Printed vs Engraved Clapperboards: What’s Best for You?

Over the past few years, there’s been a noticeable shift in the film and TV world—from traditional engraved clapperboards to modern printed versions. At My Film & TV, we proudly supply both styles and thought we’d share a few tips, tricks, and insights to help you choose the right option for your production.

Engraved Clapperboards

Engraved clapperboards are a timeless classic. Perfect for simple one or two-colour designs, they’re incredibly durable and built to last a lifetime—quite literally! Some of the boards we’ve made have ended up in museums.

However, engraving isn’t a quick process. The artwork must be in a vector format, and engraving a standard medium clapperboard typically takes 30–40 minutes. After engraving, the design needs to be paint-filled, which then requires a full day to dry properly. That said, if we’re working to a tight schedule, we can still turn around an engraved board within a day.

While engraved boards are better suited to simpler designs, we’ve created some beautifully intricate pieces too. With a bit of imagination, anything is possible—just look at our Beauty and the Beast board, complete with delicate vine detail, or the dramatic Vengeance (Batman) board.

Printed Clapperboards

Printed clapperboards are now the go-to option for many productions—and for good reason. There are two main ways to produce them:

 - UV printed vinyl, which is applied onto the acrylic surface.

 - Direct UV printing onto the acrylic itself.

We use the second method, as it gives the most durable and high-quality finish.

Why has printing taken off? Speed and flexibility. We can produce a medium-sized printed board from start to finish in around 10 minutes—no drying time, no paint. This allows us to offer same-day dispatch in most cases.

Printed boards also have no colour limitations. You can go wild with colours and intricate details—everything from gradients to full-colour logos and high-resolution artwork. The results are crisp, vibrant, and eye-catching.

The only minor downside? If left unprotected, the print could scratch over time. That’s why we add a vinyl backing for extra durability. Bonus: this backing can double as a writeable surface—just like a whiteboard!

So… Which Do We Prefer?

If you ask us which style we love most, we’d have to say engraved. There’s something undeniably special about the craftsmanship and elegance of an engraved board. Some of our most striking pieces—like the Vengeance and Beauty and the Beast boards—have been engraved.

But truthfully, we’re falling more and more in love with printed boards. They’re quick, versatile, and allow for an incredible amount of creative freedom.