2D vs 3D PVC Patches – How They Compare

With so many PVC Patch design choices, there are two options that bring up questions all of the time from our customers. What is the difference between 2D (two dimensional) and 3D (three dimensional) Custom PVC Patches?

2D PVC Patches

Simply put, 2D PVC Patches are ones that lack a rounded / convex look in the design elements. One misconception about 2D is that it will however lack a 3^rd dimension. This isn’t the case.

Since many 2D PVC designs use raised and recessed layers to help add definition, you can still have third dimension. A good example of this is when the lettering and/or emblem is raised one level on top of the base layer (the foundation upon which everything else is put on top of).

All Day Ruckoff 2D Patch

In this example, we see that the rhino, flags, and all other aspects are raised above the base layer. Even though a dimension of depth has been added, it’s still considered a 2D PVC Patch.

Another example of a 2D PVC Patch is the one below. All detail in the design (coloring of the dog and background) fall within the same detail level. The lettering however is raised above on its own layer.

3D PVC Patches

3D Patches however can have the same aspects of a 2D PVC patch (raised and recessed layers), but some of the elements are in fact rounded / convex in nature.

In the Professional Badass Patch to the left, the text is made in 2D, and the skull and swords are in 3D.

We recommend the 3D style for those design elements with faces, animals and anything else you want to stand out from the rest.

Just like this patch, your patch can have multiple layers and you can combine both 2D & 3D layers in selected elements of your design.

GORUCK NORCAL Soft Rubber PVC Patch

Another amazing example of 3D PVC Patches would be the bear and star in this GORUCK NORCAL PVC Patch . All other details in this piece would be considered 2D (lettering, and star).

By combining the different styles, you can emphasize some elements more than others, your imag