Choosing the Right Printing Material for Your Pinball Wraps

Not all vinyl materials are created equal. Two wraps can look identical on screen and feel completely different on the cabinet, depending on the media, the finish, and how the machine will be used. This guide explains the options, so you can choose the best material for your pinball project.

Why Material Matters

A pinball cabinet takes more wear than most people expect. Hands rest on the front, drinks get set on the sides, and machines in games rooms and bars get moved, bumped, and cleaned. The right material keeps your artwork looking sharp for years, while the wrong one can scuff, fade, or peel sooner than you’d like.

The good news is that the choice is simple once you know what each option does.

The Printing: Eco-Solvent and High-Quality Vinyl

All our wraps are printed on eco-solvent printers using high-quality vinyl wrap material. Eco-solvent printing produces rich colours and fine detail, which matters for pinball artwork with its characters, gradients, and small text. It also gives the ink a strong bond to the vinyl, which helps the print hold up over time.

The vinyl itself is a self-adhesive, peel-and-stick material, designed to be applied at home. You can read how in our guide to applying pinball cabinet vinyl wraps.

Best for: most cabinets, from classic machines to virtual builds.

Lamination: Gloss vs Matte

Lamination is a clear protective layer applied over the print. It makes your wrap more durable and gives it weather-proof protection. You can choose between two finishes:

Gloss lamination

• A shiny, high-impact finish

• Colours look deep and vivid

• Gives a fresh, showroom look

Matte lamination

• A smooth, non-reflective finish

• Reduces glare and fingerprints on show

• Suits a vintage, understated look

If you’re restoring a vintage machine, matte often feels closer to the era. For a bold, modern theme, gloss makes colours pop. Neither is better, so choose the look you prefer.

Frosted Material: Extra Toughness for Rough Use

For cabinets that will see heavy use, we also offer a thicker frosted material. It is textured and thicker than standard vinyl, which gives it extra toughness and durability.

Consider it if your machine will be:

• Played heavily or often

• Used in a bar, arcade, or shared space

• Moved around regularly

Best for: rough use where durability matters most.

Translite: Backlit Prints for the Backbox

A translite is different from a wrap. It is a non-adhesive, backlit print, made for places where light shines through from behind, such as a backglass. Because it isn’t stuck onto a surface, it simply sits in place and glows when the backlight is on.

If your backbox is lit from behind, a translite is the material to choose for that part.

Best for: backglass areas with backlighting.

A Quick Note on Sizing

Print media usually comes in rolls roughly 3, 4, or 5 feet wide, and our printers handle up to 5 feet. We plan every layout around these sizes, so your panels print accurately without you needing to worry about it. To make that work, we’ll need your measurements, which our guide on how to measure a pinball cabinet for artwork explains.

We Handle It All

We design, print, and ship, so you don’t need to worry about sourcing materials or matching finishes. If you have questions about any option, just send us an email and we’ll guide you at every step.

Ready to start? Browse our pinball cabinet artwork collection, or explore artwork for virtual pinball cabinets and pinball restoration.