Aluminium Composite Panels

Artists use aluminium composite panels (ACP) as a rigid surface for oil and acrylic painting, photographers use them to mount prints without a frame, and modellers use them as a base that will not warp. We offer them in 3 mm thickness with four finishes – gloss white, gloss black, brushed silver and brushed gold – in ready-made sizes of 10 × 30, 20 × 30, 30 × 40, 40 × 60 and 50 × 100 cm (not every finish is available in every size). The panel can be cut with standard tools. It is not magnetic, and paint or glue will not adhere to the exposed core on a cut edge. For painting and photographs, choose the white aluminium composite panel.

What are aluminium composite panels used for?

Surface for oil and acrylic painting

The panel stays flat and withstands being carried, making it suitable for plein-air studies, small oil studies and smooth surfaces for detailed, realistic painting. Choose brushed gold or silver when you want the metal to be part of the artwork. It is a rigid, stable surface, but always degrease, roughen and prime it, then test adhesion on a scrap piece.

Pick: For studies, white in 20 × 30 or 30 × 40 cm; for finished paintings, 40 × 60 or 50 × 100 cm. For a metallic surface, choose brushed gold or brushed silver.

Photographs and prints without a frame

Mount your own photograph or poster on the panel to create a wall picture without a frame, or make a series of prints on matching panels for an exhibition or portfolio. The manufacturer specifies mounting with adhesive films or, using the wet method, dispersion adhesive. In either case, the panel must be free of dust and grease. Attach a hanging rail or hangers to the back so the picture sits slightly away from the wall.

Pick: Gloss white panel – thin paper shows through less than it does on black or silver; choose a size from 20 × 30 to 50 × 100 cm to suit the print.

Dioramas, models and bases

Use the panel as a base for a diorama or architectural model that will not warp, as the top of a plinth for figures, as the base of a model railway module, or as a backdrop behind a miniature scene.

Pick: For a neutral base, choose a black panel in 20 × 30 cm; for light-coloured models, choose white in 20 × 30 or 30 × 40 cm.

Surface for embroidery and collage

Stretch finished embroidery or cross-stitch over a rigid, flat surface and frame it. The panel can also serve as a firm backing for a paper collage or as a base in a deep frame. For valuable textiles, place acid-free card or fabric between the cloth and the panel or adhesive.

Pick: White panel in 20 × 30 or 30 × 40 cm; find a frame among our frames and mounts.

Folded stands and boxes

Mill a V-shaped groove on the back and you can bend the panel by hand to make a desk stand, a plant-pot cover, an L-shaped shelf or a box. Without a groove, the minimum bend radius is 15 times the thickness, or 45 mm. Always bend the panel before painting, or the paint will crack at the bend.

Pick: 40 × 60 cm in every finish, or 50 × 100 cm in white or silver; test the groove depth on a scrap piece.

Signs, house numbers and home projects

Make a house number, door nameplate, workshop or garden sign, key and message board, or a backboard behind a desk or workbench. Use stainless steel fixings outdoors and allow room for expansion. Do not place the panel beside a cooker or other heat source – it is suitable for use up to 80 °C and the core is combustible.

Pick: Choose 10 × 30 cm for a house number or nameplate, and 20 × 30 cm for a door sign. For a metallic look, choose brushed silver or gold; for contrast, choose black or white.

How to choose an aluminium composite panel

How to cut an aluminium composite panel with a knife

Scoring and snapping works on 3 mm panels, especially for smaller pieces. For long or precise cuts, use a circular saw or jigsaw with a fine-toothed blade for wood or plastic. Clamp the panel and move the saw, not the panel.

You will need:

sturdy snap-off knife · steel ruler · clamps · workbench with a straight edge · rotary deburring tool or fine file · gloves and safety glasses

1. Leave the protective film on the panel and mark the cut line on the film. Do not mark the bare coated surface with a marker; solvents may damage it.
2. Clamp a steel ruler along the cut line.
3. Score through the top aluminium sheet and into the core with several firm strokes. Keep the fingers of your other hand flat on the ruler, well away from its edge.
4. Place the panel with the groove exactly over the edge of the workbench and bend it. The core and bottom sheet will snap along the groove.
5. If the pieces do not separate cleanly, score the back along the resulting bend and bend the panel back.
6. Deburr the edge with a deburring tool or abrasive pad. The broken edge may be slightly bent, so straighten it with a file.

How to prepare an aluminium composite panel for painting

Paint on the coated front face, not on the cut edge. Adhesion depends on the specific panel and primer, so test the process on a scrap piece of the same panel.

You will need:

320–400-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper or a fine abrasive pad · isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol · lint-free cloth · gloves · primer: acrylic gesso or adhesion primer; for oil, an oil ground as well · wide brush or roller · adhesive tape for testing adhesion

1. Peel the protective film from the front face. This is the coated surface you will paint on.
2. Degrease the surface with a cloth dampened with alcohol; do not pour alcohol directly onto the panel. Leave it to air for 10–15 minutes.
3. Wet-sand the whole surface evenly with approximately 360-grit sandpaper.
4. Wipe away sanding dust with a cloth dampened with alcohol and leave it to air.
5. Apply a thin first coat of primer: acrylic gesso or adhesion primer for both acrylic and oil, plus an oil ground for oil if you wish. Do not coat the cut edges; primer will not adhere to the core.
6. Apply further thin coats, 2–4 in total. If you want a smooth surface, sand lightly between coats.
7. When the primer is completely dry, test adhesion in a corner or on a scrap piece: score the primer into a grid, press on adhesive tape and pull it off sharply. If the primer peels, do not use this method for that panel.
8. An oil ground may yellow in the dark; according to the panel supplier, exposure to light reverses this.

How to mount a photograph on an aluminium composite panel

For mounting, use a white panel the same size as the print and double-sided mounting film or spray mounting adhesive. Follow the instructions for the film or adhesive.

Tips for working with aluminium composite panels

• Brushed finishes have a direction. Keep it consistent across a set of panels, as shown by the mark on the film, or they will reflect light differently.
• Leave the film on the panel while cutting and drilling, and remove it as soon as the work is finished. If it stays on in sunlight or heat for a long time, adhesive residue may remain.
• Do not write on the film with a marker or stick labels to the panel; the coating may be damaged.
• Drill with standard HSS bits for aluminium and plastics, with a point angle of approximately 100–140°, and support the panel with a piece of scrap wood.
• Before working on the panels, leave them for approximately 24 hours at 18–20 °C. Moisture may condense on a cold panel brought indoors.
• For outdoor signs, make the holes slightly larger than the screws. The panel expands by approximately 2.4 mm per metre with a 100 °C temperature change.
• For a sharp corner, first mill a V-shaped groove that leaves the front sheet and approximately 0.3 mm of the core. You need a hand router with a power rating of at least 800 W and a 90° V-bit. Test the depth on a scrap piece.
• To make a magnetic board, attach a thin steel sheet or ferromagnetic film to the panel; aluminium itself will not hold magnets.

Storage, handling and cleaning

Store panels flat and dry, protected from rain and condensation, ideally for no longer than approximately 6 months; damp conditions and cold garages are unsuitable. Lift them by the corners and do not slide them against one another, as the surface may be scratched. When cleaning, wipe from top to bottom with a soft cloth and a pH-neutral product, then rinse with cold water. Use glass cleaner only if it is also pH-neutral and non-abrasive. Test a new product on an inconspicuous area first. Wipe high-gloss surfaces first with a dry fleece cloth and use water only if needed. The panel is suitable for temperatures from −50 °C to +80 °C.

Frequently asked questions

How do you cut an aluminium composite panel?

Score a 3 mm panel through the top sheet and into the core with several strokes of a knife, bend it over the edge of a workbench and deburr the edge. This method is best for smaller pieces. For long or precise cuts, use a circular saw or jigsaw with a fine-toothed blade. Find the necessary tools in our range.

Can you paint on an aluminium composite panel?

Yes. Many artists use it as a rigid, flat surface for oil and acrylic. Degrease and roughen the surface, then apply adhesion primer or gesso; for oil, you can also use an oil ground. Some artists apply oil directly to a well-roughened surface, but using a primer is more reliable. Always test adhesion on a scrap piece, and choose a primer from our surface preparation products.

Is an aluminium composite panel the same as Dibond?

Dibond is a trade name of one manufacturer. In everyday speech, the name is often used for all aluminium composite panels. Our panels have the same construction – two aluminium sheets with a plastic core, 3 mm thick – but they are not products of that brand.

Is an aluminium composite panel magnetic?

No. Aluminium is not ferromagnetic, so magnets will not stick to the panel. If you need a magnetic board, attach a thin steel sheet or ferromagnetic film to it.

Can an aluminium composite panel be used outdoors?

Yes. Aluminium does not rust, and the panel is suitable for temperatures from −50 °C to +80 °C. Use stainless steel fixings, make the holes larger than the screws, and remove the protective film as soon as installation is complete.

Can an aluminium composite panel be bent?

Yes. Mill a V-shaped groove on the back, leaving the front sheet and approximately 0.3 mm of the core, then bend it by hand. Without a groove, the minimum bend radius is 45 mm. Bend the panel before painting.

How do you hang a photograph mounted on an aluminium panel?

Attach a hanging rail, Z-profile or adhesive hangers to the back with strong double-sided tape or mounting adhesive. Before hanging, leave the adhesive to cure according to its instructions.