Product Description
ORACAL 8500 Translucent Cal is ORAFOL's workhorse translucent film for backlit sign faces. It is a 3.1 mil polymer (calendered) PVC engineered to hold even, consistent color both in reflected daylight and in transmitted light at night — so a cabinet reads the same color at 2 p.m. as it does at 10 p.m. The low-gloss surface knocks down the hot spots and reflections you get from glossy films on flat acrylic and polycarbonate faces.
It cuts and weeds cleanly on any standard plotter, comes in 55 colors, and carries a 7-year rated durability on colors (5 years on metallics). For most shops it is the default translucent for pan-formed and flat sign faces, awnings, light boxes, and menu boards where a premium cast film is more than the job needs.
Why sign shops pick 8500
- Day/night color match. Even coloring in incident and transmitted light — no washed-out or shifted color once the lamps come on.
- Reduced surface gloss. Cuts unwanted reflection on flat faces and in high-ambient-light interiors.
- Roll-to-roll consistency. ORAFOL runs each roll from a single batch with no splices, so a multi-roll job stays on color.
- Clean plotter performance. 3.1 mil polymer PVC with a 137 g/m² (84#) kraft liner tracks well and weeds small copy without lifting.
- Permanent, clear adhesive. Transparent solvent polyacrylate keeps color clean over white acrylic instead of graying it.
Technical specifications
| Film | Polymer (calendered) PVC, 0.08 mm / approx. 3.1 mil |
|---|---|
| Finish | Reduced-gloss translucent, even coloring in incident and transmitted light |
| Adhesive | Solvent polyacrylate, permanent, transparent, 0.026 mm (approx. 1 mil) |
| Liner | One-sided siliconized kraft paper, 137 g/m² (approx. 84#) |
| Durability (vertical outdoor exposure, normal Central European climate) | 7 years — black, white and colors 5 years — metallics See Southwest service life below. |
| Shelf life | 2 years in original packaging at 68°F / 50% relative humidity |
| Minimum application temperature | 50°F (10°C) |
| Service temperature range | -40°F to 140°F (-40°C to 60°C), adhered to aluminum |
| Adhesive power (FINAT TM 1, after 24 hrs) | 18 N/25 mm on glass 16 N/25 mm on acrylic glass |
| Tensile strength (EN ISO 527) | Min. 19 N/mm² along and across |
| Elongation at break (DIN EN ISO 527) | Min. 130% along, min. 150% across |
| Maximum shrinkage (FINAT TM 14, bonded to steel) | 0.4 mm along, 0 mm across |
| Chemical resistance (room temperature) | Oils, fuels, weak acids, salts and alkalis, isopropyl alcohol, washing suds (0.5% household cleaner) |
| Colors | 55 |
Service life in the Southwest — read this before you quote
The 7-year durability figure on every ORACAL data sheet is measured against a temperate Central European climate. ORAFOL publishes a separate climate-zone table, and Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and the desert Southwest fall in Zone 3 (arid / hot).
Applying ORAFOL's own Zone 3 reduction to a 7-year Zone 1 rating:
- Vertical outdoor exposure: approximately 3 years
- Horizontal outdoor exposure: approximately 1.5 years
- Zone 2 (humid / warm, e.g. Southeast US): approximately 5 years vertical
Interior light boxes, menu boards and enclosed cabinet faces are not exposed to that UV load and will run far longer. We publish this because a national spec sheet quoting seven years in Phoenix sun sets your customer up for a callback — and because knowing it up front is the difference between quoting 8500 and stepping the job up to ORACAL 8800 cast translucent.
Where it is used
- Internally illuminated sign cabinets and light boxes
- Backlit acrylic and polycarbonate faces
- Channel letter faces and returns
- Menu boards and drive-thru displays
- Illuminated awnings and pretensioned flexible faces
- Glass and window applications where reduced gloss is wanted
Roll sizes and colors
Available in 15″ (punched), 24″, 30″ and 48″ widths, in 10-yard and 50-yard rolls. All 55 colors are shipped direct from ORAFOL of America in Georgia; standard lead times apply and these rolls do not qualify for the free shipping promotion.
Need a width we do not list, or a partial roll? We run an in-house roll slitting service — call and we will cut to your face size instead of selling you waste.
Application and handling
Surface prep
The face must be clean, dry and free of dust, grease, wax and silicone. Freshly lacquered or painted surfaces need at least three weeks to fully cure before film goes on. Test lacquer and paint compatibility before committing to a production run.
Applying the film
- Minimum application temperature is 50°F. Avoid a sharp temperature drop in the first 24 hours after application; if one happens, warm the film with a heat gun.
- Dry or wet application. Wet application should only be done above 65°F. For wet work, ORAFOL recommends ORATAPE® MT72 application paper and squeezing all water out from behind the film.
- Pull transfer tape at a 180° angle, slowly, and work colored films in one direction only so perceived color stays consistent across the face.
- Overlaps should be a minimum of 4 mm and a maximum of 12 mm. Only lay film over film of the same manufacturer and type.
- Removal: this is a permanent adhesive. Surface and film should be at least 68°F before removal; heat while pulling at 180°. Expect adhesive residue on older film — and expect removal to be destructive on painted or coated faces.
Compatible ORATAPE® transfer materials
HT95 · LT52 · LT95 · MT52 · MT72 · MT80P · MT95
Storage
Store rolls suspended or standing on roll blocks in a cool, dry place out of sunlight. Let material acclimate to the shop before cutting — 40–50% relative humidity and 64–72°F is ideal. Swings outside that range expand or shrink the liner and throw off cut dimensions.
Regulatory and safety
Per ORAFOL's Article Information dated 04 February 2026, ORACAL 8500 is an article under REACH Article 3 and is not classified as a hazardous substance or mixture. It contains no SVHC Candidate List substances above 0.1% (w/w), no Annex XIV substances above 0.1% (w/w), no synthetic polymer microparticles under Annex XVII Entry 78, and complies with the RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU as amended by 2015/863) and with F-gas and ozone-depleting-substance regulations. This is PVC film — dispose of larger quantities per local PVC recycling and disposal rules.
Documentation available on request: technical data sheet, article information, and safety data sheet. Email Sales@kgsupplies.com and we will send the current revision.
Not sure 8500 is the right translucent?
- Long-term exterior cabinets, deep-draw or complex faces, or a 10-year expectation: step up to ORACAL 8800 Translucent Premium Cast.
- Printing the graphic instead of cutting it: see our printable translucent media.
- Frosted or etched-glass look rather than backlit color: see ORACAL 8510 Etched Glass Cal.
Buying by the case, or spec'ing a multi-cabinet program?
Email Sales@kgsupplies.com or call (602) 272-8655 for volume pricing. Kirin Global Supplies delivers overnight across Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado, and ships nationwide via UPS.
