The films are printed on in reverse, so the ink is trapped under the glossy side, which decreases the need for lamination. These prints can also be mounted to a white surface like PVC, which will show off the colors, without lamination. Azon's product, which was adapted from polycarbonate laminating film, is fairly stiff with a textured viewing surface. Gregory's film has a high-gloss viewing side. The colors burst forth even with indirect lighting behind the film.
Films also come in a variety of other styles, such as clear, static-cling, and adhesive backed.
We printed an in-store sale sign on this media. Vinyl, like some films and papers, can be highly susceptible to damage from skin oils, so it's best to wear cloth gloves when working with this media. This particular substrate is a true blockout material, which means light won't pass through it from behind. An offshoot of vinyl media is floor graphics. This is the first year we've tested floor graphics for this study, although we were unable to get the full effect without a laminator.