FlexiBrass and Metals.

A smooth or polished surface. Smooth or glossy surfaces are the result of the lamination process of products such as Slickers or Lacquers. Glossy surfaces will show surface abrasions more easily.

The material may be heated using industry recognized heat benders. Crazing of the plastic may occur if the material is over 1/16" thick or if improperly heated and cooled.

This is a dry printing method in which a heated die (with engraved plates) and foil are used to apply graphics to a surface. The die is mounted and heated, the foil is positioned above the material to be imprinted and a combination of heat, dwell time and pressure control the quality of the stamp. This is an alternate fabrication method to digital printing.

Engraving operation for marking plastics in which roll leaf is stamped with heated metal dies onto the face of the plastics.Ink compounds can also be used.

Halftones refer to the series of dots arranged in a specific pattern to form an image. Also know as grayscale bitmaps, halftones are popular for the laser engraving of photographs.

See Acrylic.

Signage produced for indoor applications where UV stability and weatherability are not required.

One or both of the plies of impact acrylic are mechanically bonded together under heat, pressure, temperature and time.The cap is typically between .005" and .010" in thickness.

Acrylic core materials with thin cap surfaces that can be easily engraved with minimal wattage at increased cutting speeds.ABS materials are not recommended for lasering applications.

This is an image transfer paper system similar to sublimation that allows a full color image from a color copier or printer to be transferred virtually onto any application product via various specialized heat presses (one for flat substrates, one for hats, one for mugs, etc.) This is an alternate fabrication method to digital printing.

A low gloss finish achieved during the extrusion or lamination process.Typically durable and resisting finger prints.Does not easily show surface scratches or abrasion.

A plastic used chiefly for laminated coatings.

A plastic engraving material with a cap, or top layer, around 1 to 2 thousandths of an inch in thickness, compared to a standard cap depth of ten thousandths of an inch or greater.

A modified blend of multi-polymer compounds containing ingredients such as fillers, pigments or additives that help to vary the physical properties of a plastic material. As opposed to Impact Acrylic, this material is not UV stable.

Masking refers to the low adhesive tape that is sometimes applied to a product prior to laser engraving. The masking protects some materials from potential smoke or heat damage and also allows for color filling of the engraved image. The laser engraves through the tape leaving the exposed area for paint filling. After the paint has dried, the masking can be removed. This process is particularly useful when greater contrast is required between the engraved area and the substrate.

Often confused with UV stability, outdoor weatherability is the ability of plastic engraving material to withstand exterior weathering conditions.Rowmark products designated as "outdoor weatherable" are designed to withstand average conditions and temperatures for up to 2 years(the following exceptions apply-5 years for ADA Alternative Substrate&Applique, Textures, Lacquers, Slickers, Ultra-Mattes Front&Reverse materials), without significant degradation.Although no specific life can be designated to any product, Rowmark recognizes that under reasonable/normal weather conditions the material will not break down physically.Materials may become brittle and some discoloration or fading will occur when used in harsher environments or exposed for extended periods of time.

Applications such as name badges, small tags or signage.

This is a type of plastic produced with phenol resin.

Can include a variety of chemical techniques that are used on the substrate before digital printing to improve ink bonding. Rowmark's DigiMark OSi does not require corona treating or any pre-printing surface modification.

Precision plastic, metal or glass beads are inserted into drilled holes to create raised, round Braille beads.

This marking method uses a single or multiple fluted cutting tool which rotates through the work to remove material, leaving a trough of exposed core. As compared to diamond-drag, rotary engraving may result in deep cutting or the complete cutout of a letter or object.The cutter’s tip size determines the width of the cut.In most applications, the spindle micrometer setting controls the depth of cut.This process is suitable for most commercial and industrial work.Unlike diamond-drag, rotary engraving is the only means of engraving plastic materials with controlled depth.

Raster engraving can best be described as very high-resolution dot matrix printing. Used to create highly detailed graphic images, the laser head scans back and forth, left to right, engraving a series of dots one line at a time. As the laser head moves down, line by line, the dot pattern begins to form the image that was printed from your computer. Scanned images, text and clipart are types of graphic images that are normally raster engraved at resolutions up to 1200 DPI.

Resolution is a measure of the image quality that can be achieved with a laser engraver. Resolution is expressed in dots per inch (DPI) and is determined by the number of lines or dots that are engraved for every inch of movement. The higher the resolution, the finer the detail that can be achieved. The Vision-Pro laser systems can cut from 200-1000 DPI.

As used in Rowmark product specifications, the material can be cut using industry recognized "safety saws". Safety saws provide a fine tooth high speed cut that produces a clean edge.Rowmark does not recommend circular or table saws because unacceptable edge chipping may occur.

A procedure used to cut sheet material.A sharp knife is used to cut the material to a minimal depth.The sheet may be bent or broken completely by hand to produce the necessary finished size of material.This procedure is inexpensive, but not preferred.Acrylics perform better than softer ABS materials using this procedure.

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink or other printable materials, which can be pressed through the mesh with a fill blade or squeegee to create a sharp-edged image on a substrate. Screen printing is also known as silkscreen, serigraphy, and serigraph printing. This is an alternate fabrication method to digital printing.

The engraving sheet will be receptive to most screen printing inks.Due to the variety of available inks, it is recommended that users pre-test the material for compatibility with their inks

Clear cap with microsurface or laminated core, machined from the reverse or backside of the material.Back painting is a popular method of achieving a contrast in color. Example: Rowmark Ultra-Matte Reverse

Material can be cut with a pneumatic, foot, or hand shear.Typically hand shears(the most common), can accommodate material that is up to 12 inches wide by any length. While there are two versions of the shear, one for plastic and one for metal, they are actually the same device, but have different upper blades.The plastic-cutting shear has a knife-like upper blade with an extremely fine edge and is intended for cutting flexible engraving stock to a maximum of 3/32" thick. It is not intended for cutting ridged plastics like acrylic and phenolic. See saw cut for additional cutting methods.

The traditional type of printer for small format digital printing applications. Well-suited for wraps and applications requiring a flexible substrate or applying to an irregular surface. The ink is ejected out of the print head, hits the media, the etching chemical then etches (or creates a void) into the media where the ink will reside, and then the heaters on the printer help evacuate the drying agent in the ink. During the drying process, the liquid parts of the ink will evaporate, leaving the pigment in place. This long drying process can reduce productivity.

Used to be the traditional type of ink for small format digital printing applications. The ink is comprised of pigment (color), plus an etching agent which helps ‘etch’ out the media when it has been applied, and an evaporating agent that assists in drying the ink out. These inks are less eco-friendly than the newer UV/UV-LED or ECO Solvent alternatives because they produce some amount of VOCs and inhalation hazards. However, solvent inks are well-suited for vehicle wraps, banners and applications requiring a flexible substrate or application to an irregular surface.

In scientific terms, sublimation refers to the transformation of a solid directly to a gas without going through the liquid state. Or as we know: sublimation (aka dye sublimation) is the process by which a full-color digital image or photo is printed on special heat transfer paper and then placed in a heat press with a substrate. Over a period of seconds, the ink dyes in the paper vaporize when in the press, immediately permeating and chemically bonding with the surface fibers of the substrate. This is an alternate fabrication method to digital printing.

This is the background material that constitutes the size of the ADA sign. The appliqué and the Braille raster beads are applied to this material.

The spot size of the laser beam can be adjusted by using different focal length lenses. A small spot size is used to achieve higher resolutions and finer engraving detail. A large spot size can be used for lower resolution engraving and is an excellent choice for vector cutting.

A thermal transfer print is adhered to a substrate via a printer that melts a coating of ribbon to the transfer so that it stays glued to the material on which the print is applied. Printers use a fixed width thermal print head, pressing onto a paper or plastic label, over a driven rubber roller called a platen. In direct thermal printing, no ribbon is present in the process. This is an alternate fabrication method to digital printing.

Capable of being repeatedly softened by heat and hardened by cooling (n.) – A material that will repeatedly soften when heated and harden when cooled. Typical of the thermoplastic family are the ABS, polypropylene, acrylics, cellulosics, polyethylenes, vinyls, nylons, and the various fluorocarbon materials.

Substrate with thin top layers of contrasting colors. As top surface is removed in engraving, substrates of different colors are exposed, giving a look of fill. Two-ply denotes one different colored layer on a substrate; three-ply denotes two different cap layers on each side of the substrate. Some three-ply substrates have only the core as a different color, so the only way for an observer to see the core is to look at the engraved area.

An independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for those with disabilities and the leading source on accessible design; helped write the ADA standards in partnership with the DOJ and the blind and visually impaired communities.

The ability of the engraving material to maintain its colorfastness in UV conditions for a limited period of time. This is separate from physical weathering. Although colorfastness is a desirable condition, no man-made product will remain colorfast in an exterior environment indefinitely. Rowmark uses UV stable plastic resins and films in many of its products to prolong the useful life of the material when used in reasonable exterior conditions. Most Rowmark products will remain colorfast for 2+ years (the following exceptions apply - 5 years for ADA Alternative Substrate & Applique, Textures, Lacquers, Slickers, Ultra-Mattes Front & Reverse materials), when properly mounted vertically in exterior conditions. For signage, the use of an overcoat, overprint or protective acrylic clear sheet will increase the outdoor durability of outdoor weatherable, UV-stable Rowmark sheet products. Sheltered environments also add significantly to the useful life.

Any chemical compounds which, when mixed with a thermoplastic resin, selectively absorbs UV rays.

Replacing solvent inks for many applications today because they have instant drying capabilities (entirely cured) and have become more flexible in recent years.“UV” is a reference to the curing process. UV/UV-LED inks do not require a solvent that must evaporate during curing- which equals limited/no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and limited inhalation hazards.

Replacing solvent printing for many applications today. Greater print production rates can be achieved with UV ink because you don’t have to wait on drying solvent. UV/UV-LED printers are known to generate minimum heat be long-lasting, safe, energy and time efficient.

Different from raster engraving, vector is a continuous path that follows the outline, or profile of an image. Vector cutting is normally used to cut completely through materials such as wood, acrylic, paper, etc. It can also be used for quick marking of characters and geometric patterns.

Wetting is the measured ability of an ink or liquid to permeate or absorb onto the surface of a material. A material must be receptive to an ink's natural wetting characteristics for effective bonding.

A fairly new development in the market that allows the printing of full-color images on clear substrates with the use of white ink pigments. White inks are much heavier and thicker than (think milky white-out) colored inks, which make it much more difficult to spray ink out of the tiny print heads.

These systems operate with a shorter infrared wavelength and are substantially more expensive than CO2 laser systems. These systems are used largely in industrial applications such as cutting, welding, heat treating, perforating and marking. YAG lasers are also used to engrave (mark) bare metals that under normal conditions cannot be marked by a CO2 laser system.