Hallmark Nameplate is capable of producing the highest quality graphic overlays, and are committed to quality from initial conception to the completion and testing of your product. By using state-of-the-art equipment and collaborating with a talented engineering and design team, there’s no doubt that you’re entrusting your time, energy, and finances with the best business for the job, however big or small.
When it comes to graphic overlays, there are extensive options, such as screen versus digital printing. This is similar to nameplate production with the exception that they require further processing for features like embossing, trans-colored display windows, or selective texturing. While these features do add time to the start-to-finish time spent on your project, they allow for a vast amount of functionality.
Check out the options you have when designing your one-of-a-kind graphic overlay:
Window Panel Options
Transparent windows are almost self-explanatory and are used in a variety of military, commercial, and industrial applications. Overlays with transparent windows are most often found on various types of testing equipment, switch plates, monitoring equipment, and many hand-held devices where information needs to be visible. Imagine a graphic overlay with transparent windows on a piece of medical equipment, in a hospital or an ambulance, that displays information such as a temperature or heart rate. This is a great example of selective texturing and may be just what you’re looking for if you’re operating a similar piece of equipment.
Selective texturing is a way of customizing the gloss level of a graphic overlay in certain areas, while at the same time leaving other areas unprinted. Normally, this is done in order to match the gloss levels of the substrate, and leave open areas for LED or clear windows. However, it can also be used to create decorative effects. While transparent windows allow for the whole graphic overlay to be covered, with some sections transparent for light to shine through, selective texturing leaves open, completely unprinted space within the overlay.
Embossed Area Options
Pad embossing is unique in that it raises the entire key above the surface of an overlay. It covers an entire key or button, which greatly elevates functionality by adding dimension and depth to otherwise two-dimensional surfaces.
While pad and dome embossing create elevations for keys above the surface of a graphic overlay, perimeter embossing raises the surface of just the outside edges of a key, which creates what feels like an indentation or depression below the substrate.
Dome embossing creates a tactile dome or textured raised area above a key that, unlike pad embossing, is not a flat key placed above an overlay. Based on what your needs are for the functionality of your graphic overlay, we can create a special shape, size, force, or other parameters.
Resistance Options
Abrasion resistance is the ability of a fabric or material to resist surface wear caused by flat rubbing contact with another material. Of course, if you’re looking for a graphic overlay for machinery or tools that require a lot of contact with hands or repeated movements, this is a concern for you.
Chemical resistance, similarly, is the ability of a material to resist surface wear caused by contact with certain chemicals. The resistance of a material or a surface can be determined in compliance with ISO 2812.
In order to create the best graphic overlay possible to suit your needs, we suggest answering the following questions:
- What type of environment will the overlay be used in? Dry, wet, hot, cold, chemical, UV, etc.?
- What type of surface will it be mounted to?
- Is there a window? Does it need to be trans-colored?
- Is there embossing required? If so, which type?
- Is selective texturing required?
Having concrete answers for all of these questions will help the creative process. Because of the additional features and processing, graphic overlays are more labor-intensive and have a larger production time than simpler nameplates. However, once we’ve worked through the engineering and design process, we always work to produce high-quality, color-consistent order fulfillment that will not just meet your expectations but exceed them. If you are concerned about graphic design or engineering concerns, rest assured that we offer these services to support your needs, can print digitally, and offer ISO 9001:2000 Registered quality assurance.
If you’re looking to start your next graphic overlay project and are seeking a partnership with a business that won’t disappoint, contact Hallmark Nameplate today!
