Banners Are Everywhere
As one of the most popular signage solutions, banners make a statement. In fact, before working in the signage industry, banners were pretty much the only “jargon-like” term I was familiar with. They’re much more commonplace among the general population than, say, aluminum composite material or illuminated channel letters.
One particular banner that has always stuck out to me advertises what I think is the best event our local community celebrates: The Festival of the Little Hills in St. Charles, MO.
It’s always a goal of mine to stop by the festival, located on Historic Main Street and Frontier Park, each year in August. Tons of vendors have tents, there’s live music playing, and the place is packed. It’s a tradition that I love experiencing.
The banner for the event is simple; it states when the festival will be happening, along with times, and a logo. It doesn’t need anything else. It gets the point across within the space allotted.
In this post, we’ll dive into the basics of banners- their material, how they’re made, sizing, and usage. Let’s start!
Banner Basics: Material
The most commonly used material for banners is a heavy-duty vinyl. Think Cricut vinyl, but ten times sturdier. The vinyl is technically called PVC, which stands for polyvinyl chloride, a highly used plastic.
Other materials exist and are also used, such as mesh and fabric, but they’re not as reliable.
Vinyl banners are waterproof, which serves as a major benefit, given that a majority of them are placed outdoors.
How Banners Are Made
Every business in the signage industry has their own way of producing banners. At Classic Sign Services, however, they are printed on a large format flatbed printer.
We keep banner material in stock to make ordering a breeze. Once the design and sizing are set, the banner material is sent through the high-resolution printer. The colors are vibrant, crisp, and pleasing to the eye.
Production doesn’t end there, however.
Banners can be hung in a variety of ways, which in turn affects the final step in the production process. For instance, in this picture, the banner is hanging via grommets.
What are grommets? So glad you asked!
Grommets are metal rings evenly spaced into holes depending on banner size. When a banner is hung with grommets (usually via rope or cable), sewing must occur to not only keep them in place, but also to strengthen the area around them.
Another popular way to hang banners is via a pole. Pole banners are seen on street lights, or on retractable stands, like the photo below.
In that case, extra sewing is necessary so that poles can easily slide in the top and bottom. It is done by folding over the edge and sewing it in place.
Now that we’ve covered the production process, let’s talk sizing.
Banner Sizing
The industry standard for banner sizing is 6 feet by 2 or 3 feet. With that size, messages can be clearly seen and can promote your event or cause with ease. It’s a standard because that’s the widest many flatbed printers can produce.
At Classic Sign Services, however, the large format printer can create banners up to 8 feet wide. When you are in need of a banner that needs to be seen from far away, the extra 2 feet makes all the difference.
Obviously, smaller sizes can also be created. Our sign advisors are experienced in helping you determine the best size to accomplish your goals.
Popular Uses of Banners
As stated previously, banners are a great way to promote an event or cause. They can also be used as temporary signage when a business first opens its storefront, like the banner our team made for Pappy’s Smokehouse in St. Peters, MO.
The banner that’s placed on the fencing of Frontier Park every year for The Festival of the Little Hills is temporary, and obviously promotes an upcoming event. It spreads the word by simply existing in a high-traffic area.
Of course, other types of promotional materials, such as social media and email marketing, should complement banners. It’s important to have a wide variety of formats to spread the word about an upcoming event or opening. For instance, how would someone who doesn’t travel to Frontier Park know when the Festival is happening?
What’s Next?
Now that you have a basic understanding of vinyl banners, their production, sizing, and usage, you’re ready to get started with one of your own.
When you contact our team with your request, our sign advisors will stand by you every step of the way, from conception to install. They’ll help you bring your ideas to life with design, and once you approve of the proof, it’ll be sent to production.
After all the steps necessary are taken, our installation team will arrive on-site with all the appropriate tools to get you on your way to spreading the word! You’ll have an edge on your competitors, because you’ll know more about how your banner was made. ?
If this article about banners helped you in your decision making, we’d love to know! Follow us on social media to begin the conversation.