Photopolymer signs are essential for enhancing accessibility and aesthetics in various environments, primarily serving as ADA-compliant room identification signs. These signs not only improve the visual appeal of a space but also ensure that individuals with visual disabilities can navigate it with ease.
Artistic and Compliant: Creating Exceptional Photopolymer Signs
With a range of design options and materials available, creating an effective photopolymer sign is both an art and a science. Here are five tips for crafting an outstanding photopolymer sign that meets both artistic standards and compliance requirements.
1. Design: Choose the Right Material
ADA signs are often installed during renovations or as part of new facilities. While the primary function of an ADA sign is to guide individuals through a space, the sign’s design plays a crucial role in its effectiveness.
Photopolymer materials allow for high-resolution tactile graphics, borders, and accent elements alongside Braille. This flexibility enables the incorporation of brand identity throughout a facility or enhances the overall design. The Novacryl Photopolymer Designer Series offers six distinct photopolymer materials:
- Novacryl PT Series – Interior photopolymer with a clear, black, or white recycled PETG base available in 8 gauges.
- Novacryl AC Series – Interior photopolymer with clear acrylic material.
- Novacryl EC Series – Interior photopolymer featuring a 3form varia ecoresin base with multiple pattern options.
- Novacryl LP Series – Interior photopolymer with laminate bases, including wood grains, marbles, solid colors, and more.
- Novacryl AL Series – Interior photopolymer with an aluminum base.
- Novacryl EX Series – Exterior photopolymer with a metal base.
- Novacryl PG Series – Interior photopolymer with a photoluminescent base.
- Novacryl BR Series – Interior photopolymer with moisture-resistant brushed aluminum.
2. Compliance: Ensure Your Signs are Compliant
To effectively assist individuals with visual disabilities, it is vital to ensure that ADA signs are compliant with the latest regulations. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has increased penalties for compliance violations, and many states now have accessibility inspectors.
All states follow the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design, which became law in March 2012. You can find the official 2010 Standards and all supporting documentation on our Accessibility Codes page. We also offer a series of Accessibility White Papers to help clarify signage-related codes.
Key areas of focus for ADA signage compliance include:
- Font Type
- Kerning
- Size of Tactile Characters
- Spacing
- Mounting
The Workflow Manager (WM) is a design and Braille translation software we developed in partnership with CADlink Technologies. It helps designers and fabricators create compliant photopolymer signs that meet the 2010 Standards. WM ensures that the fonts, spacing, and overall design are accurate, eliminating human error in converting copy to Braille.
3. Exposing Photopolymer: Use a Stouffer Scale
Photopolymer is a unique material that hardens when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. The shape of the photopolymer’s tactile and Braille elements is determined by the amount of UV light applied.
A Stouffer Scale measures UV output, allowing the operator to manage the UV light needed for creating proper Braille dots as the UV bulbs lose intensity. All fabricators must use a Stouffer Scale when exposing photopolymer, with a reading of sixteen on the Stouffer being optimal. If you need a Stouffer Scale, let us know!
4. Fabrication: Achieve a Nice Edge
Photopolymer signs can be cut in various ways depending on the material type, and the finished edge is a significant aspect of creating a quality photopolymer sign. The Novacryl Designer Series includes six different products with various base materials—aluminum, steel, PETG, 3form eco-resin, laminates, and photoluminescent—each requiring different cutting methods.
- Shear: The AccuCutter Table Top Finishing Shear cuts Novacryl PT Series material that is 1/8″ or thinner to a finished edge. It can also cut Novacryl EC material and others, although preferences may vary depending on the sign’s construction.
- Router: Most shops utilize CNC routers for various cutting applications. All Novacryl products can be cut on a router, and proper bit selection and spindle speed are crucial.
- Laser: Many shops have lasers to cut different materials, which helps free up routers. However, lasers have limitations when cutting materials thicker than 1/4″. The Novacryl PT Series performs best on a laser; we can provide recommendations for cutting Novacryl with a 50-watt laser.
5. Finishing: The Final Steps
The concluding steps in creating a photopolymer sign involve tipping the tactile elements and applying a topcoat of paint on the photopolymer surface. Depending on the sign’s design, the surface will either have a solid paint color or a clear coat.
Every photopolymer sign requires some form of topcoat, regardless of design. The topcoat protects the photopolymer and ensures ADA compliance by creating a non-glare finish.
We recently created a video with Matthews Paint detailing the process of painting photopolymer signs, including techniques, paint mixing, gun cleaning, and using a wet film gauge.
Tipping or adding color to the tactile parts of a photopolymer sign can be achieved with either hot stamp foil or screen ink, depending on the design and color requirements.
Ensure Success in Creating Photopolymer Signs with Nova Polymers
These five focus areas will ensure that you produce a superior photopolymer sign! Contact us with questions or for more information about materials and equipment.
