Flat letter manufacturing

Photo gallery of advertising letters made from sheet materials

Even if your sign does not need lighting, it still needs an original design that works for your company's image. Flat advertising letters are ideal not only on their own but also combined with other advertising products (for example, sign plates).

The Flat letters subcategory of advertising letters covers pseudo-3D graphic elements and wall letters. They are very popular both in outdoor advertising on façades and indoors. For all their effectiveness, they do not require a large outlay.

RVK Tashuta has a wide choice of materials for making all kinds of high-quality advertising media. Naturally, each material has its own texture and its own way of coping with the environment.

The main materials for pseudo-3D letters:

1. PVC letters

Thanks to their low price, plastic letters are within reach of most customers. They are practical, fairly strong and light thanks to the foamed structure of the PVC, which ranges from 2 to 10 mm thick. PVC letters are made in several stages:

• CNC milling along outlines supplied in digital form;
• sanding;
• colouring with self-adhesive coloured films.

The PVC letters (single- or double-layer) are then mounted on a sign, or directly on the wall – either flush or on stand-off fixings that cast a shadow on the surface and create an illusion of depth.

2. Acrylic letters

CNC milling and bonding, polishing and film covering – acrylic letters are made in the same way as plastic ones. But they are a more refined and prestigious option in a higher price bracket.

Coloured acrylic is supplied to Ukraine in 3 mm thickness. Clear or opal acrylic can be 1-20 mm thick and is usually combined with coloured film or other coloured acrylics.

Flat letters made of acrylic (also called Plexiglas or PMMA) are impact-resistant, durable and stand up well to harsh environmental conditions.

Both coloured and clear acrylic are easy to cut to shape, so any interesting idea can be brought to life. Laser cutting of acrylic gives excellent detail along the specified outlines.

They fit very well into a business office interior (for example, a reception area), as they often go together with brand elements.

Our acrylic letters – especially combined with sign plates and signs – may be just what your business deserves!

3. Plywood letters

Another sheet material for pseudo-3D letters is plywood, widely used in the construction and furniture industries. We use plywood in various thicknesses: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 mm.

CNC milling leaves the edges of the letters light, laser cutting leaves them dark. Whether on their own or on a backing of other flat advertising media, plywood letters look especially natural and warm. They set a particular tone, especially indoors.

Plywood is very easy to engrave, which gives letters a refined look and even a certain artistic value. Plywood letters are very inexpensive, yet suit many purposes, not only commercial ones.

4. Artificial marble letters

An interesting design move and a modern, progressive solution – that sums up this type of flat letter. Having made its name in construction and interior decoration, artificial marble has now found its way into advertising products too.

CNC milling produces perfectly smooth solid letters as well as letters with a 3-D effect, full of recesses, grooves and chamfers.

It is worth noting that this is a fairly expensive material, but its looks and extra strength justify the cost.

The wide range of acrylic paints we use means artificial marble letters can be coloured to match any interior, building exterior or even landscape.

5. Brass letters with nickel or gold electroplating

Flat brass advertising letters are rightly considered premium. They are strong, durable, do not deform and are weatherproof, so they are ideal outdoors.

But their main advantage is their luxurious appearance: a brilliant shine that catches the eye and underlines their owner's status.

Brass sheet is cut on CNC milling and engraving equipment. The parts are then soldered, sanded and polished. Electroplating (a high-tech process that deposits a thin layer of nickel or gold on the surface) makes the letters more wear-resistant and protects them from harsh external conditions and corrosion.

These letters are highly reflective, giving a glossy effect. Nickel plating gives them a chrome shine; gilded, they look as if cut from bars of pure gold.

6. Combined flat advertising letters made from different materials

Combining materials of different textures and colours often gives excellent results. Do not be afraid to experiment and bring together things that seem incompatible at first glance.

Plastic + marble, metal + plywood, composite + acrylic – the list goes on. There is plenty of scope, depending on your budget and creative idea. Combined letters open up wide horizons for your creativity and let you add other decorative elements to the overall composition.

Fixing and mounting to the base.

FIXED DIRECTLY TO THE BASE

LETTERS MOUNTED ON STAND-OFF FIXINGS

Depending on the type of surface, we use:

• double-sided tape for fixing directly to the base;
• "liquid nails" (construction adhesive) on uneven surfaces;
• stand-off fixings that create a sense of depth through the shadow on the wall, especially for metal or large letters.

To make mounting easier we also use film stencils, and on rough or painted surfaces, where paint could peel off when the film is removed, thin plastic stencils.

What to know when ordering advertising letters on our website

• Curved cutting of small elements may be limited by the nature of the material and the cutting tool.
• When small parts are cut on a CNC milling machine, the inside corners come out rounded, with a radius that depends on the diameter of the cutter.
• Laser cutting burns away material along the cut line, making the part 0.1 mm smaller. This matters a great deal for thin sections.
• Very small parts may warp because of the heat of cutting.

Sheet size limits:

• PVC – 2050x3050 mm;
• acrylic sheet – 2050x3050 mm;
• plywood – 1500x1500 mm.

Equipment working area limits:

• laser engraver – 1200x1600 mm;
• CNC milling engraver – 1200x2080 mm.

A little about the properties of the materials used for pseudo-3D letters

There are no particular restrictions for indoor letters, but there are for outdoor ones. To make the right choice, bear the following in mind:

• PVC is completely defenceless against UV radiation: without a covering of self-adhesive film it quickly turns yellow and looks shabby.
• Thin PVC used outdoors tends to deform quickly (especially from impacts and weather).
• Coloured acrylic is semi-translucent throughout, so the stand-off fixings holding it to the wall show through. In this case a blockout film has to be used.
• However tempting mirror-finish acrylic ("gold" or "silver") may look, we do not recommend it for façade letters – it will not last even a month.
• Plywood letters must always have a protective coating, and double-layer plastic should not be considered at all: it is not suitable for outdoor use!

How to calculate the price of letters on our website:

For example, you need to price the word "Angelika", which has 3 letters 240 mm high and 5 letters 180 mm high.

1. Choose the manufacturing option you need

2. Choose the 250 mm height

3. Change the product option if needed

4. Add 3 pcs to the basket

5. In the same way, add the 200 mm height

6. Change the quantity to 5 pcs and place your order

Go ahead and place your order! We will help you choose, make it and ship it!