--- title: How to Choose Materials for Custom Wall Graphics? description: Discover which materials work best for custom wall graphics and how to choose the right option for your space, finish and installation requirements. image: https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/hubfs/what-materials-work-best-for-custom-wall-graphics.jpg --- - Phone: [020 8461 9100](tel:020%208461%209100) - Email: [info@mtadigital.co.uk](mailto:info@mtadigital.co.uk) [![mta-digital-logo](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/mtadigital-logo-black-300x88.png?width=300&height=88&name=mtadigital-logo-black-300x88.png "mta-digital-logo")](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/) - [Home](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk) - Who we are - [About Us](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/about-us) - [Blog](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/blog) - [Guides](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/guides) - Surface Graphics - [Large Format Printing](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/large-format-printing) - [Exhibition and Event Displays](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/exhibition-and-event-displays) - [Wall Graphics](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/interior-wall-graphics) - [Window Graphics](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/window-graphics) - [Floor Graphics](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/floor-graphics) - [Retail Graphics](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/retail-graphics) - [Exterior Graphics](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/exterior-graphics) - [Pongs Descor Systems](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/authoriseddealerofpongs) - Print - [Digital Print](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/digital-print) - [Personalised Print](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/personalised-print) - [Point Of Sale](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/point-of-sale-displays) - [Projects](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/blog/tag/case-study) - Install Hubs - [London](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk) - [Bellingham](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/printing-services-bellingham) - [Bromley](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/bromley-printing-services) - [Brentwood](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/printing-services-brentwood) - [Watford](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/printing-services-watford) - [Maidstone](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/digital-printing-maidstone) - [Croydon](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/printing-services-croydon) - [Romford](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/printing-services-romford) - [Dartford](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/banner-printing-dartford) - [Nottingham](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/printing-services-nottingham) - [Manchester](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/printing-services-manchester) - [Liverpool](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/printing-services-liverpool) - [Request A Quote](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/request-a-quote) ![Custom wall graphics displayed across the walls of a modern technology-focused commercial interior.](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/hubfs/what-materials-work-best-for-custom-wall-graphics.jpg) # What Materials Work Best For Custom Wall Graphics? 15/10/2026 Choosing a wall graphic material is not simply a decision between vinyl and wallpaper. [![Book A Consultation](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/25734925/0ba4ad6b-643b-46c4-a64b-6475c530a67c.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/25734925/0ba4ad6b-643b-46c4-a64b-6475c530a67c) The right solution depends on the wall itself, the finish you want, how long the graphic needs to remain in place and what should happen when it is removed. A material that performs well in one office, shop or exhibition space may be unsuitable for another. Before recommending any [custom wall graphics](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/interior-wall-graphics) printing solution, these are the questions we would want to answer. ## **What Is The Wall Made From?** Painted plasterboard is different from brick, concrete, timber, tile or a heavily textured finish. Even painted walls vary according to the paint formulation, age and condition. The surface should be sound, clean and suitable for the adhesive or wall covering being considered. Dust, moisture, loose paint, grease, texture and previous adhesive can affect the result. Newly decorated walls may also need adequate time to dry and cure in line with the paint and graphics manufacturers' guidance. This is why a photograph alone is not always enough to approve a material. For an unfamiliar or higher-risk surface, an on-site inspection and adhesion test may be sensible. ## **How Long Does The Graphic Need To Last?** A short promotion, a seasonal display and permanent workplace branding do not need the same construction. For a temporary campaign, removability and speed of change may be priorities. For a longer installation, resistance to cleaning, scuffing, sunlight and everyday contact may matter more. The appropriate adhesive and protective finish will depend on that combination of location, use and intended lifespan. It is better to specify for the real requirement than automatically choose either the cheapest or longest-life product. ## **What Kind Of Finish Do You Want?** [Wall graphics](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/blog/wall-graphics-replaced) can be designed to feel like a bold applied graphic, a seamless mural, a traditional wall covering or part of the architecture. Self-adhesive films can suit many smooth-wall applications and allow detailed shapes or individual elements to be cut. Printed wall coverings can create a more decorative, wallpaper-like finish across larger areas. Fabrics and tensioned systems may be useful where the graphic needs to be changed while retaining a frame, although the suitability of any system depends on the project. Gloss, satin, matt and textured finishes also change how the image responds to light. In bright environments, a less reflective finish may make the design easier to view from different angles. ## **Will The Wall Be Touched Or Cleaned?** A graphic in a quiet meeting room faces different conditions from one in a corridor, school, hospitality venue or retail space. Areas exposed to regular contact, cleaning or abrasion may need a suitable protective laminate or a different material altogether. Cleaning methods must follow the recommendations for the final printed and finished construction; a product should not be described as washable or chemical-resistant without checking its technical information. ## **What Needs To Happen At Removal?** Removal should be discussed before installation, not at the end of the campaign. If protecting the underlying paint is important, the wall condition, paint bond, material and expected period of use all need to be considered. No responsible printer should promise damage-free removal from every painted surface without knowing those details. Where future changes are likely, a replaceable graphic system or wall covering may provide a better long-term approach than repeatedly applying directly to a delicate wall. ## **How Should The Material Be Approved?** Samples allow the client and creative team to assess colour, texture, reflectivity and feel. An adhesion test answers a different question: whether a particular construction is suitable for the actual wall. For colour-critical or high-profile work, a printed sample using the proposed material and production process can be more useful than approving a generic swatch. The [best wall graphic](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/blog/impact-of-wall-graphics) is not the one with the longest specification sheet. It is the one chosen for the surface, environment, design and lifespan of the project. ## **Find Out More** MTA Digital produces [custom wall graphics](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/interior-wall-graphics) and printed wall coverings for individual spaces and multi-site campaigns. To discuss the wall, finish and practical requirements of your project, contact our team on 020 3835 4473 or [click here](https://www.mtadigital.co.uk/request-a-quote). 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