The Difference Between Cast and Calendered Vinyl

When working with adhesive vinyl there are two types of vinyl film you can choose: Cast and Calendered.

Cast Films

Cast Films are a premium-grade vinyl that starts life as a liquid, which is then spread out to an extremely thin layer.  Cast films will not noticeably shrink and will conform to irregular textures and curved surfaces, making them the best option for the most extreme outdoor applications – especially vehicle wraps.  Cast Vinyl provides vibrant, paint-quality color and the highest level of durability, lasting for years.

Calendered Vinyl

Calendered Vinyl begins as a lump of plastic that is then flattened by being passed through two pressure rollers.  Though not as high-quality as cast films, calendered film is adequate for less demanding conditions.  Calendered films come in two types: Polymeric and Monomeric.

Polymeric 

Polymeric calendered films have added polymers to reduce shrinkage, so they will fare much better in exterior applications than monomeric films but are not suitable for application over irregular surfaces.  For less demanding exterior work such as transit graphics that are frequently changed, polymeric films offer a workable alternative to cast.

Monomeric

The least expensive vinyl film is monomeric calendered.  Over time these films will shrink, collect dirt, and eventually curl up and flake off.  Monomeric films are best suited to short-term exterior applications or interior work.

These vinyl films can last anywhere from 6 months to 5 years or more, so it’s important to give us all the parameters of your install.  Talk to a GH Sales consultant or submit a QuickQuote so we can recommend the right vinyl for you.