“I always want to see the third dimension of something... I want to come alive with the object.”
—Andrew Wyeth
“我一直都想要探索事物的第三维度......我想要让物体变得生动起来。”
——安德鲁·魏斯

Dimensional signage, by its very nature, stands out. It can turn an ordinary idea into something spectacular. But which substrates should be used for which purposes?
立体标识本身的外观形态就博得了大多数人的青睐。它把一个普通平凡的事物变成夺人眼球的艺术品。但是，针对不同立意的标识该如何选择所使用的材质呢？

Aluminum Sheet
铝型材

For long-term outdoor durability it's hard to beat aluminum. It is easy to work with, completely impervious to any form of weather and 100 percent recyclable—a winning combination. It can be cut with a CNC router or a water-jet cutter with equal ease. The finished product looks high-tech and professional. But it's also expensive.
在长期户外耐用性方面，其他材质很难比得过铝型材。因为铝型材不受天气的影响，并且100%可回收。它可以用CNC数控设备或水刀切割机进行切割工作。用铝型材做出来的产品看起来高端且专业。同时，它也是比较昂贵的。

Layered Composites
分层复合材料

A common lower-cost alternative to aluminum is aluminum/plastic composites. Utilizing the light weight and moisture resistance of thermoplastics for the core and thin layers of painted or anodized aluminum for the outer surfaces, these convenient products are perfect for sign production. Composites come in a variety of thicknesses and sizes, including 5' x 10' sheets. It is dimensionally stable and weather-proof yet much lighter than solid metal. They are a UL-recognized component for electrical signs, have a Class 1 and Class A fire rating and are NCHRP 350 approved for highway and safety signage. Their composite structure gives them excellent strength and rigidity, meaning that less substructure is required during construction. Composite sheeting is easy to fabricate using ordinary shop and woodworking tools, and often comes pre-painted for a completely hassle-free experience.
铝或塑料复合材料是可以替代铝型材的一个低成本选择。标识的核心部分采用轻质防水热塑性塑料，外表面使用喷漆薄膜层或阳极电镀铝，这些实用性材料对标识产品来说是最佳选择。复合型材料分为各种不同的厚度和尺寸，其中包含5’ x 10’薄板。它的尺寸稳定且不受气候影响，同时比固体金属更轻便。它们是电子标识的公认UL元件，自带发光等级1和等级A，并且是经过公路和安全标识批准的NCHRP 350。该复合结构赋予其极佳的长度和硬度，意味着在制作过程中无需过多的注重底部构造。用普通商铺做木工的工具制作复合板是非常容易的，并且完全不需任何经验。

Expanded PVC
发泡PVC

Expanded PVC boards are very popular for indoor dimensional signage. Light, tough, stable and very easy to work with, they are also fire resistant and direct printable. Routers cut through them like butter, leaving perfectly finished edges. And they are available in a variety of colors, meaning that no paint is needed for further savings, as well as a variety of thicknesses. Outdoors the PVC can be replaced with polycarbonate or strengthened acrylic sheets that also cut easily but are much more durable (and obviously more expensive). They can also be used as facials for backlit dimensional letters, coupled with one of the edge trim systems readily available from most sign suppliers.
室内立体标识制作材料比较青睐于发泡PVC板。主要是由于它们比较轻便、坚硬、稳固、易加工，且防火、可直接喷印。经过数控切割后，可以留下无瑕疵的加工边缘。同时，它们包含各种颜色，各种厚度。户外PVC板可以用聚碳酸酯或增强型亚克力板来代替，它们也易被切割且更加耐用（同时价格也更高）。它们也可以用于背光式立体标识的正面。

Thermoformable Sheet
热压成型板

Thermoforming with plastics is another way to create dimensional signage when multiple copies are required. A mold is created and the plastic sheet is heated until it slumps over the mold and forms the shape required. Various types of thermoforming and vacuum forming equipment can be used to accomplish the task. Molds also work well for fiberglass thermoforming. The end product can range from light and portable to thick and tough.
制作立体标识的另一种方式是塑料热压成型法，这种制作方式适用于大批量产品，先制作一个模子，把塑料板放在上面，然后开始加热，直到塑料板从模子上滑落，这样就得到了所需要的形状。这个过程可以用各种各样的热压成型真空设备来完成。模子同样适用于玻璃纤维热成型板。最终产品可以是轻质便携式的，也可以是厚重坚固型的。

HDU
高密度板

High density urethane (HDU) commonly known by the brand name, Sign Foam, is particularly useful for creating dimensional signage. Working with HDU can open up a whole new world of opportunity in dimensional signage. It is available in thick, easily carved slabs and is ideal for 3-D sculpture. Signs are no longer restricted to two dimensions, but can be large, impressive shapes. And it comes in a wide variety of qualities, densities and sizes that paint up beautifully. Depending on its density and thickness the material can be CNC routered, sand-blasted, cut with a hot wire system, or hand-worked with standard woodworking tools such as gouges, chisels and awls.
高密度板一般是以商标标识为人所知的，在制作立体标识时，这种材质是非常有用的。采用HDU为标识制作材料可以在立体标识领域开创一个新的发展方向。它可以用于易雕刻的厚板，是3-D雕刻的理想选择。标识不再局限于二维形式，而是可以变成更大、更令人印象深刻的外观，同时被做成不同质量、密度和尺寸的美观产品。根据不同的密度和厚度，这些材料可以用CNC数控设备、喷砂设备、等离子切割设备或手动工具来加工成沟槽、凿子和锥子。

Wood Sheet
木质板

You can't talk about dimensional signage without talking about wood. Despite its long history in this industry it has never gone out of style. Sandblasted wood signs are an art form that is still popular today. The beautiful natural textures, rich warm colors and mesmerizing grain all combine for a WOW product that no synthetic material can accurately replicate.
谈到立体标识，就不能不提到木质板。尽管它在该行业已有悠久的历史，但是它从未落伍过。喷砂木质标识就是一件艺术品，并且至今都非常受欢迎。由天然材质、丰富暖色调和迷人纹理做成的一个WOW产品，是任何合成材料都无法复制的。

MDF Sheet
中等密度纤维板

Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is a very popular substrate. MDF is made by converting wood chips into fibers. Liquid resins are added to create a thick mat which is pressed into boards using heat and pressure. An advantage of MDF for the graphics industry is that the product is uniform throughout, including the edges—without the irregularities found in natural wood. It can be CNC routered and sandblasted easily for almost unlimited effects. It is not outdoor durable, although some variants of this ubiquitous product do use outdoor grade resins for increased moisture resistance.
中等密度纤维板也是非常受欢迎的标识制作材料，它是由木屑转变成纤维做成的。液态树脂用来做成厚衬边，然后用热压方式把衬边压入板材中。均匀连续分布是中等密度纤维板的优点，而且就连边缘都分布的整齐且均匀。在大多数情况下，它都可以用CNC数控设备进行数控切割和喷砂作业。尽管许多这种常见的产品使用的都是防水的户外树脂做成的，它还是不宜用于户外。

Light-Duty Materials
轻质材料

Many lighter-duty temporary dimensional signage projects can be completed with foam board, corrugated plastic sheeting or paper-based display boards. The advantages are that they tend to be much less expensive, are often printable and are easily fabricated and cut to shape. These materials are great for creating dimensional indoor displays for retail promotions.
许多轻质临时标识项目都是用泡沫板、波纹塑料板或纸质展板做成的。它的优点就是价格低、可打印、易组合切割。这些材料是室内零售促销立体展板的最佳选择。

There's a substrate for every need, and many uses for every substrate. Imagination is the only limit.
一种材质可以适合所有需求，所有材质可以实现多种用途。充分发挥想象力，只有你想不到的，没有你做不到的。