These days, when somebody talks about Banner Advertisements, one of the first things to pop into young peoples minds are banner adverts on the internet. They are those rectangular advertisements that show up on the top of web pages. Older folks may think of vinyl banners, such as the type that may be displayed by in a parade or those that are put up outdoors to announce a grand opening. This evolution of speech and definition goes to show the proliferation of the banner as the ultimate advertising tool in the public mind. If it’s time to step your advertising up to printed banners, there are a few things you need to know first.
Banners don’t only come printed on PVC. You can have banners printed on a variety of substrates depending on your needs. Often, a printed banner is called a banner based on nothing more than being rectangular in shape or because it is suspended from a wall or off of a ceiling. However, there are traditional banner options to think about when placing your order or deciding what you need.
More often than not Banners are made from PVC (this can also be referred to as skrim, or skrim vinyl). They can range in weights; the heavier the material, the longer it will last against the elements. Vinyl can also come in different finishes, such as gloss or matt. Matt is usually preferred for outdoors so it wont be as reflective and potential viewers won’t be blinded by the sun reflecting off of the banner. There are also reasons to use a matt finish vinyl banner indoors, such as when using flash photography. You will want to use a matt finish vinyl banner if it will be used as a back drop for pictures such as with a step and repeat (press banner) like the image below.
Vinyl banners can also be made of a mesh material. These are great for outdoor use when the banner is to be put up against a wind passing fence or gate, putting it at less risk of being torn down. Additionally the mesh will not block out as much light so you can put it up without causing a dark shade spot, which, depending on the season, is preferable. However, this media slightly decreases the print visibility from certain angles.
Of course, there are times when you don’t want your banner to let light through, such as when your banner is double sided (like street pole banners). So make sure to ask for block out vinyl. Otherwise, the banner has to be printed twice and sewn together. This technique, is not only time consuming, but will not always ensure one side is not visible in high light through the opposite side.
There are plenty of other options to consider when ordering a banner, such as the finishing. You could have the edges, cut, taped, or hemmed and eyeletted. You may need grommets to hang it, or you may decide to use it on a tensioning system, such as an X-Stand, have it portable on a roller-banner cartridge, or even decide to suspend it off a wall or ceiling. It’s always best to discuss with us so we can help you make the right choice for your need.