Custom cardboard cutouts are a fun and versatile way to bring life to events or create a lasting impression. Whether used for humor or sentimentality, they can make any occasion more memorable. For instance, if you can’t attend a loved one’s milestone 75th birthday in person, you could send a custom cardboard cutout of yourself, ensuring you’re “there” in spirit to celebrate with them.
These cutouts are popular for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, and even promotional events. They serve as eye-catching decorations or memorable keepsakes. But what exactly are they made from? Typically, custom cardboard cutouts are printed on high-quality, durable corrugated cardboard, corrugated plastic, or foam board. The material ensures they’re lightweight yet sturdy enough to stand upright or be mounted as needed.
The Materials:
When you send us your image, we waste no time getting to work. Our streamlined process ensures your custom cardboard cutout is completed in just two days. Crafting these cutouts involves four essential materials that come together to create the final product. These components are carefully selected to ensure quality, durability, and a vibrant finish. Here’s what goes into making your custom cardboard cutout:
- Ink
- Corrugated plastic
- Cardboard
- Velcro
The Ink: This is what brings your image to life on the cardboard cutout. We use M&R’s UV-cured inks, which feature a matte finish—a perfect choice for custom cardboard cutouts. Why matte? It minimizes glare, making the cutout look great in photos and ensuring clear, vibrant images without the unwanted shine that comes with glossy finishes.
Think of the difference this way: a matte finish resembles the look of a hardcover book—elegant and subtle—whereas a glossy finish is more like a magazine cover, shiny and reflective. While gloss may catch the light in an unflattering way, matte ensures your cutout photographs beautifully, allowing it to be the centerpiece of any event or celebration.
The Sheet: This is the foundational material your custom cardboard cutout is printed on, and we off two distinct types: corrugated cardboard and plastic.
- Cardboard: This is our base-level option and works well for most standard needs. It’s the same sturdy material you’d find in moving boxes or mail packages, making it a reliable, cost-effective choice. Many companies sell only cardboard cutouts, but we give you the flexibility of upgrading.
- Corrugated Plastic (Coro): For a premium option, we use coro sheets—a durable, lightweight plastic material with a ribbed structure. Coro stands out because it’s moisture-resistant, easy to clean, and significantly longer-lasting than cardboard. These properties make it an excellent choice for outdoor or extended use, though it does come at a slightly higher cost.
The Velcro: You might be asking, “Why use Velcro for a cardboard cutout?” Here’s the answer: our cutouts include a second piece of corrugated plastic that functions as the stand, allowing the cutout to remain upright. This stand attaches to the back of the cutout, and we use Velcro to make the connections.
Why Velcro? Unlike some companies that either don’t include a stand or use a fixed adhesive tape for attachment, Velcro provides flexibility. It allows for easy assembly and disassembly, making it simple to transport or store your cutout. Plus, it ensures a secure connection while remaining reusable and non-permanent.
This feature allows you to disassemble and transport the cutout effortlessly, making it convenient to bring along to events, parties, or other locations. Velcro provides the perfect balance of stability and portability, ensuring your cutout is as versatile as it is eye-catching.
And there you have it. Those are the materials that make up a cardboard cutout. Since you got to this point, we wanted to provide you with a little bonus material.
The first is a very touching story we wrote about a military man who got a cutout of himself made for his two young daughters before he was about to be deployed for 10 months in Asia.
The second is a cool video that shows you how we make cardboard cutouts. It’s under two minutes long, and is entertaining as well as informative.
Military man story: https://www.goodguyssigns.com/blog/the-heartwarming-story-of-a-military-cheer-up/
Video:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vML9d17wY86G2BCkdYsgeBNDymCo2Lv2/view?usp=sharing