Print and graphics film
Polyester film for labels, graphics and print.
Polyester gives printers a film that holds register, survives heat and handling, and lasts. We supply clear, white and matt PET with the surface treatment your inks need, slit for reel-fed presses or sheeted for sheet-fed and digital printing.
Why polyester for print
Why printers and label makers choose polyester film.
Polyester's dimensional stability keeps multi-colour work in register through drying ovens and lamination, and its heat resistance suits laser and thermal transfer printing in the right grades. It is tough and tear resistant, so labels, overlays and cards survive abrasion, chemicals and outdoor exposure far longer than paper. Polyester sits alongside the other printable films for labels, overlays and displays in our specialist film range.
The film itself is inert, so most printing needs a receptive surface: corona treatment for many UV and flexographic inks, or a chemical treatment matched to solvent-based or water-based inks and coatings (see polyester film grades and finishes). Choose the finish for the job: clear for overlays and reverse printing, white for contrast and opacity, and matt for drawing, diffusion and anti-glare.
Polyester film gradesApplications
Polyester film for print and graphics applications.
Labels
Label face stock and liners
White, clear and metallised PET for durable labels and barcodes, and PET liners for high-speed application.
Display
Display and backlit graphics
Clear and translucent films for signage, point of sale, light boxes and protective overlays.
Drawing
Drafting and engineering film
Matt polyester that takes ink and pencil, and stays the same size for accurate drawings and plans.
Overlays
Graphic overlays and membrane switches
Printed PET fascias and overlays for membrane switches and electronics, in heat-stabilised grades where registration matters.
Cards
Cards, tags and passes
White and clear films for ID cards, security passes, tags and durable printed cards.
Finishing
Lamination and encapsulation
Clear PET laminated over print to protect posters, menus, notices and instructions.
Choosing a print surface
Matching the film surface to your printing process.
Ink adhesion depends on the surface as much as the ink. Use this as a starting point, and run a print trial on the exact grade before production.
Print process to film surface
| Printing or finishing | Typical film surface | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UV flexo and UV screen | Corona-treated or chemically treated PET | Corona treatment can reduce over time: print soon after treatment |
| Solvent-based inks and coatings | Solvent-receptive chemically treated PET | Permanent primer coat |
| Water-based inks, coatings and adhesives | Aqueous-receptive chemically treated PET | Permanent primer coat |
| Laser printers and copiers | Heat-stable PET with a toner-receptive coating | Use only grades made for the printer |
| Thermal transfer | Smooth, treated PET matched to the ribbon | Test with your ribbon |
| Ink, pencil and plotters | Matt drafting film | One or two matt sides |
| Laminating and adhesive coating | Corona-treated or chemically treated PET | Match the treatment to the adhesive |
- UV flexo and UV screen
- Corona-treated or chemically treated PET
- Notes: Corona treatment can reduce over time: print soon after treatment
- Solvent-based inks and coatings
- Solvent-receptive chemically treated PET
- Notes: Permanent primer coat
- Water-based inks, coatings and adhesives
- Aqueous-receptive chemically treated PET
- Notes: Permanent primer coat
- Laser printers and copiers
- Heat-stable PET with a toner-receptive coating
- Notes: Use only grades made for the printer
- Thermal transfer
- Smooth, treated PET matched to the ribbon
- Notes: Test with your ribbon
- Ink, pencil and plotters
- Matt drafting film
- Notes: One or two matt sides
- Laminating and adhesive coating
- Corona-treated or chemically treated PET
- Notes: Match the treatment to the adhesive
General guidance. Ink and adhesive suppliers can confirm compatibility with a specific film.
Formats
Slit for reel-fed presses, sheeted for sheet-fed and digital.
We convert print films to the format your press takes, so you print rather than trim.
Slit reels
Reels slit to your width and length, on 76 mm or 152 mm cores, wound with the print side in or out.
Sheets to size
Standard press sizes or custom formats, sheeted and guillotined to exact tolerances.
Interleaved and counted
Tissue interleaving protects printable surfaces, with packs counted to your quantity.
Corona treatment
Single or double-sided treatment applied in line with slitting, or as a treat-and-return service.
Print film FAQs
Printable polyester film questions, answered.
Can't find what you need? Our technical team is happy to help.
Can you print on polyester film?
Yes, with the right surface. Untreated PET resists most inks, so print films are corona treated or chemically treated to make the surface receptive. Choose the treatment to suit your ink system.
Can polyester film go through a laser printer?
Only grades made for it. Laser printers fuse toner with heat, so the film must be heat stable and coated to accept toner. Ordinary polyester film can distort or jam the printer.
Why use polyester labels instead of paper or polypropylene?
Polyester labels resist tearing, abrasion, chemicals, moisture and heat far better than paper, and stay more dimensionally stable than polypropylene. They are chosen for durable labels, asset tags, barcodes and outdoor use.
What is drafting film?
Drafting film is polyester with a matt surface on one or both sides that takes ink, pencil and plotter output. It stays the same size with changes in temperature and humidity, so drawings stay accurate.
Do you supply white polyester film?
Yes. Opaque white and milky white PET give strong contrast for labels, cards and printed graphics, and are available untreated or treated for printing.
Can you cut print film to press sheet sizes?
Yes. We sheet and guillotine film to standard press sizes or custom formats, interleaved with tissue if required.
Planning a print job on polyester?
Tell us your press, ink system and finished format, and we will recommend a film and supply it ready to print.
Polyester film
More on polyester film
- Read more
Overview
Polyester (PET) film
Grades, converting, applications and quality in one place.
- Read more
Converting
Slitting and sheeting
Slit reels, sheets, cores, die-cut parts and corona treatment.
- Read more
Specifying
Film grades and finishes
Clear, matt, white, metallised, treated and speciality grades.
- Read more
Packaging
Packaging and carton windows
Window, lidding, heat-sealable and recycled-content films.
- Read more
Conservation
Archival and conservation
Inert polyester for encapsulation, sleeves and storage.
- Read more
Electrical
Electrical insulation
Motor, transformer, cable, battery and electronics insulation.
- Read more
Industrial
Industrial and medical
Release liners, visors, shims, spacers and device parts.
