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 Etiquette System´s sub-printed overlays are specialty products that can serve two primary purposes: as the ultimate in durable labels, or as membrane switches in electronics. In most sub-printed overlays, the image is printed on a polymer substrate to protect it from chemicals, impact, ultraviolet light, abrasion, and normal wear. The best sub-printed overlays are made of vinyl, Lexan, and polyester (the same as your favorite golf-shirt). You can't ask for a better label for extreme environments, and good sub-printed overlays are so thin and light that nothing works better as a membrane switch.
In case you were wondering, a membrane switch is an extremely thin, low-voltage switch made of a layer of adhesives and polymers -- very much like a high-quality label -- that is integrated into an electronic device. Membrane switches are cheaper, lighter, and thinner than mechanical switches, not to mention more stylish, and far more high-tech. Integrated sub-printed overlays can also serve as graphic indicators for buttons, LED openings, and LCD windows on electronic gizmos from CD players to PDAs.
Most of us are most familiar with sub-printed overlays in their original use as labels, which are often applied to electronics equipment to protect delicate LCD displays and indicate controls. Sometimes, they consist of transparencies printed with the necessary functions, which can then be placed directly on controls or keys. The labels on many computer keys, for example, are sub-printed overlays, as are the specialty keyboard labels that some offices provide to help you accomplish specific computing tasks.
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