3mm Aluminium Composite (Dibond) Signs: A Practical Guide

An aluminium composite sign is a 3mm panel made of two thin aluminium skins with a solid plastic core: rigid, flat, waterproof and made to stay up outdoors. It is often called Dibond, after a well-known brand. We print 3mm aluminium composite signs in full colour on one side, in A3, A2, A1 and A0, from a single sign, starting at £29 for 1. Choose it for shop, office, car park, safety and gate signs that need to last.

What aluminium composite is

Aluminium composite panel (often shortened to ACM or ACP) is a sandwich: an aluminium sheet on each face and a solid plastic core between them. The skins make it rigid and keep it flat; the core keeps it much lighter than a solid aluminium sheet of the same stiffness. It does not rust or soak up water.

Is it Dibond?

Dibond is a brand name for aluminium composite panel, and many people use it for any board of this type. Our signs are 3mm aluminium composite panel of the same construction. We don't promise a particular brand.

What aluminium composite signs are used for

• Shop, office and building signs: a name board by the door or on a wall.
• Car park, directional and wayfinding signs: entrances, parking bays and routes around a site.
• Safety, information and notice signs: rules, opening hours and contact details.
• Farm, plot and property signs: gates, fields and long-term property boards.
• Fence and gate signs: fixed through drilled holes.
• Indoor feature and reception signs: where you want a perfectly flat, premium finish.

Our page for trades covers signs for building sites, where aluminium composite suits long projects and correx suits short ones.

Which size to choose

Every size works portrait or landscape. If you need a size we do not list, contact us for a quote.

Aluminium composite, correx or foamex

Our guide to correx vs foamex vs aluminium signs compares the three boards in detail, and the signage page lists every sign we print.

Outdoors: what to expect

The panel is rigid, waterproof and durable, and the printing uses waterproof, fade-resistant inks, so these signs are made to stay up outside. Like any printed sign, colours fade slowly in strong sun over the years, and a sign facing the midday sun fades sooner than one in shade. We do not promise a set number of years, because sun, weather and fixing vary from site to site. Fix the sign firmly at several points so the wind cannot work it loose.

Setting up the artwork

1. Build the page at the artwork size with 5mm bleed on every edge: 604 x 851mm for an A1 sign. Our free aluminium sign templates have the lines drawn in.
2. Run backgrounds and pictures to the page edge.
3. Keep text, logos and phone numbers at least 10mm inside the trim, the safe area, and further in where you will drill.
4. Use large, bold lettering and few words: a sign is read from a distance and often in passing.
5. Images need at least 100dpi at full size; 150dpi or more looks sharper on a sign read close up. Supply logos as vector artwork, and see our glossary on dpi.
6. Export a PDF in CMYK with fonts embedded or outlined.

Our artwork guidelines list every rule. When you upload, a free automatic check looks at size, bleed, colour mode, resolution and fonts, and you approve an on-screen proof before you pay (proofs and file checks).

Fixing an aluminium composite sign

Signs come without holes, so you can put fixings exactly where they suit the wall, post or fence.

• Screws with washers or sign stand-offs: drill through the sign and screw it to a wall, fence or post. Stand-offs hold the sign a little off the wall for a neat finish.
• Post clips: for signs on round or square posts.
• Cable ties through drilled holes: for railings and mesh fences.
• Strong double-sided sign tape: indoors, on a clean, smooth surface.

Drill in the margin outside the 10mm safe area, and use at least one fixing near each corner on larger signs.

Prices, VAT and delivery

One A3 sign costs £30 and one A1 sign £53, printed on one side. These are our current prices, including VAT at 20%: signs are standard-rated (VAT on printing). Delivery is free to UK mainland addresses. The aluminium composite signs page shows the price for every size and for 2, 5 or 10 signs, and the dispatch time for your options.

Questions

What is an aluminium composite sign? A sign printed on aluminium composite panel: two thin aluminium skins bonded to a solid plastic core. Ours is 3mm thick. It is rigid, flat and much lighter than solid aluminium, and it does not rust or soak up water, so it is used for permanent signs indoors and out.

Is aluminium composite the same as Dibond? Dibond is a well-known brand name for aluminium composite panel, and many people use the name for any board of this type. Our signs are 3mm aluminium composite panel of the same construction; we don't promise a particular brand.

How long do aluminium composite signs last outside? They are made to stay up outdoors: the panel is waterproof and durable, and the inks are waterproof and fade-resistant. Colours fade slowly in strong sun over the years, and how slowly depends on the direction the sign faces and the weather it gets, so we don't promise a fixed number of years. Fix it firmly at several points.

What sizes are available? A3 (297 x 420mm), A2 (420 x 594mm), A1 (594 x 841mm) and A0 (841 x 1189mm), portrait or landscape, from one sign. Artwork is the finished size plus 5mm bleed on every edge, so an A1 sign is set up at 604 x 851mm. For another size, contact us for a quote.

Do the signs come with holes or fixings? No. They are supplied with square corners and no holes, so you can drill exactly where your wall, post or fence needs. We do not supply fixings. Keep text at least 10mm inside the trim, and further in where you plan to drill.

Can aluminium composite signs be printed on both sides? Ours are printed on one side. For a sign read from both directions, contact us before you order and we will see what we can do. Correx boards can be printed double-sided if the sign is temporary.

Is aluminium composite better than correx? For a permanent sign outside, yes: it is far more rigid and made to last outdoors. For a temporary sign, such as a property, event or election board, correx is lighter, costs less and can be printed on both sides.