Materials & Substrates

We offer a variety of materials and substrates for all your custom graphics needs. The right choice depends on a variety of factors, including how you plan to use the product, the environmental conditions it will be exposed to, and more. Our decades of industry experience can help guide you to the best solution for your application. What can MUIR make for you?

Explore By Material

Vinyl

Vinyl is one of the most cost-effective substrates and comes in a wide variety of finishes and thicknesses. It’s formable for easy application to curved surfaces and is resistant to wear, tears, and moisture, making it suitable for outdoor applications.

Options

  • Standard, matte, gloss, high-gloss
  • Clear / static cling
  • Reflective
  • Air egress
  • Photoluminescent

Properties & Advantages

  • Durable
  • Flexible
  • Chemical, UV, fire, and water resistant
  • Cost effective
  • Easy to clean
  • Available in any color

Applications

  • Markings and decals
  • Warning and safety labels
  • Pre-spaced graphics
  • Rolled labels

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is resistant to abrasion, chemicals, UV radiation, and a wide range of temperatures, ensuring legibility and functionality over time. It also provides high optical clarity, which results in vibrant, high-resolution printing of graphics and text. This balance of resistance and clarity makes it a good choice for control panels, safety warnings, and branding where both durability and clear visual communication are critical.

Properties & Advantages

  • High-impact resistant
  • Lightweight
  • High optical clarity
  • Weather, chemical, and temperature resistant
  • Cost-effective

Applications

  • Markings and decals
  • Warning and safety labels
  • Overlays/fascias

Polyester

Known for its exceptional durability and resilience, polyester is a great material choice for tags exposed to demanding applications. Their primary advantages lie in superior resistance to tearing, abrasion, moisture, chemicals, and UV radiation, ensuring information remains legible and the tag intact even in harsh industrial, outdoor, or high-temperature environments.

Properties & Advantages

  • Highly durable
  • Moisture, chemical, UV, and temperature resistant
  • Excellent printability and legibility
  • Consistent adhesion and appearance over time

Applications

  • Markings and decals
  • Tags
  • Warning and safety labels

Aluminum

Aluminum is resistant to corrosion, fading, and physical wear, making it a good option for long-term applications and equipment exposed to harsh conditions. As the second most malleable metal, it’s also ideal for custom plates with curvatures or angles.

Properties & Advantages

  • Lightweight
  • Corrosion resistant
  • Reflective
  • Recyclable
  • Malleable

Applications

  • Plates
  • Construction safety signs
  • Identification/VIN markings

Paper

Despite its limitations in durability compared to synthetic materials, paper remains a widely used and advantageous material option in many scenarios. Paper products are significantly cheaper to produce than synthetic alternatives, making them ideal for high-volume, temporary, or disposable applications. Plus, paper’s natural texture allows for superior ink absorption and sharper, higher-quality printing. This combination of low cost and strong visual appeal makes paper a practical choice for retail product labeling, inventory management in controlled environments, and promotional uses where a shorter lifespan is acceptable.

Properties & Advantages

  • Flexible
  • Excellent printability
  • Recyclable
  • Versatile
  • Cost-effective

Applications

  • Tags
  • Certifications

Tyvek

Tyvek is known for its exceptional durability and tear resistance, even when wet. It’s inherently waterproof and resistant to rot, mildew, and many chemicals. This combination of strength, moisture resistance, and chemical inertness makes Tyvek an ideal material choice for tags that need to remain legible and intact through rough handling, outdoor exposure, and various industrial conditions.

Properties & Advantages

  • Tear and puncture resistant
  • Moisture, chemical, UV, and temperature resistant
  • Lightweight and flexible
  • Writable surface

Applications

  • Tags

Polyethylene

Polyethylene is a widely used plastic valued for its weatherability, flexibility, excellent moisture and chemical resistance, and cost-effectiveness. It’s a practical choice for applications requiring a balance of durability and conformability, especially in packaging and outdoor scenarios where a heavy-duty material isn’t necessary.

We also print on MUIRMIX, a material we developed with high density polyethylene that will not break, rust, or have sharp edges. Even after gunshots or heavy equipment damage, this material remains legible and continues to display your message.

Properties & Advantages

  • Versatile
  • Hygienic
  • Easy to mold and fabricate
  • Light weight
  • Recyclable
  • Cost-effective

Applications

  • Markings and decals
  • Warning and safety labels
  • Signage

Magnetics

Because of their impermanence and reusability, magnetic graphics are a great solution for temporary branding needs and event- or seasonal-specific applications.

Properties & Advantages

  • Reusable
  • Non-damaging
  • Flexible (some types)
  • Durable
  • Easy to apply and remove

Applications

  • Specialty products
  • Magnetic decals

Oil Stencil Board

Oil stencil board offers a good balance of durability, bleed resistance, precision, and cost-effectiveness, making it a reliable choice for many stenciling applications, from industrial markings to arts and crafts.

Properties & Advantages

  • Resistant to bleed-through
  • Suitable for various surfaces
  • Helps maintain clean and sharp edges
  • Durable
  • Reusable
  • Cost-effective
  • Easy to use

Applications

  • Stencils
  • Identification/VIN markings

Coroplast

An inherently waterproof material, coroplast is resistant to moisture and can withstand various weather conditions without warping, rotting, or deteriorating like cardboard. Its corrugated structure provides lightweight rigidity, making it easy to handle, transport, and install while maintaining enough strength to stand upright and resist bending. Because of these properties, coroplast is often used for temporary outdoor signage and yard signs.

Properties & Advantages

  • Lightweight
  • Durable and impact resistant
  • Maintains its shape when upright
  • Waterproof
  • Moisture, weather, and chemical resistant
  • Excellent printability
  • Recyclable
  • Non-toxic

Applications

  • Specialty products
  • Yard signs
  • Temporary outdoor signage
  • Packaging

Foam Board

Foam board, often called foam core board, is a composite material characterized by its lightweight construction and rigid yet easily workable nature. It provides a smooth, flat surface excellent for mounting graphics, photos, or printing directly onto, resulting in a professional and clean appearance for presentations, displays, and temporary signage. It is recommended for short-term and indoor applications only.

Properties & Advantages

  • Lightweight
  • Resistant to bending and curling
  • Easy to fabricate into custom designs
  • Smooth, flat surface
  • Versatile finishes
  • Good for mounting
  • Limited outdoor durability
  • Vulnerable to dents and crushing

Applications

  • Specialty products
  • Event signage
  • Displays

Get a Free Sample Packet

Compare materials and substrates in person with our free sample packet.

Services & Customization

Did you know we can kit a group of labels on one sheet or as a package to make organizing and installing easier for your team? Whether it’s stocking inventory or providing training for installation, our services help ensure a quality outcome for your business.

See what MUIR can make for you.

Contact us for a free product consultation.

Review our competitive quote and approve production.

Enjoy your custom solution for years to come.