Product Description
ORACAL 383 Ultraleaf Cast Film — Gold and Chrome Leaf-Effect Vinyl
ORACAL 383 Ultraleaf is a 3.5-mil cast PVC film with a three-dimensional embossed surface that reads as hand-laid metal leaf from across a parking lot. It gives you the look of gold leaf or chrome without gilding, sizing, burnishing or a specialist — you cut it on your plotter and apply it like any cast film. Five-year outdoor durability, ASTM E 84-07 Class "A" fire rating, and gloss gold or chrome finishes. Available in 15", 24", 30" and 48" widths in 10-yard and 50-yard rolls.
- 3.5-mil cast PVC with a three-dimensional textured surface
- Gloss gold or chrome — the "hammered" leaf look
- 5-year outdoor durability on vertical surfaces
- Clear solvent-based permanent adhesive — 3.7 lb/in on stainless after 24 hours
- ASTM E 84-07 Class "A" fire rating; self-extinguishing adhered to steel
- Saltwater tested — no variation after 100 hours per DIN 50 021
- 83# silicone-coated liner; cuts cleanly on plotter systems
What it's for
ORAFOL developed 383 for lettering, marking and decoration of vehicles, windows and signs needing long-term outdoor durability. Where sign shops actually use it:
- Gold leaf storefront lettering — barbershops, law offices, jewelers, tattoo studios, boutiques
- Window gilding effects without the cost or skill of real leaf
- Truck door lettering and fleet numbering where a premium look sells the service
- Boat and transom lettering — the film is saltwater tested with no variation after 100 hours
- Monument and directory signage accents
- Awards, plaques and decorative panels
- Craft and small-shop work — cuts on desktop plotters and craft cutters
Gold leaf without the gilder
Real 24-karat gold leaf on glass is a craft skill with a shrinking pool of practitioners, and a genuine gilded window costs accordingly. ORACAL 383 gets you most of the visual effect — the depth, the broken highlights, the way the surface catches light at different angles — from a roll of vinyl you already know how to cut and apply.
It won't fool a gilder up close. What it does is give a small business a storefront that reads as premium from the sidewalk, at a price and lead time that closes the sale.
Not for compound curves. Elongation at break is 35%, low for a cast film, because the embossed structure resists stretching. It's built for flat and gently curved surfaces — flat sign faces, glass, truck doors and panels. It is not a conformable wrap film, and it will not go into deep recesses or over rivets.
Working with a structured film
Textured films behave differently from flat cast vinyl, and ORAFOL says so directly: films with a structured surface are naturally more sensitive than unstructured ones, both in processing and in cleaning. Practical implications:
- Handle the face carefully. Fingerprints, scuffs and squeegee marks show more on an embossed surface than a flat gloss one. Use a felt-edged squeegee.
- Transfer with the specified tapes. ORAFOL lists ORATAPE HT55 (paper), MT72 (paper) and MT95 (clear conformable) for this film.
- Expect more frequent cleaning in service. Impurities affect the appearance of structured films — the texture holds dust and road film in a way flat vinyl doesn't. Tell your customer, especially on a storefront.
- Test cut first. At 3.5 mil this is thicker than standard 2-mil cast; adjust blade depth and force.
- Dry application only, above 50°F. That's ORAFOL's minimum application temperature for 383.
- Clean the substrate and let coatings cure. Freshly lacquered or painted surfaces must be fully cured, and paint compatibility should be tested before you apply.
Technical data
| Film construction | 3.5-mil ultraleaf cast PVC, three-dimensional textured surface |
| Color and finish | Chrome or gold, gloss |
| Adhesive | Clear, solvent-based, permanent |
| Adhesive power (FINAT TM-1, 24 hr avg.) | 3.7 lb/in on stainless steel |
| Release liner | 83# silicone-coated paper |
| Thickness (film only) | 3.5 mil |
| Durability / minimum life expectancy | 5 years (vertical surfaces, accepted application procedures) |
| Dimensional stability (FINAT TM-14) | Adhered to steel: no shrinkage across; less than .009" in length |
| Temperature resistance | Adhered to aluminum, -65°F to +160°F, no variation |
| Fire behavior (DIN 75200) | Adhered to steel, self-extinguishing |
| Fire rating | ASTM E 84-07 Class "A" |
| Seawaterability (DIN 50 021) | Adhered to aluminum, no variation after 100 hr at 73°F |
| Tensile strength (DIN EN ISO 527) | Min. 17 MPa along and across |
| Elongation at break (DIN EN ISO 527) | Min. 35% along and across |
| Minimum application temperature | 50°F (dry application) |
| Shelf life (68°F / 50% RH) | 2 years |
| Roll lengths | 150 ft (50 yd) and 30 ft (10 yd) |
| Widths | 15" (punched), 24", 30", 48" |
| Print compatibility | Thermal transfer |
| Recommended application tapes | ORATAPE HT55, MT72, MT95 |
Source: ORAFOL Americas ORACAL 383 Ultraleaf Cast Film Technical Datasheet, rev. 06/26. Batch traceability to ISO 9001 is available from the roll number.
Splice Free Guarantee
ORAFOL guarantees every roll of ORACAL plotter film to be free from splices. Identify a verifiable splice and ORAFOL replaces the roll at no cost and sends you $500.
This item ships directly from ORAFOL. Orders can't be changed or cancelled once placed, so double-check finish, width and length before you check out. Call (602) 272-8655 or email Sales@kgsupplies.com if you want to confirm current lead time before ordering.
Buying multiple rolls or quoting a fleet job? Ask about our B2B program for volume pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Does ORACAL 383 come in silver?
It comes in chrome and gold, both gloss. Chrome is what most people mean when they search for silver leaf vinyl — it's the bright metallic that stands in for silver or aluminum leaf.
Can I print on it?
Thermal transfer only, per ORAFOL. It isn't specified for eco-solvent, latex or UV inkjet printing.
Will it work on a vehicle wrap?
For flat and gently curved panels, door lettering and fleet numbering, yes. For a full wrap with compound curves, recesses and rivets, no — elongation at break is 35%, and the embossed structure isn't built to stretch. Use a conformable cast wrap film for those and reserve 383 for the accent lettering.
How does it compare to real gold leaf?
It's a cast vinyl imitating the effect, not a metal. Up close a gilder will know. From the sidewalk it reads as leaf, it installs in an afternoon with tools you already own, and it costs a fraction of a gilded window.
Can I cut it on a Cricut or Silhouette?
Yes. It's a 3.5-mil cast film — thicker than standard 2-mil cast vinyl, so run a test cut and increase blade depth and force before committing to a design with fine detail.
Which application tape should I use?
ORAFOL specifies ORATAPE HT55 (paper), MT72 (paper) or MT95 (clear conformable) for 383.
Will it hold up on a boat?
The film is saltwater tested per DIN 50 021 with no variation after 100 hours adhered to aluminum, and it carries a 5-year outdoor durability rating. As with any marine graphic, surface prep and regular cleaning drive the real-world result.
Does the texture collect dirt?
More than flat vinyl, yes. ORAFOL notes that impurities affect the appearance of structured films and that they need more frequent cleaning. Worth mentioning to a storefront customer up front so a maintenance conversation doesn't become a complaint.
WARNING: This product may expose you to chemicals which are known in the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Published information is based on ORAFOL research believed to be reliable, but does not constitute a warranty. Because of the variety of uses and the continuing development of new applications, the purchaser should evaluate suitability and performance for each intended use and assumes all risk regarding such use. Specifications are subject to change without notice. ORACAL® and ORATAPE® are registered trademarks of ORAFOL Europe GmbH.
