There are generally three types of yard signs produced for political campaigns: Poly-Bag Signs, Fold-over Signs, and Corrugated Plastic Signs,

The process of selecting the type of sign for your campaign can be a little daunting, but if you think about your priorities (i.e. price, quantity, re-use, image, etc), and then talk to a reputable sign manufacturer, they can help you with the process of selection.

Before you call a printer, try to decide the Size and number of Colors that you will need on your signs.

Signs are different because of their construction and the processes used to produce them. Cost is a major factor with all campaigns and generally the more signs you need to purchase the lower the "per-sign" price will be from the printer. Each of the three signs types present an effective graphic appearance (for lawn placement, viewed at 30 mph) but as with most things; the more permanent the sign, the more expensive it will be. Corrugated Plastic Signs are the "top of the line", they look great - but they are the most expensive! Fold-over Signs have almost the same look and feel as Corrugated Plastic - but they are a little more difficult to handle. The Poly-Bag Signs are considered as "Throw-away" but they look pretty good (at 30 mph), and are A LOT less expensive!

Both Corrugated Plastic Signs, and Fold-over Signs utilize the screen printing process because it affords the greatest economies at the lower quantities normally produced with this sign type. Both types present a traditional flat, rigid sign look. Poly-Bag Signs are printed directly onto the plastic (in roll form) prior to bag formation so that large quantities can be produced with very little manual handling required.

Poly-Bag Signs are produced using a continuous roll of plastic film (usually white printable surface with a black backside), that is printed and then cut, folded and seam-welded to form plastic bags or sleeves that can be slipped over U-shaped wires. The wire frames are the same width of the bag so that the bag is drawn taught when mounted to form a flat sign surface. Bag signs are normally roll-printed in a continuous process which is cost effective on high volume sign orders. The signs/bags themselves are low in bulk and weight and offer the lowest shipping costs. There may be a slightly higher unit cost and shipping cost premium for the heavier/wider wire frames (compared to other sign type wire frames). Poly-Bag do have a tendency to “bow out” at the bottom (in high winds) or sometimes blow off their wires, the wind does detract aesthetically from their appearance.

Fold-over Signs are a plastic coated, paperboard sign using a water-proof milk carton stock that is printed on one side and folded over to form the finished sign. The back-side of these signs are an all white, opaque, stiff, solid bleached, paperboard core which has been treated for water resistance that has been extruded on both surfaces with a plastic film. This "board" is then printed on one side and a score on the back allows the sign to be folded, the edges are either stapled or glued to form what is referred to as a fold-over sign. U-shaped wire frames are inserted into the folded sign adding additional rigidity to the completed sign. These signs have great durability to wind and rain.

Corrugated plastic signs are made of a very rigid and weather proof plastic that resembles the corrugated card-board used in heavy-duty shipping boxes. Because the plastic is not completely opaque (especially if printed on a white or light color plastic), two side printed signs can have a show-through effect. These signs are cut to the finished size and them screen printed (one side at a time), requiring a higher degree of manual "touches". The finished sign is mounted on a H-frame wire mount, these are welded when fabricated and are usually more expensive than the bent wire type frames. These signs are easily put up and taken down making them very attractive to a candidate that runs year after year and is committed to the same sign appearance (look). Corrugated plastic signs are the more expensive of the three sign types, but remember to consider replacement costs of new signs for the next election, that may be offset by saving and reusing these attractive and durable signs.