Everything You Need to Know About Custom Banners

Holidays, events, personal milestones – anything that you want to announce, you can do so with a banner. There’s a good reason this specific signage has been around for a long time. It’s easy to spot, it fits any situation, and it’s affordable. There’s a style and size for every budget.

Choosing the Right Banner

Banners are versatile. There are so many ways to customize one, to the point that it can get overwhelming. Because of this, people tend to play it safe by choosing the style they’re most familiar with – the vinyl banner. To help you step out of the comfort zone, let’s explore the diverse world of banners.

Banner Sizes

Banners used outdoors or in open spaces are the most flexible when it comes to sizing. Printing shops usually offer fabric and vinyl banners in a wide range of dimensions, from 1′ x 1′ all the way to 8′ x 20′.

Banners that come with a frame such as the X-stand banner and pop-up banner have limited sizes. This also applies to pole banners which are usually hung on public property.

Banner Materials

Although vinyl is the most popular banner material, not everyone knows that it has different variations. There’s the standard tear-resistant 13 oz. that lasts up to five years outdoors. 18 oz. vinyl is a stronger and smoother alternative that’s also puncture and fungus resistant. If you are advertising outdoors, you may also want to consider 9 oz. mesh vinyl. This has little holes that prevent it from getting blown by strong winds.

Banners meant for indoor use such as tabletop and retractable banners are made of poly film. It’s a lightweight and wrinkle-free material that’s suited for short-term displays.

Fabric banners are printed on 6.8 oz polyester fabric. It’s a scratch-resistant and washable material that’s also used for custom tablecloths.

Read More: The Different Types of Banners

Display Options

There are many accessories to choose from for hanging a banner. You can request for grommets so you don’t have to puncture the edges on your own.

Printing shops can also add hems to prevent your banner from tearing or ripping. If you prefer a more stable support, you can opt for pole pockets.

Pole banners come with two types of specialized brackets: street pole brackets or wall mount brackets.

Caring For Your Custom Banner

Vinyl

Although vinyl banners can withstand a fair amount of wear and tear, it would last longer with some TLC. One way to extend your vinyl banner’s longevity and preserve its quality is to clean it regularly with a damp cloth and mild soap. Avoid using harsh chemicals such as acetone, alcohol, or gasoline. If you plan to reuse your vinyl banner, you should also store it properly.

Make sure that the surface is dry before rolling it up and putting it inside a storage tube. Take it out every three months or so to prevent it from getting damp, which can lead to mildew growth. Never store nor display your banners near a heat source, either. Exposure to high temperatures can cause the ink to lift and the vinyl to deteriorate.

If you spot wrinkles on your vinyl banner, lay it out in the sun to smooth it out. You can also use a hair dryer, but not for too long! And don’t even think about using an iron.

Fabric

A polyester fabric banner is better off being hand-washed, but it’s also safe to throw in the wash. Remember to steer clear from bleach or strong detergents and use cold water on a gentle cycle. Hang it on a clothesline instead of using a dryer to prevent wrinkles.

If your fabric banner needs ironing, use a steam iron on low or medium heat for the best results. If that’s not available, get a towel and lay it over the banner to avoid direct contact with a flat iron.

When storing fabric banners, put them in a separate box or container. This prevents the fabric from snagging or tearing. Keep them in a cool and dry place.

Frames, Stands, and Other Metal Hardware

Large-format banners such as backdrops, pop-up banners, and step and repeat banners come with a carrying case. This prevents the parts from getting lost and it makes the banner easier to store and transport. If the aluminum stand or frame gets wet, wipe it immediately to prevent it from corroding.

Creating an Effective Banner

Custom banners are everyone’s go-to traditional marketing tool. Here are important things you must apply to grab the public’s attention.

Have a clear purpose. Banners come in different shapes and sizes. There are styles that are best suited for indoor use or for short-term promotions. List down what you’re looking for in a banner and what you want to achieve out of it. This will help you nail down the style that suits your needs best.

Maximize the space. Bigger is not always better when it comes to outdoor signage, especially if it’s on a public location. In most places, there are rules to follow and permits to apply for and they vary depending on the state or the neighborhood. To avoid legal issues, plan your signage design and process the necessary permit documents at least a month in advance. This also applies to indoor events such as trade shows and conferences where attendees get their own booths.

Don’t let the size limitation hinder your creative juices. You can easily tweak the size of the elements in your design anyway. If you want your sign to be legible from 50 feet away, the letters should be at least 5″ high. Keep the text short and choose a typeface that’s easy to read. You need to assume that the audience is constantly moving.

Experiment. There are lots of elements you can play with to make your banner enticing or moving. Sure, the message plays an important role, but the colors, lines, and shapes you use can also evoke emotions.

Take note of basic design principles such as balance, hierarchy, contrast, and proportion. If you prefer to stick with your brand’s colors and favorite font, play around with patterns or even something as simple as text alignment.

Where to Design Custom Banners Online

You don’t need to install a professional graphic design software such as Adobe InDesign, GIMP, and CorelDraw to design banners. There are beginner-friendly online platforms where you can do it. Here are two that also offer customizable design templates.

Canva

This beginner-friendly design platform has over 20,000 signage templates that you can easily tweak for banners. The paid version unlocks more graphics and typefaces, but the free account has enough features to create unique artwork.

Envato Elements

Envato Elements houses millions of digital assets, including templates for retractable banners.

Almost every business has outdoor signage to promote its products and services. You need to be familiar with the tools you’ll use to stay ahead of your competition.

This thorough guide on custom banners aims to help you design the perfect banner for your needs. It’s an investment no matter how much you spend, after all.

If you still have banner-related concerns, our signage experts can help! Talk to us at customercare@printrunner.com or call us at 1-888-296-5760.