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Flex vs sunboard vs acrylic: which shop board?

Short answer: flex for big, cheap fascias; vinyl on sunboard for small and medium boards that need to look crisp; acrylic for door and counter plaques; a glow sign if people find you after dark. Whichever you pick, the Kannada layout is the same: Kannada on top, about 60% of the board, English below.

Quick comparison

MaterialBest forLookWatch out for
Flex (printed PVC banner on a frame)Large fascias, 6 to 20 ft wideBright, but colours fade in strong sun over timeSagging if the frame is loose; low-resolution prints blur Kannada conjunct letters
Vinyl on sunboard (5 mm PVC foam board)Boards up to about 4 × 2 ft, indoor or shaded outdoorSharp, flat, clean edgesCan warp in direct afternoon sun; needs a backing or frame outdoors
Acrylic (UV print or cut letters)Door plaques, reception and counter signsGlossy, premiumCosts more per square foot; scratches if cleaned with rough cloth
Glow sign (backlit box or LED letters)Shops open in the eveningVisible at nightNeeds a power point and an electrician; Kannada letters must be cut cleanly to light evenly

How to choose

  1. Measure the space above your shutter or door. Over about 6 ft wide, flex or a glow sign is usually the practical choice.
  2. Check the sun. A west-facing fascia in direct sun is hard on sunboard and on cheap flex inks.
  3. Think about evenings. If most customers come after 7 pm, a lit board earns its cost.
  4. Add a plaque. A small acrylic Kannada + English plaque at the door is a cheap upgrade even if the main board stays as it is for now.

Kannada prints well on all of them, if the file is right

The material matters less than the artwork. Kannada needs proper font shaping: some sign software breaks conjunct letters like ್ರೀ or ್ವೀ, and that is very visible on a big board. We send you a free mockup with correctly shaped Kannada, then print-ready files for whichever material you choose. Small vinyl-on-sunboard boards start from ₹2,999 delivered in Bengaluru; flex, fascia and glow signs get a fixed quote from a photo and rough size.

ಶ್ರೀ ಗಣೇಶ ಸ್ವೀಟ್ಸ್
SRI GANESHA SWEETS

Example layout: the same Kannada-first design works on flex, sunboard, acrylic or a glow sign.

Questions

Which board material lasts longest outdoors?

Acrylic and a well-built glow sign generally outlast flex and sunboard in direct sun. Flex is the cheapest to replace when it fades.

Is sunboard OK outside?

In shade, yes. In strong direct sun it can warp, so mount it on a backing or frame, or pick flex or acrylic.

Can you print my Kannada board on flex from a local printer?

Yes. We can design the board and send print-ready files to any printer you like, with the Kannada spelling checked first.

Get a free mockup of your board

Send a photo of your current board (or just the shop name). We send back a Kannada-first version, Kannada on top taking about 60% of the board, English below. Free, no obligation. If you like it, we quote a fixed price and deliver in Bengaluru.

Send your board photo More guides

Or WhatsApp us a photo of your board on +91 99806 10978.