Sunboard printing means printing your design on vinyl and mounting it on sunboard, a light, rigid PVC foam sheet, so you get a flat board that needs no frame. It is the standard material for indoor signs, office boards, cut-out standees and easel boards in Pune. 3 Red Media prints and mounts sunboard at Chandni Chowk and cuts it square or to shape.
What is sunboard?
Sunboard is the common Indian name for PVC foam board: a sheet of expanded PVC with a smooth white surface and a light foam core. It is stiff enough to stand on an easel or hang on a wall, light enough to fix with double-sided tape, and easy to cut into shapes. Sheets are commonly sold in 8 × 4 ft size, so larger boards are made in pieces or planned around that sheet.
Sunboard, sunpack or ACP?
| Board | What it is | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Sunboard | PVC foam sheet, smooth and rigid | Indoor signs, cut-outs, easel boards, wall panels |
| Sunpack | Corrugated plastic sheet, hollow inside | Light, temporary signs and election-style boards |
| ACP | Aluminium composite panel, metal faces | Long-term fascia and outdoor signage |
3 mm or 5 mm?
Thickness is the main choice on a sunboard job. Thicker board is stiffer and looks more solid on a wall, but is heavier and costs more.
| Thickness | Feels like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | Light, slightly flexible on big sizes | Small signs, door plates, posters for walls, school charts |
| 5 mm | Firm, stays flat | Office signs, wall panels, easel boards, most cut-outs |
| 8 to 10 mm | Very rigid | Large cut-outs, life-size figures, boards that stand on their own |
If a board is bigger than about 3 × 2 ft and will hang on a wall or stand on an easel, 5 mm is usually the safer pick.
What people make with sunboard
- Office and clinic signs: department names, room numbers, “Reception”, doctor boards inside the clinic.
- Cut-out standees: life-size figures and product shapes at shop entrances. See standee printing.
- Easel boards: wedding welcome boards, menu boards, event information.
- Wall panels: certificates, process charts, brand stories, framed-look photos without a frame.
- School displays: science charts, rules boards, toppers’ boards; see school banners and boards.
- Exhibition graphics: product panels and header boards on stalls.
- Shop boards under a canopy: small signs that stay out of direct rain.
Cutting: square or shaped
Sunboard can be cut straight for regular boards, or to a custom outline for cut-outs, logos and shaped signs. For a shaped cut, the outline is followed from your design, so a clean vector file or a clear image with a plain background helps. Very thin parts of a shape, like fingers on a human cut-out or a narrow tail on a logo, are fragile; a slightly thicker outline around the design protects them.
For cut-out standees, add a stand or back support to the order. A shaped board needs a prop behind it to stand upright.
Fixing a sunboard
| Method | Where it works |
|---|---|
| Double-sided foam tape | Smooth painted walls, glass, tiles; quick and no drilling |
| Screws with caps | Office and clinic signs that must stay put |
| Stand-off fittings | A smart floating look for reception logos and nameplates |
| Velcro strips | Boards that change often, like offers or menus |
| Easel or back stand | Free-standing boards and cut-outs |
Indoors is where sunboard belongs
Sunboard is an indoor material. Out in full sun and rain, the foam can warp, edges soak up dirt and the vinyl print ages fast. Under a deep canopy or in a covered corridor it does better. For signs fully exposed to Pune weather, a flex board on a frame or vinyl on ACP is the better build.
Care
Dust with a dry cloth. If you must wipe a mark, use a barely damp cloth and dry it straight away. Avoid leaning heavy things against a board, because foam dents. Store loose boards flat or standing straight, never bent, so they do not take a curve.
Who orders sunboard in Pune
Offices fitting out a new floor order sets of matching signs; see corporate office branding. Clinics and hospitals order room and department boards. Wedding planners order easel boards and cut-outs for entrances and photo corners. Schools and coaching classes order charts and notice boards before each new term.
Getting the artwork right
Sunboard pieces are usually seen from close range, across a desk or along a corridor, so aim for about 150 dpi at full size. Keep a margin of half an inch or so inside the edge for text, because boards are trimmed after mounting. For a set of office signs, send all the names in one list with the exact spelling and room numbers, and one layout can be applied to every board so they match.
If the board will be read in a dim corridor or a hall lit by tube lights, a matt finish avoids reflections. Gloss gives richer colour on a well-lit wall or in a display where people look straight at it.
Ordering sunboard prints
Send the board sizes, thickness if you know it, quantity, and whether it is square or shaped, along with your design. You receive a rate and a proof on WhatsApp, and boards are printed and mounted only after you approve. The ready time is confirmed with you based on the queue. Collect boards from Chandni Chowk or have them delivered across Pune and PCMC. Or ask through the quote form.