Large Format Printing: Producing Signage on Coroplast

Ever since the basement electrical fire, Home Depot and Lowes have been my homes away from home. And these first few weeks of Spring, in particular, I have seen brightly colored signage printed on Coroplast, urging customers to plant trees, shrubs, and flowers.

What Is Coroplast?

Coroplast is actually a trade name rather than a product. It is corrugated plastic, and from the edge, it looks very much like corrugated paper board, in that it is composed of a fluted interior sandwiched between two layers of flat plastic sheeting.

And just like corrugated board, Coroplast is both durable and light in weight due to its particular construction.

Printing on Coroplast

One of the best things about Coroplast is that you can print on it using either screen printing (for long print runs) or inkjet equipment (for shorter runs). That said, plastic is not porous, so it can be frustrating to print on such a smooth surface. The ink can cake up and flake off since it doesn’t actually seep into the substrate.

One way around this problem is to treat the plastic surface with alcohol prior to printing, and another way to deal with the smoothness of the plastic base is to use UV lights to cure UV ink on the Coroplast surface. In fact this is an ideal use for both Coroplast and UV curing technology.

Benefits of Coroplast Large Format Print Signage

I have seen Coroplast signage on the backs of buses as well as inside buildings. It is very durable, and it tolerates weather. Think about the kind of abuse a Coroplast sign can expect on the back of a bus, between the toxic gas fumes, dirt, rain, and constant sunlight. When you need an inexpensive substrate that’s light and durable for signage or advertising, this is one to consider seriously.

Uses of Coroplast for Signage

When I think back to the signage I have seen printed on Coroplast, a number of uses come to mind:

• You can produce political signs, and then use wire supports stuck up into the corrugated fluting to support signs that you can then place on people’s lawns.
• You can do the same thing with real estate signs.
• You can produce intricate POP (point-of-purchase) displays with shelves to hold products, such as cosmetics. You can either print directly on these plastic structures or print on substrates (like laminated custom label paper) that can be affixed to the Coroplast with an adhesive.

Options for Custom Printing on Coroplast

As noted above, if your press run is too large for inkjet equipment, Coroplast works well with screen printing inks. In fact, you may have noticed the difference in real 

the printing methods used for different types of signage. For simple, two-color, large format print signage, custom screen printing is a popular choice, while more intricate designs with halftones, gradations, and multiple colors are typically printed using inkjet technology. Flexography, a printing process used for custom printing large simple designs on paper corrugated board, may also be a suitable option for certain applications.

In conclusion, Coroplast is a durable, lightweight, and versatile material that can be effectively used for large format print signage. With the ability to print on it using either screen printing or inkjet equipment, Coroplast offers a range of options for producing high-quality custom signage at an affordable price. When you need an inexpensive substrate that’s light and durable for signage or advertising, Coroplast is certainly worth considering. So next time you see a colorful sign urging you to plant trees, shrubs, and flowers, take a closer look, and you may just spot the Coroplast!