Select the right materials and keep the design simple.
By Jim Hingst
Many vinyl-film companies spend significant time testing and evaluating their products' suitability with banner substrates. Because banner substrates include polyester, nylon, canvas and flexible signface material, there's much to test.
With myriad products on the market, researchers can't test every one. Thus, this article will focus on vinyl banners. I'll discuss banner-material selection, as well as vinyl-application techniques, and banner painting, installation, storage and cleaning options.
Selecting banner material
A vinyl banner substrate is usually the best choice when applying vinyl graphics. Such banner materials typically comprise a polyester scrim embedded in white vinyl. These vinyl materials are cast or extruded, and are manufactured similarly to cast and calendered films. During casting, the scrim is coated with layers of liquid vinyl; during extrusion, layers of hot PVC bond to the polyester scrim.
Selecting the right material is critical. Therefore, rely on your sign-supply distributor, and study the manufacturer's technical bulletins. Once you find a good combination of materials, stick with it.
When evaluating a banner material for cut-vinyl graphics, screenprinting or digital printing, vinyl and banner manufacturers consider such characteristics as flexibility, opacity, gloss, surface smoothness and material thickness. Test methods that check such performance properties are essentially straightforward. In fact, you can perform these in your shop prior to selecting a product.
Flexibility. Although banners shouldn't be folded, check a material's flexibility. Fold the banner and check whether the substrate returns to its original shape. Because some customers will store banners folded -- even after you've instructed them otherwise -- you don't want the banners to show creases.
Opacity. If you decorate the banner on both sides, make sure the material has enough hiding power to prevent one side's graphics from showing through the opposite side. Technical bulletins often document opacity as a percentage, such as 96 or 100%.
Gloss. High-gloss material can obscure applied or printed graphics. For printed graphics, a matte finish is usually preferred. When reviewing product specifications, look for materials with a gloss level under 10, at a viewing angle between 45 and 60°.
Smoothness. If you're going to print onto the banner, rather than decorate with cut-vinyl graphics, examine the surface's smoothness. Smoother surfaces print better, whether you're screenprinting or digital printing.
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