Every Cartomat acrylic sign is built from the same parts: flat acrylic panes and a stand that holds them. This guide shows the parts, how they join, and the designs we make from them, so you can pick a design or describe your own.
One line describes any sign
S2 [2|1] P4
Read it the way a sign is built. S is the number of slits in the stand. The brackets say what each slit holds. P is the number of panes, stand included.
| Mark | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
S0 |
No stand: hung, leaned on an easel or fixed to the bar | Plaque |
[1] |
One slit holding one pane | Classic |
[2] |
One slit holding two panes taped flat together | Layered |
[2~] |
The same, with a 2 mm gap so the front pane floats | Floating |
| |
The next slit, one row further forward | Duo [1|1]
|
· |
The next slit, side by side on the same row | Pair [1·1]
|
S1b |
A small clear block stand, for A5 and smaller | Appliqué |
| Applied pieces | Shapes or cut letters glued onto a pane count as panes | [3] |
The pane
A pane is one piece of acrylic. Six choices describe it, and the stand is a pane too.
| Choice | What you can pick |
|---|---|
| Size | A5, A4 or A3, or 5×7, 8×10, 8.5×11, 11×14 and 11×17 inches. Companion pieces come in A6 and A7 |
| Thickness | Set for you: 3 mm, or 4 mm for signs taller than 330 mm |
| Acrylic | Clear, frosted, opal white, solid colour, transparent colour, mirror, metallic or pearl |
| None, front, reverse or both sides. Print the art behind and the text in front for depth | |
| Outline | Rectangle, half arch, full arch, oval, ticket corners, scallop, baroque, organic wave, or cut letters |
| Inside cut | None, a window, a ring or a lattice |
How panes join
| Joint | What it does | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Slit | A pane stands in a cut through the stand | Standard |
| Tape | Two panes held flat together | Standard |
| Spacer | A 2 mm gap between panes, so the front one floats | Standard |
| Block | A pane sits in the groove of a small clear block, A5 and smaller | Standard |
| Partial glue | A small piece glued at one point, so it lifts off the surface | On request |
| Hole | For a ribbon, tassel or hanging | On request |
| Mount | No stand: fixed to a bar front or wall, or set on an easel | On request |
| Light | LEDs behind a cut frame | On request |
The stand
The stand is a pane with slits. Each extra row of slits adds depth, and the stand can take any colour, outline or print, like any other pane.
Designs
Our designs, grouped by how many slits the stand has. The drawings open the layers out so you can see each one.
| Design | Code | What it is | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plaque | S0 [1] P1 |
One printed pane. Hang it, lean it on an easel or fix it to the bar. | On request |
| Easel plaque | S0 [2] P2 |
Printed both sides with a shaped back layer, for an easel or ribbon. | On request |
| Layered Plaque | S0 [3] P3 |
Three oval layers taped together for depth. | On request |
| Classic | S1 [1] P2 |
One printed sign on a clear stand. | Standard |
| Layered | S1 [2] P3 |
A second pane on the sign lifts the wording forward. | Standard |
| Triple Layer | S1 [3] P4 |
A centre sign inside two shaped rings. | On request |
| Floating 2 | S1 [2~] P3 |
The front card floats 2 mm off a shaped backing. | Standard |
| Floating 3 | S1 [3~] P4 |
Three layers, each floating 2 mm off the one behind. | Standard |
| Appliqué | S1b [5] P6 |
Small shapes glued at one point so they lift off the sign. | On request |
| Stage 2 | S2 [1|1] P3 |
Two full-width panels, one in front of the other. | Standard |
| Theatre | S2 [1|1] P3 |
A front frame with a window over the menu behind. | Standard |
| Theatre with Panel | S2 [2|1] P4 |
A Theatre with an extra layer on the back for depth. | Standard |
| Duo | S2 [1|1] P3 |
A main sign with a small companion in front. | Standard |
| Duo with Panel | S2 [2|1] P4 |
A Duo with an extra layer on the main sign for a 3D effect. | Standard |
| Double Stack | S2 [2|2] P5 |
Two layered signs, one behind the other. | On request |
| Pair | S2 [1·1] P3 |
Two half arches side by side, for his and hers. | Standard |
| Stage 3 | S3 [1|1|1] P4 |
Three rows that step down to the front. | Standard |
| Trio | S3 [1|1|1] P4 |
Two signs side by side and a companion in the centre. | On request |
| Stage 3 with Panel | S3 [1|1|2] P5 |
Stage 3 with an extra layer on the front. | On request |
| Stage 4 | S4 [1|1|1|1] P5 |
Four rows, with rings framing the menu at the back. | On request |
| Skyline Stage 4 | S4 [1|1|1|2] P6 |
A rising shape at the back, two rows, and a piece applied to the front. | On request |
| Grand Theatre | S4 [1|1|1·1|1] P6 |
A small stage: backdrop, curtains, trees and a window frame. | On request |
Options for each pane
| Option | Choices |
|---|---|
| Acrylic | Clear, Opal white, Frosted, Colour, Pearl, Gold or silver mirror, Pink mirror, Metallic gold |
| Colours | 23 solid colours from white to black, 7 transparent colours, gold and silver mirror, pink mirror, metallic gold, pearl, frosted and opal white |
| Outline | Rectangle, Half arch, Full arch, Oval or round, Ticket corners, Scallop or wave, Baroque frame, Organic wave, Cut letters |
| Inside cut | Window, Lattice |
| Full colour with white, on the front, on the reverse, or both sides | |
| Stand | Clear, colour or mirror acrylic, and it can be printed too |
Examples
Signs we have seen, written in the same code, with the design from this guide that comes closest. Anything here can be made to order.
S0, no stand
| Example | Code | Closest design | How it is built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seam, Stem, Study | S0 [2] P2 |
Easel plaque | Double-sided print, velvet layer, ribbon tassel. |
| Lit oversize menu | S0 [4] P4 |
Custom | Backing, printed panes, hidden LED ring behind a laser-cut frame. |
| POUR | S0 [4] P4 |
Custom | Tonal base with white front print, frame hiding lights, silver border, and the POUR letters as a single pane. Mounted on the bar. |
| Concentric marble frames, held in hand | S0 [4] P4 |
Custom | Four stacked frame and menu panes, no stand. |
S1, one slit
| Example | Code | Closest design | How it is built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terracotta Bar Menu | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | Clear acrylic throughout, with the design and text printed. Ticket corners on both panes. |
| Brown scalloped menu | S1 [1] P2 |
Classic | Classic with a baroque outline on a small clear stand. |
| The BAR with T&M tag | S1 [3] P4 |
Triple Layer | Teal pane, the BAR as a cut-letter pane, T&M partly glued to the sign. |
| Moscow Mule, His and Hers | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | Stars applied to the sign. |
| Wedding Bar Sign, round | S1 [1] P2 |
Classic | Classic with a round outline. |
| White floral | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | White floral outline over the menu pane. |
| French Riviera Romance, teal wave arch | S1 [1] P2 |
Classic | Classic with an organic wave outline. |
| Gelato Bar, red | S1 [3] P4 |
Triple Layer | Red pane, scalloped white frame and menu pane in one slit. |
| White wavy frames with stripes | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | Wavy striped frame over the menu pane. |
| Signature Drinks, white and blue arch | S1 [3] P4 |
Triple Layer | Blue arch, white floral frame and menu pane in one slit. |
| Elegant Wedding Drinks, white menu | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | Menu pane over a backing pane. |
| Burgundy arch with vertical raised heading | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | Top pane overhangs the edge. |
| The Bar, burgundy | S1 [1] P2 |
Classic | One burgundy pane with a wavy cut-out on the right side. |
| Custom arch, white and blue stripes | S1 [1] P2 |
Classic | Classic with an arch outline. |
| From the Bar, palm circle | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | Cut palm applied over the round menu. |
| Orange menu with blue topper | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | Blue topper badge applied to the orange menu. |
| Ice Cream, oval with wave frame | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | Blue oval menu with a cut wave frame applied. |
| Pancake Pals | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | Round menu with a printed pancake character. |
| Lemonade circle with cup | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | Round menu with a printed cup character. |
| Candy scallop menu | S1 [4] P5 |
Custom | Wavy frame, pink menu and two applied candies. |
| Mom-osa Bar | S1 [2~] P3 |
Floating 2 | Clear oval menu held off the yellow scallop with gold standoffs. |
| Sno'd Favorites | S1 [2] P3 |
Layered | Black lattice frame over the white menu. |
| Touchdown Bar | S1 [4] P5 |
Custom | Field pane with Game Five, helmet and football pieces applied. |
| Lit with bulbs | S1 [1] P2 |
Classic | Classic with LED lights on the back. |
S1b, clear block
| Example | Code | Closest design | How it is built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retro peach sign with white slatted pane | S1b [3] P4 |
Custom | Lattice at the back, peach pane with text, clear star pane in front, all in the clear block. |
| The bar and signature cocktail, pink and red |
S1b [1] P2, two signs |
Custom | Two separate wavy panes, each in a clear block. |
| Yellow wave with butterflies | S1b [5] P6 |
Appliqué | Yellow wavy backing, white wavy top pane, three printed butterflies glued at the body so the wings lift and overhang. |
Custom groove, made to order
| Example | Code | Closest design | How it is built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger scene, front | S1g [4] P5 |
Custom | Four panes in a groove engraved in a pink base, standing in front of the back scene. |
| Tiger scene, back | S1g [3] P4 |
Custom | Bar menu frame on its own groove stand, three panes. |
| Enseigne de bar, cane and wave | S2g [3|3] P7 |
Custom | Two stacks of three on a grooved base. |
| The Bar, clear arch with drinks | S1g [1] P2 |
Custom | Clear arch with the drinks and text printed, in a grooved stand. |
| Espresso Martini, edge-lit cowgirl | S1g [2] P3 |
Custom | Two panes in a grooved stand, lit from the edge. |
S2, two slits
| Example | Code | Closest design | How it is built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gelato Cart | S2 [2|1] P4 |
Duo with Panel | Pearl carrier, velvet-look top pane, companion in front. |
| Oval bar menu | S2 [2|1] P4 |
Duo with Panel | Oval pearl carrier with a floral print, green pane added on with white text, baroque companion in front. |
| Amalfi | S2 [2~|1] P4 |
Duo with Panel | Printed carrier, Signature Drinks pane floating on it, boats as the companion, printed stand. |
| Blue tile and gold DRINKS | S2 [2|1] P4 |
Duo with Panel | DRINKS cut from gold mirror and applied to the white base, oval menu in the front slit. |
| COCKTAILS semicircles | S2 [1|1] P3 |
Duo | Two transparent colour panes. |
| THE BAR floral with oval | S2 [2|2] P5 |
Double Stack | Acrylic-cut THE BAR partly glued to the floral carrier, oval floating on the menu. |
| The Bar ribbon with diamond tile | S2 [1|1] P4 |
Custom | Menu and diamond tile in two slits, wavy ribbon stand with the Bar applied. |
| Purple arch with window and disco ball | S2 [1|1] P3 |
Theatre | Theatre with a hanging ornament. |
| White lattice frame and companion | S2 [2|2] P5 |
Double Stack | Lattice pane over the printed carrier at the back; the companion in front has its own white frame. |
| Orange and pink arches |
S2 [1|1] P3 or S2 [5|1] P7
|
Duo | Flowers printed, or each flower colour cut from its own coloured acrylic. |
| Hibiscus, Signature Drinks | S2 [2|2] P5 |
Double Stack | Yellow carrier with the hibiscus pane applied, menu stack in front. |
| Double-layer scalloped pair | S2 [2·2] P5 |
Double Stack | Two stacks side by side on one stand. |
| Scalloped pair, burgundy The Drinks | S2 [2|2] P5 |
Double Stack | Burgundy menu stack behind, scalloped silver mirror Cocktails stack in front. |
| Corporate duo | S2 [1|1] P3 |
Duo | Main sign and companion. |
| The Bar, leather print with oval card | S2 [1|1] P3 |
Duo | Printed menu with a clear oval companion in front. |
| Purple and red | S2 [2|2] P5 |
Double Stack | Two stacks of two. |
S3, three slits
| Example | Code | Closest design | How it is built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black disc, wavy menu, bottle cut-out | S3 [1|1|1] P4 |
Stage 3 | Lattice disc, wavy menu and bottle, one pane per slit. |
| Beige floral stand with oval | S3 [1|1|1] P4 |
Stage 3 | Beige stand with three slits, one pane in each. |
| The Bar | S3 [1|2|2] P6 |
Trio | One pane, then two stacks of two. |
S4 and more
| Example | Code | Closest design | How it is built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Libations | S4 [1|1|1|1] P5 |
Stage 4 | Panes one behind another, each in its own slit. |
| Mermaid bar with coral rows | S4 [1|2|1|2] P7 |
Stage 4 | Four rows of coral, shell and sign panes, two of them stacked. |
| Blue botanical with signature cocktails | S6 [1|1|1|1|1|1] P7 |
Custom | Six single panes, each in its own slit. |
| Paper theatre | S4 [1|1|1·1|1] P6 |
Grand Theatre | Full back, curtains with a window, two small trees, ornate window frame in front. |
Many panes, made to order
| Example | Code | Closest design | How it is built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea waves | Many panes | Custom | Layered wave panes with a menu. |
| Basketball party sign | Many panes | Custom | Many applied pieces. |
| Eiffel tower, lava lamp, ginger jar | Many panes | Custom | Silhouette outlines. |