Buyer’s Guide / Thin Metal Plates
Buyer’s GuidePrecise, durable thin-gauge plates in stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, and nickel silver — etched, sublimated, or screen printed.
Thin metal plates are made from sheet metal just 0.015″ to 0.125″ thick in stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, or nickel silver. Despite the slim profile they hold fine detail and small type, making them ideal for wayfinding, room identification, data plates, branding, and large production runs.
From 1″ × 1″ up to 23″ × 36″ (max 828 sq in).
ThicknessEleven gauges from 0.015″ to 0.125″, depending on metal and finish.
Five metals, each with its own alloys, gauges, and finishes.
A printed resist protects the design while acid etches the exposed metal, creating a recessed, durable image. Recessed areas can be paint-filled, frosted, antiqued, or left natural, then baked and sealed. Text and artwork can be recessed or raised.
Artwork is printed on transfer paper, then heat and pressure turn the ink to gas so it embeds permanently in the plate’s coating for sharp, photographic, fade-resistant color. DynaSub is for interior use only; DuraLuxe is exterior grade, UV resistant, and scratch and graffiti resistant.
Ink is pushed through a fine mesh stencil one color at a time for bold, opaque, colorfast graphics with excellent adhesion. Ideal for branding, labels, and sequential IDs.
Corners: four standard corner shapes (square, radius, chamfer) or custom contours on request.
Artwork: vector files (AI, EPS, PDF, SVG) for logos and type; 300 dpi images for photos. Small type, serial numbers, and intricate designs reproduce accurately.
Mounting: thru-hole (two or four holes at 1/16″, 1/8″, or 3/16″; hardware not included) or 2-mil double-face tape (interior only). Other mounting on request.
Standard sizes range from 1″ × 1″ up to 23″ × 36″ (max 5.75 sq ft / 828 sq in). Custom cutting within this range is available.
Eleven gauges from 0.015″ to 0.125″. Availability depends on the metal, alloy, and finish.
Stainless steel (304, 316, 430 magnetic), aluminum (5005-H34 anodized, 3003, 3105), brass (230, 353), copper (110), and nickel silver (792). Finishes vary by alloy.
Yes, depending on material and finish. Stainless steel, anodized aluminum, and DuraLuxe aluminum suit many exterior applications. Brass, printed aluminum, and DynaSub are for interior use.
Chemical etching (with optional color fill, frost, or antique), sublimation (DynaSub interior, DuraLuxe exterior), and screen printing. We’ll recommend the best process for your artwork and environment.
Vector files (AI, EPS, PDF, SVG) for logos and type; high-resolution images (TIFF/PNG/JPG at 300 dpi at final size) for photos. Outline fonts or include licensed font files.
Yes. On etched plates, elements can be recessed or raised, with paint-fill options, depending on the design and process.
Thru-hole mounting (two or four holes at 1/16″, 1/8″, or 3/16″; hardware not included) and 2-mil double-face tape (interior only). Other mounting systems are available on request.
DynaSub is an interior sublimation aluminum in satin silver or gloss white; direct sun will fade the image. DuraLuxe is exterior-grade gloss white aluminum that is UV, scratch, and graffiti resistant.
Stainless is offered primarily in satin, with select 430 magnetic gauges also in bright. Brass is available in satin or bright, with optional etched or antique effects.
Yes. Choose from four standard corner shapes or request custom contours to match your design or fixture.
Lead time depends on material and process. Many thin-gauge projects ship in standard production windows after proof approval and payment; complex etch/paint work or high volumes may take longer.
Send us your artwork, sizes, and quantities — we’ll recommend the right metal and finish and send a free proof.
