Index
Transparent, translucent and opaque colours
The benefits of A-Cast® cast acrylic are based upon the properties of the product and the manufacturing method – made in a batch process as opposed to extrusion which is a continuous process. The manufacturing method means that small quantities can be produced giving flexibility in both colour range and surface finish with the ability to offer colour matching and speciality products in relatively low quantities.
Those colours are available in transparent, translucent or opaque options. The difference between each of these colours is based on the amount of light that is allowed to pass through them.
Transparent colours
Light passes through a transparent colour undistorted, enabling us to clearly distinguish objects behind them.
Translucent colours
In contrast, translucent colours are partially transparent permitting the passage of light without enabling us to distinguish the colour of objects seen through them.
Opaque colours
No light will pass through an opaque or solid colour and therefore, objects cannot be seen behind an opaque colour.
Tints, shades and tones
As if there were not enough colours to choose from, with the A-Cast® sheet there are also tints, shades and tones of a particular colour.
Often used incorrectly, the terms, tint, shade and tone describe quite simple colour concepts. Where a colour is made lighter by adding white, the result is a tint whereas a colour made darker by adding black represents a different shade of the colour and by adding grey, we achieve a different tone.
A-Cast® has always been available in an extensive range of colours with a standard swatch chain and other swatch chain variants produced for Europe and the US, featuring colours popular in those territories. However, if a colour has not previously been matched, our colour technicians can generate the required colour from a sample, Pantone or RAL reference.
