What Is Punched Vinyl?

Punched Vinyl

• Punched vinyl is perforated along its sides and some manufacturers refer to it as perforated vinyl. The punches or holes are placed in a specific pattern for use in certain types of plotters or printers. The holes precisely align with the machine's feeding mechanism. The sign and printing industry uses punched vinyl as a surface for printing packaging, signs, stickers, decals and other items that use vinyl lettering. Punched vinyl comes in 15 and 30 inch widths and can be used in sprocket table top printers used for home crafting and scrapbook making. Because of the precise fit, extremely accurate cutting is possible using the punched vinyl.

Unpunched Vinyl

• Sheet vinyl that is not punched is smooth from edge to edge. Unpunched vinyl is used in friction and flat bed cutters and printers. Unpunched vinyl comes in a wider variety of widths than punched vinyl, including 15, 20, 24, 30, 45 and 48 inches. Unpunched vinyl is also used by professional print shops and manufacturers to print and cut signs, packaging and other marketing or decorative items. Smaller sheets of unpunched vinyl are packaged and sold to the consumer market for use in home printers.

Unpunched Plotters and Printers

• Friction feed plotters and printers are designed to move unpunched vinyl material through the machine using a roller mechanism. The friction caused by the roller keeps the vinyl aligned and both sides of the vinyl sheet move in unison. Friction rollers operate using unpunched vinyl -- there is no need for the holes found along the sides of punched vinyl. However, punched vinyl should work just fine in a friction feeder as long as the width of the vinyl matches the plotter. Punched vinyl should not be used in a friction feed plotter if the manufacturer clearly states not to use punched vinyl.

Punched Plotters and Printers

• Sprocket plotters and printers are designed to move punched vinyl material through the plotter using a sprocket roller or wheel mechanism. The punched holes along the edges of the vinyl are cut to match the spacing on the sprocket roller. Each tooth of the sprocket feeder meets each hole in the punched vinyl, feeding the material through the machine with great accuracy. Unlike the friction feed plotter, the sprocket plotter must use punched vinyl to operate accurately.