Cooley vs 3M Flex Face for Backlit Signs

The short version

Which one fits your cabinet

Pick Cooley when

Your cabinet's short side is 102 in or less. Our 78 in and 102 in rolls are Cooley only, so there is less to trim.
The permit, landlord, or property manager requires NFPA 701 or California State Fire Marshal approval. Cooley publishes both for its 20 oz backlit lines.
Cost matters. On our estimator Cooley runs $5.50 per sq ft against $7.00 for 3M.

Pick 3M when

A brand standard or landlord spec calls for 3M by name.
Your short side lands at 165 in. That width is 3M only.
The cabinet is lit with fluorescent tubes, the application 3M positions Panagraphics III for.

Retrofitting to LED and the spec still says 3M? Tell us at quote. 3M's own bulletin points LED cabinets to a different 3M substrate, so we will talk through the right material with you before anything prints.

Side by side

The numbers each manufacturer publishes

Spec	20 oz Cooley	3M Panagraphics III
Weight	20 oz	19 oz per sq yd (650 g/m²)
Construction	Flexible PVC with an embedded scrim	White-pigmented vinyl with a polyester scrim, 20 to 24 mil
Roll widths we stock	78, 102, 126, 150, 196 in	126, 150, 165, 196 in
Largest single piece	16 ft 4 in on the short edge	16 ft 4 in on the short edge
Light transmission	Not published by Cooley	23% ± 3% (unprocessed)
Fire and code ratings	NFPA 701, California State Fire Marshal	UL 879 Recognized Component, ASTM E84 report
Stated durability	Warranty term depends on the Cooley line, confirmed on your quote	6-year expected performance life, which 3M describes as an unwarranted period for the undecorated substrate
Lighting it is positioned for	Not specified by Cooley	Fluorescent-lit cabinets
Price on our estimator	$5.50 per sq ft	$7.00 per sq ft

Manufacturer figures are typical values for unprocessed material. Printing, clear coat, and installation all change real-world results. Estimator prices are ballpark list pricing before volume or trade discounts.

What doesn't change

Identical on either substrate

Same print process3-layer color-white-color on UV-curable inkjet, so the face reads correctly lit or unlit.

Clear coat includedUV clear coat goes on every face. It is not an upcharge on either one.

Same size limitOne seamless piece up to 16 ft 4 in on the short edge. The long edge runs down the roll.

Same lead time3 to 5 business days from approved artwork, with rush available.

Same file specsVector preferred, 100 DPI minimum at finished size, and 4 in of bleed all around for tension frames.

Same minimum$65 or 4 sq ft per piece, whichever is greater.

Full specs, the print-layer diagram, and the roll-width chart are on our wholesale backlit flex face page.

For the install crew

Handling and tensioning notes

3M says to attach and tension Panagraphics III at 45°F or warmer, and to re-check tension on large faces (over 275 sq ft, and either over 11 ft tall or over 25 ft wide) once temperatures climb above 60°F.
3M warns against folding, crimping, or creasing a printed face, since in cooler temperatures it can crack if handled roughly. Keep faces rolled graphics-out until they go in the cabinet.
For cleaning, 3M recommends mild detergent and water, about once a year or more often in dirty environments.

Sources

Where these numbers come from

3M figures are from the 3M Panagraphics III Product Bulletin (revision Y, February 2022). Cooley figures are from Cooley Group's published pages for Cooley-Brite and CoolFlex, its two 20 oz backlit lines. Widths, pricing, process, and lead times are our own. Cooley, 3M, and Panagraphics are trademarks of their respective owners, and PSP Imaging is not affiliated with either manufacturer.

Cooley vs 3M flex face.