Rigid Signs — Coroplast, PVC & Aluminum Panels
Rigid signs are flat printed panels — the signage that stands on its own without a frame, a pole or a stand behind it. Every panel is printed direct to substrate, so the ink sits on the board itself rather than on a vinyl skin laid over the top, and each one is cut to your exact size up to 48" x 96". Coroplast is the lightweight corrugated plastic used for short-run directional and event signs; PVC board is denser and smoother, for indoor signage meant to last; ACP aluminum composite is the panel that holds its shape outdoors.
Rigid signs are flat panel signage printed direct to substrate and cut to size up to 48" x 96". Apex prints lightweight coroplast for short-run directional and event signs, solid PVC board for lasting indoor signage, and ACP aluminum composite for panels that stay flat outdoors.
Rigid Signs — Coroplast, PVC & Aluminum Panels
Coroplast Signs — Request a quote. 4mm corrugated plastic signs, UV printed and cut to size from 6" x 6" up to 48" x 96".
PVC Board Signs — Request a quote. Rigid 1/8" white PVC panels, UV printed and cut to size from 6" x 6" up to 48" x 96".
ACP Signs (Aluminum Composite) — Request a quote. 3mm aluminum composite panels, UV printed with a gloss protective coating and cut to size up to 48" x 96".
Compare rigid signs
| Product | Material | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coroplast Signs | 4mm corrugated plastic | Short-run event and directional signs | Quote |
| PVC Board Signs | 1/8" expanded PVC sheet | Indoor panels reused between shows | Quote |
| ACP Signs (Aluminum Composite) | 3mm aluminum composite panel | Exterior signage that stays mounted | Quote |
Which substrate should you choose?
Three substrates cover almost every flat-panel job, and the difference is density rather than print quality. Coroplast is corrugated plastic — fluted like cardboard, very light, and the cheapest way to produce a run of directional or event signs that only need to survive a weekend. PVC board is solid and smooth, which is what makes it read as a permanent sign rather than a temporary one; it is the usual pick for indoor signage meant to last a season or more. ACP aluminum composite bonds two thin aluminum skins to a polyethylene core, giving a rigid panel that stays flat outdoors where plastic would bow in the heat.
Sizing, cutting and mounting
Panels are cut to your exact size up to 48" x 96", so a sign is specified to the space it goes in rather than to a stock format. Decide how it will be held up before you decide how big it is: an H-stake pushed into grass suits coroplast and nothing heavier, standoffs and screws suit PVC and ACP on a wall, and anything hung needs drilled holes placed while the panel is still on the table. Tell us the mounting method with the order and the holes are cut in the right places the first time.
Printing direct to substrate
The ink is printed onto the board itself, not onto a vinyl film that is then laminated over it. That matters outdoors and in high-traffic spaces, because a laminated skin has an edge, and an edge is where signage starts to lift, curl and peel. Direct-to-substrate printing has no such layer to fail. Artwork should arrive built to the finished panel size at 150dpi in CMYK, with no crop marks or bleeds — see the artwork guidelines before you export.
What's included
- Printed direct to substrate — no laminated skin to lift or peel.
- Coroplast, PVC board and ACP aluminum composite.
- Cut to any size up to 48" x 96".
- Booth signage, wayfinding, and outdoor promotion.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between coroplast, PVC and aluminum signs?
Density, and therefore lifespan. Coroplast is corrugated plastic — light and inexpensive, right for short-run directional and event signage. PVC board is solid and smooth, which suits indoor signs meant to last a season or more. ACP aluminum composite is two aluminum skins over a plastic core, and it is the one that stays flat outdoors where the others would bow.
How large can a rigid sign be printed?
Up to 48" x 96" on a single panel, cut to any size within that. Larger installations are usually split across several panels and butted together on the wall — send the wall dimensions with your quote request and we will advise on the split.
What does printing direct to substrate mean?
The ink is applied to the board itself rather than to a vinyl film that is then laminated on top. There is no separate surface layer, so there is no edge for weather or handling to lift — which is where laminated signage usually starts to fail.
Which rigid sign works outdoors?
ACP aluminum composite for anything mounted permanently outdoors, because it holds its shape through heat and damp. Coroplast is outdoor-capable for short runs — a weekend event, a real estate or election period — but it is corrugated plastic and will eventually flex and fade.
How should I set up artwork for a rigid sign?
Build it to the finished panel size at 150dpi in CMYK, as a single-page PDF or JPEG, with no crop marks or bleeds and fonts converted to outlines. The full artwork guidelines cover colour space, resolution and file setup, and every order gets a free proof before anything is cut.