Introduction:
As a professional acrylic manufacturer, we often have customers asking, “What thickness and color should I choose for my custom design?”
Thickness and color are two key factors when customizing acrylic products. Thickness affects durability, strength, and suitability for different uses. Color impacts visual appeal and brand identity, enhancing a product’s look and recognition. Both choices also affect costs, so it’s important to balance your needs and budget.
Following this, we will help you find the answer to this question.
Part One: Acrylic Thickness Selection
1. Thickness and Strength
Thickness is crucial for the durability and stability of acrylic products. Generally, thicker acrylic offers greater strength, rigidity, and load-bearing capacity, making it ideal for shelves or protective covers.
However, thicker materials are not always the best choice. While they are necessary for applications like large display cases or outdoor billboards, they also increase production costs and weight, which can affect portability and ease of installation. Therefore, it’s important to balance thickness with strength, cost, and weight to ensure the best quality and functionality for acrylic products.
2. Thickness and Light Transmission
Acrylic thickness affects its light transmission, an important factor in many applications. Thicker acrylic reduces light transmission because it absorbs and scatters more light. For instance, 3mm clear acrylic has about 92% light transmission, while 10mm drops to around 85%. For applications like display cases or lightboxes, where high light transmission is needed, thinner acrylic is often preferred.
When choosing acrylic thickness for display cases and lightboxes, consider both light transmission and structural stability. For display cases, 2mm to 5mm clear acrylic ensures clarity and true color display. In lightboxes, 3mm to 6mm acrylic provides good light diffusion with minimal glare. Thicker acrylic may be needed for larger structures or to enhance stability and safety. Selecting the right thickness is key to achieving the best visual and functional outcomes.
3. Application Scenarios for Different Thicknesses
·2-3mm: Signage, Display stands, Small crafts.
·5-6mm: Desktop dividers, Plaques, inlays.
·8-10mm: Furniture components, Panels, Decorative boards.
·12-20mm: Partition walls, Display cases, Load-bearing components.
Part Two: Acrylic Color Selection
1. Standard Colors VS. Custom Colors
Color selection is important for both the design and functionality of acrylic products. Standard colors like clear, white, and black cover most needs. Clear acrylic is popular for its glass-like transparency, while white and black are used for light blocking or bold designs, making them ideal for displays, signage, and decor.
For brands and projects needing a unique touch, custom colors are a great option. Custom colors allow for specific shades that match brand identities or design requirements, enhancing visual consistency and appeal. To ensure accuracy, buyers should provide color samples or reference codes like Pantone numbers. Keep in mind that custom colors may require a minimum order quantity and longer production times, so planning ahead is essential.
In summary, standard colors are quick and cost-effective, while custom colors offer more flexibility and creativity.
2. Transparent VS. Opaque Options
Transparent Acrylic: Known for its excellent light transmission and visual appeal, transparent acrylic is perfect for display stands, optical products, and decorative panels. Display stands benefit from its clarity to showcase products, optical products rely on it for precision, and decorative panels use its crystal-like quality to create a modern look.
Opaque Acrylic: With strong light-blocking properties and a variety of color options, opaque acrylic is ideal for signage, privacy partitions, and backlit signs. It provides bold visuals for signage, effective barriers for privacy, and soft, even lighting for backlit signs, enhancing readability and appeal.
Part Three: Design VS. Function in Acrylic
1. Balancing Functionality and Design
When choosing the thickness and color of acrylic products, it’s important to balance function and design. Thickness affects strength and durability, while color impacts visual appeal and brand image. For example, display stands may need thicker acrylic for stability, with clear or colored options to enhance the presentation. Color choices should also reflect the brand’s colors and the usage environment to maintain a balance between aesthetics and function.
Case Analysis: In retail, jewelry displays use thicker clear acrylic for security and visibility, while candy boxes use thinner acrylic for accessibility. In offices, partition panels often use medium-thickness, darker acrylic for privacy and style. These cases show the need to align thickness and color to meet both functional and design needs.
2. Cost and Benefit Considerations
When customizing acrylic products, thickness and color choices greatly impact costs. Thicker acrylic sheets offer more strength and durability but are more expensive. Choosing a moderate thickness that maintains functionality can help control costs.
Color also affects costs. Standard colors like clear or common shades are more affordable, while special colors or those with optical effects are pricier. Using standard colors, especially those produced in larger batches, can further reduce costs.
By carefully balancing thickness and color choices, businesses can manage costs effectively while maintaining product quality, enhancing market competitiveness.
Conclusion:
Choosing the right acrylic thickness and color is key to balancing style, function, and budget. The right combination ensures your products look great, perform well, and reflect your brand. Focus on what matters most for your project, and let these choices bring your vision to life.
