Graphic overlays provide a high quality finish for products, communicate messages, and act as the interface between people and products.

Graphic Overlays can incorporate embossed buttons and decoration, LCD display windows and LED windows with transparent tints.

Reverse printed overlays provide a durable label that can be scratch resistant, UV tolerant, fire retardant and chemically resistant. A range of adhesives can be knifed out and applied to provide adhesive free areas on the reverse.

Electronic Imaging offer many options – simply contact us and we will provide technical advice, free samples and a no obligation quote.

Methods of Decoration

Both conventional solvent based and UV cured inks are screen printing onto a range of materials, including Acrylic, Polyester, Polycarbonate, PVC, Polypropylene, and ABS.

Images are generally printed onto clear films in reverse onto the second surface (underside) of the film. This makes the print impervious to scratching. A selection of film finishes allows a choice between matt, velvet, and gloss first (top) surfaces to enhance both functionality & appearance of the overlay. Special Applications require special inks, such as FDA approved inks for use on products that come into contact with food, High temperature,

An unlimited range and number of colours can be printed. Specific PMS colours can be printed, or any colour can be matched from a sample, ensuring that branding and corporate colours are correct and repeatable.

Embossing – due to the tactile characteristics of both Polycarbonate and Polyester, embossing can be easily integrated into the manufacturing of graphic overlays to give buttons a positive feel, logos a three dimensional appearance or to give function such as for Braille.

Windows – graphic overlays are commonly provided with clear windows for viewing LCD’s. Window tints with translucent colours can be used to indicate specific functions on Membrane Keypads. Dead front effects can be printed with semi transparent inks so LED’s can be “hidden” unless they are lit up.

Material Selection

Material selection is dependent on the use and environment that the overlays will be placed in, with adhesive selected depending on the substrate that they will be adhered to.

A large range of films for printing are available, and include Hard coated Polycarbonates and polyesters in a range of thicknesses from 120 microns through to 2mm or more.

Most often produced from polycarbonate or polyester, films can be scratch resistant, UV tolerant, fire retardant, and chemically resistant.

A variety of finishes and gauges are available to provide gloss or matt or a combination of finishes when combined with clear printed gloss and matt areas.

Shapes & Sizes

Overlays can be knifed to any size or shape that may be required; they can be custom die-cut to specifications, or made to fit to recessed parts.

Methods of Application

Extensive adhesive options are available.

Selecting the appropriate adhesive for an overlay application depends on a number of factors, the surface to which the overlay will be attached, the material that the overlay is printed on and external environmental factors that the label will be subject to.

See adhesive section for further detail

Simply contact us for technical advice, samples or a no obligation quote.