How Can I Use a Foamex Board?

Foamex is the bestselling board substrate due to its wide versatility and cost-effectiveness. Here are a few examples of Foamex board printing that demonstrate many use cases which might inspire you.

Here are a few examples of people or organisations and how they might put Foamex board printing to use to illustrate just how versatile this material is:

Retailers & Café Owners

Window displays announcing new products or promotions.

Menu boards that can be swapped seasonally.

Hanging signs inside the shop because Foamex can be drilled and mounted cleanly.

Event Organisers / Exhibition Designers

Exhibition panels for trade shows, conferences, or fairs. Foamex is light enough to transport, but solid enough to look professional. Often, if you establish the dimensions of the stand panels used at shows and exhibitions, you can create artwork on Foamex at exactly the right size. They are light enough to be stuck to existing structural backdrops and panels with strong double-sided glue tape. Just be sure to pick one that leaves no marks on the existing structure.

Strut cards (small Foamex boards with built-in stands) are ideal for promotional booths, countertops or exhibitions.

Branded backdrop boards or photo walls, cut into custom shapes, create immediate maximum visual impact.

Businesses / Offices

Way-finding signage (e.g. directional or informational boards).

Temporary mounted business signage (inside or outside), especially when a clean, professional finish is needed. If you need a permanent signage solution, Dibond is a more durable choice.

Weddings & Events

Welcome boards or directional signage (e.g. "Welcome to the Ceremony", "Drinks This Way").

Table plans printed on board for a more premium feel than paper. Pop these on an easel at the entrance to your dining area.

Custom-shaped decorative boards that can also be cut to the couple’s initials or a symbolic motif for more creativity.

Estate Agents / Outdoor Advertising

Estate agent “For Sale” or “To Let” boards, robust enough to last through several campaigns. We also sell Correx , which is the traditional board used for outdoor “for sale” signs.

Education & Public Sector

School noticeboards or information signs.

Museum or gallery signage. Foamex provides a clean surface for artwork or educational graphics.

Public information boards

How to Order Foamex (and Prepare Your Artwork)

If you’re ready to order Foamex board printing, here are some practical tips to make the process smooth:

Choose the right thickness: Use 3 mm for lighter indoor work, 5 mm for outdoor usage or heavier duty, and 10 mm for structural or long-term boards. We recommend a laminate finish for outdoor use.

Custom shapes: If you want a non-rectangular board, supply a cut path in magenta (or the specified spot colour) so that it can be cut exactly how you want.

Please supply your artwork as a CMYK PDF, preferably in PDF/X1a format

Scale of 1:1

Include 3mm bleed on all sides. Make sure to include bleed and avoid placing important elements too close to the edge (especially if you’re using rounded corners or drill holes).

Outline or embed fonts

150dpi resolution

To avoid disappointment, we recommend a minimum font size of 18pt and a line weight of 2pt for this product. Please have a look at our Help Centre article for more details.

Custom shapes: If you want a non-rectangular board, supply a cut path in magenta (or the specified spot colour) so that it can be cut exactly how you want. How? Follow this custom-shaped board guide.

Drill Hole Guidelines

Drill holes are 5mm wide.

If all sides of the part are 400mm or more, drill holes will be placed 30mm from the edges.

If any side is less than 400mm, drill holes will be placed 15mm from the edges.
Make sure to keep important design elements away from these drilling areas.

Foamex Board Printing Is a Cost-Effective and Adaptable Signage Option

It’s a versatile, cost-effective, and reliable material.

It works brilliantly indoors and outdoors.

Add lamination for temporary outdoor signage.

You can customise it extensively (shape, holes, printing on both sides).

It’s suitable for a huge range of use-cases, from weddings and events to retail signage, exhibitions, and more.

If you’re planning a project and thinking about what kind of rigid board to use, Foamex is often one of the first materials we recommend because it strikes a fantastic balance between quality, flexibility, and price.