What is masking and why does it matter? 

Acrylic is an amazing and versatile material that can be used in many different applications. To help ensure the acrylic arrives in pristine condition, the manufacturer will either add paper or plastic masking to one or both sides of the material. 

If you’ve never seen acrylic with masking before (especially the paper variety), it’s completely understandable to mistake it as another material such as a piece of cardboard! But, rest assured, the masking peels off with ease just like peeling the paper off the back of a sticker.  The masking does not leave any residue behind once you peel it away either! 

What to expect from MakerStock?

Here at MakerStock, we do not manufacture any of our materials. Instead, we source them from various suppliers to sell directly to you with no minimum order quantities! This way, you get exactly what you need and don’t have to worry about buying in bulk (unless you want to)! However, because of this, we cannot control which masking comes on the acrylic. 

Many of the varieties of acrylic we sell will come with paper masking.

There are a few select styles that will come with the plastic masking, such as the GreenCast and SatinGlas acrylic collections. 

Occasionally another variety of acrylic, such as transparent pink or silver sparkle as an example, may arrive with the plastic masking as well. This masking is typically transparent both sides, so we lifted the masking in this photo for your visual reference.

Regardless of which style of masking your acrylic comes with, you can always count on MakerStock to make sure you’re receiving high quality materials for your project’s needs!

Which is better?

As you use acrylic more frequently, you’ll figure out which type of masking you prefer, especially when it comes to using a laser cutting machine. Please always keep in mind that not all lasers are made the same. Dialing material settings can take time as well as trial and error. You may also find that the same acrylic may cut differently depending on the type of masking the manufacturer used.

Now, let’s dive into the differences between paper and plastic masking!

Paper Masking:

Paper masking can offer superior protection against scratches and heat scorching during the lasering process. Since the paper masking absorbs heat better, this will lead to cleaner cutting edges. This will also help to reduce any of that smoke residue which is easier to clean up!

If the paper masking is old or cold, this can possibly lead to some tearing as you are trying to remove the masking. A quick fix for this is to use a hair dryer to lightly warm up the paper masking. This will help you to peel the masking away with ease. We would not advise using a heat gun as acrylic is thermoformable. 

Overall, paper masking is a popular choice for lasers especially due to the clean engraving and cuts. 

Plastic Masking:

Plastic masking is typically more durable during shipping and transportation. Due to the plastic’s sleekness, it’s also much easier to clean if it ends up dusty. Many manufacturers will also use a clear plastic masking on acrylic such as mirrored varieties so you are able to see the color of the acrylic easily. This helps when picking out colors and the materials you need for a project without having to peel the corner back to check! 

While plastic masking can be safe to laser, such as our Greencast acrylic line, it can curl or melt when being lasered in the machine. It will leave a residue behind if you are engraving and cutting. You’ll need to clean up the mess before moving on in your project. My personal preference is 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol for cleaning up acrylic! 

As previously mentioned, it is safe to cut the plastic masking and you can leave it on for simple cuts. However, it is recommended to remove plastic masking for intricate and complex engravings. The plastic masking could gunk up and be very hard to clean off the acrylic piece, potentially ruining your hard work. 

Plastic masking is especially fantastic if you are not using the acrylic in a laser. If you want to try it out for yourself, start with very low power settings and work your way up so you don’t ruin the acrylic. 

What to do from here?

As previously mentioned, there are so many different types of lasers and machines so all the settings can vary. The best thing you can do is test out your material and see what settings work best for you and the masking. You may even find that you prefer to remove the paper and plastic masking to use your own. There are some companies, such as 3M, that sell masking separately. There is also the option to use laser safe masking tape. Regardless of how you laser your acrylic, at least you know you’re now an expert on masking!