Design Context

Materials

Acrylic- 

Acrylic can we supplied in a wide range of colours, sizes and thickness, though sometimes not directly from stock. Acrylic usually has a highly glossy surface and can be prone to scratching. This is why it is always supplied with a protective film on both sides of the material. Acrylic can be cut with a saw. Once it has been sawn, the edges can be flame polished, which will leave a gloss finish. However, if you are intending on printing onto the acrylic, you need to be aware that flame polishing the edges can have an effect on the surrounding flat surface, causing any print to crack and craze. Acrylic can also be glued, though only specific adhesives that are highly watery in consistency can be used. The material can also be softened on a wire and heat bent into angles. Heat bending can also cause the acrylic to flare out at the bend. This is difficult to avoid, particularly when the item is being mass produced, and is uneconomical to rectify. In terms of the surface of the acrylic, foil blocking can be applied.  The surface can also be engraved; this can be attractive but but is often costly and time consuming. Screen printing a translucent white has the same effect as engraving and can be a cheaper alternative.
Glow edge acrylic is one of the more unusual materials available. There are chemicals in the sheet that emit a bright glow when light hits the material. The colour palette and thicknesses available are restricted (for example, lime green, yellow, orange and blue), but there is a sheet available in a 0.3mm thickness, which is suitable for business cards and invitations, and which has the additional advantage that it can be guillotined.