Acrylic perspex is the most visually striking format Illustrated Tracks offers — the print sits behind high-clarity acrylic, giving the colours a depth and vibrancy that poster paper and canvas can't match. It also arrives ready to hang, with no framing required. The tradeoff is that acrylic requires a slightly different approach to care than paper or canvas. Here's what you need to know.
The Nature of Acrylic
Acrylic is harder than glass but softer in terms of scratch resistance. It won't shatter, and its optical clarity is excellent — but it scratches more easily than glass if cleaned with abrasive materials. The good news is that keeping it clean is straightforward as long as you use the right approach from the start.
Mounting and Hanging
Acrylic perspex prints typically arrive with standoff hardware — polished metal spacers that hold the print a centimetre or two off the wall, creating a shadow gap that gives the piece a floating, architectural look. This mounting system is part of the aesthetic, so position the piece on a wall where the gap will be visible, not hidden by adjacent furniture.
Ensure the wall fixings are rated for the weight of the piece. Acrylic is heavier than an equivalently-sized poster print — for larger formats, use wall anchors rather than relying on plasterboard alone. Follow the mounting instructions included with your print carefully; the standoffs need to be level both horizontally and vertically for the piece to sit straight.
💡 Tip: Before committing to a wall position, hold the print up and check the light from different angles and times of day. Acrylic can produce reflections depending on the angle and light source. Position it where reflections are minimal, or where any reflection adds to rather than distracts from the visual.
Cleaning Acrylic: The Right Way
This is where most people go wrong. The rules for acrylic are strict but simple:
- Never use paper towels or standard cloths. Even soft-seeming paper towels contain fibres that scratch acrylic under pressure. Use only a microfibre cloth specifically rated for acrylic or optical surfaces.
- Never use ammonia-based glass cleaners. Products like Windex contain ammonia which can cloud and craze acrylic over time. Use an acrylic-specific cleaner or a tiny amount of distilled water with a drop of washing-up liquid, applied with a clean microfibre cloth.
- Wipe with light pressure in straight strokes. Circular polishing motions can create fine circular scratch patterns that become visible in certain light. Straight strokes are less likely to create visible patterns.
- Remove dust before wiping. Dragging a cloth over a dusty acrylic surface turns dust particles into tiny abrasives. Blow off or use a soft brush to remove dust before any wet cleaning.
⚠ Watch out: Static charge builds up on acrylic and attracts dust. An anti-static spray designed for acrylic surfaces — applied very sparingly to the cloth, not directly to the print — significantly reduces how quickly dust re-accumulates.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
While the acrylic itself is UV-resistant to a degree, the print beneath it is not fully protected from prolonged direct sunlight. Avoid positioning the piece on a wall that receives direct sun for extended periods — indirect or ambient light is ideal for both the look of the piece and its long-term preservation.
Scratch Repair
Light surface scratches on acrylic can be buffed out using a dedicated acrylic polishing compound (Novus Plastic Polish is a widely available option). Apply with a soft cloth using light circular motions, then wipe clean. This works well for fine scratches from cleaning; deeper scratches from impacts are harder to address and usually require a professional.
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