Foamex, Correx and ACM are the three rigid boards behind most of the signs you walk past in London: the menu in a restaurant, the arrows at a festival, the hoarding around a building site. They all print beautifully, but they behave very differently once they leave the studio.
Key takeaways
- Foamex is smooth, rigid and light. It is at its best indoors and for short term outdoor use.
- Correx is light, waterproof and affordable. It is the go to for temporary outdoor signs.
- ACM Dibond is the premium, long term choice. It will not warp, rust or fade like cheaper boards.
- Choose by location and lifespan first, then by finish and budget.
- Not sure? Tell us where the sign is going and for how long, and we will recommend the right board.
Foamex vs Correx vs ACM at a glance
| Foamex | Correx | ACM Dibond | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Smooth, rigid PVC foam board | Light, fluted polypropylene plastic | Aluminium composite: two aluminium skins on a solid core |
| Best for | Indoor signs, displays, shell scheme panels, menus | Temporary outdoor signs, site signs, event arrows | Fascias, hoardings, long term outdoor signs |
| Indoor or outdoor | Indoors, or outdoors for the short term | Outdoors, temporary | Indoors or outdoors, long term |
| How long it lasts outside | Short term, such as events | A day to several months, depending on sun and wind | Built for years; will not warp, rust or rot |
| Thickness | 3mm, 5mm or 10mm | 4mm or 5mm | 3mm |
| Finish | Smooth matt surface, laminates available | Fluted, lightweight | Matt or gloss, brushed silver or gold, mirror |
| Fixings | Drilled holes, stands, hanging | Holes, eyelets, cable ties, stakes | Screws, rails, frames, installed by our team |
| Feels like | Light but solid | Very light, a little flexible | Premium and weighty |
Pro tip If you only remember one thing: foamex for inside, Correx for temporary outside, ACM for long term outside.
What is foamex best for?
Foamex is a smooth, rigid PVC foam board. It is light enough to hang with a couple of hooks, yet stiff enough to look crisp and flat on a wall or an easel. We UV print straight onto the sheet on our Fuji flatbed, so colours stay bold and edges stay sharp, then cut it to any size or shape on our Zund.
- 3mm for light signs and posters
- 5mm for everyday displays and shell scheme panels
- 10mm for extra rigid boards that stand up on their own
It is a favourite for indoor signs, menus, wayfinding, point of sale, wedding seating plans and exhibition graphics. Add a matt, gloss, dry wipe or anti graffiti laminate if the board will be handled a lot. See foamex printing in London for the full spec.
Real jobs: a shell scheme stand built from printed foam board panels, and a Correx site safety sign on a London hoarding.
What is Correx best for?
Correx is a fluted polypropylene board, a bit like plastic cardboard. It is very light, it does not soak up water, and it is one of the most affordable sign materials around, which makes it brilliant when you need lots of signs quickly.
Think construction site safety notices, directional arrows for weddings and festivals, open day boards, car park and queue signs. We print Correx signs single or double sided, from one board to runs of hundreds, and can drill holes or add eyelets for cable ties, tape the back, or make them ready to slot onto stakes.
Pro tip Correx flutes run in one direction. For signs on fences, ask for holes along the edge where the cable ties will go and we will set them up before printing.
What is ACM Dibond best for?
ACM is a 3mm aluminium composite panel: two thin aluminium skins bonded to a solid core. It stays flat, resists dents and stands up to the weather. Dibond is simply the best known brand name for it.
This is the board for shop fascias, construction hoardings, safety signs on long builds and premium wayfinding. Print onto matt or gloss white for full colour graphics, or let the metal show through on brushed silver, brushed gold or mirror finishes for a high end look. Our team can install it too. See ACM Dibond printing.
Which board is best for indoor and outdoor signs?
Indoors
- Foamex for most signs, menus, displays and exhibition panels
- ACM when you want a premium metal finish, such as hotel wayfinding
- Correx works too, but looks less refined up close
Outdoors
- Correx for temporary signs: events, sales, site notices
- ACM for anything that must face the weather for years
- Foamex only for short term outdoor use
How long does each board last outside?
Every outdoor sign is a bit different. Sun, wind, rain and how well it is fixed all play a part, so treat this as a guide rather than a guarantee.
- Correx is built for temporary use, typically anything from a day to several months depending on sun and wind.
- Foamex is fine for short term outdoor use, such as a weekend event or a pop up.
- ACM Dibond is built for long term outdoor use. It will not warp, rust or rot, which is why it is the go to choice for fascias and hoardings.
Want the print itself to last longer? Ask about a laminate. You can read more about how UV inks cure in our guide to UV printing.
Which board should I choose? A quick chooser
- A sign for a wedding, party or exhibition indoors? Foamex, usually 5mm.
- Twenty arrows for a festival this weekend? Correx.
- Safety signs for a short build? Correx. For a long build, ACM.
- A shop fascia or a hoarding that must look sharp for years? ACM Dibond.
- A freestanding board on an easel? 10mm foamex.
- A luxury feel with a metal finish? Brushed or mirror ACM.
Whichever board you choose, send print ready artwork with 3mm bleed. Our artwork guide has the details, and every job gets a free artwork check before it is printed. If your file is RGB we can convert it to CMYK, but there is a possibility of colour change.
Still not sure which board you need?
Tell us where the sign is going, how big it is and how long it needs to last, and we will recommend the right board. Everything is printed and cut under one roof in Uxbridge, ready to collect or delivered across London.
