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What are the Advantages of Using
Vinyl Banners
Generally, a “banner” is
defined as a large, flexible sign that can be easily hung up and taken
down.
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The most common material for making
banners today is PVC or vinyl. It is rugged, versatile, durable, and
attractive. Portable vinyl banners are often used at trade shows,
conventions, and other special events. They may be used in short-term
situations, as temporary substitutes for a permanent sign, or even for
years if of high quality or used indoors.
Vinyl banners are flexible and lightweight, which is a great advantage.
They can be rolled up or folded and easily transported where you need
them. They are also very inexpensive compared to the alternatives.
In the not-distant past, such a banner could only be made by applying
self-adhesive letters on vinyl, paper, or fabric-backed material, or by
using the relatively complicated and graphically limited process of silk
screening. The digital revolution changed this dramatically.
Today’s technology enables stunningly beautiful full-color printing
directly on indoor- and outdoor-grade vinyl. Often a graphic designer
can use the same artwork files she uses for her client’s company
brochure or magazine ad and blow them up to be printed on a vinyl
banner. As long as an image has sufficient resolution for banner
printing, it can be easily printed directly on the vinyl.
The Internet is a great source for vinyl banners because you can choose
from among many different suppliers that specialize in making this
product. Also, prices are very competitive among online vinyl banner
suppliers, and they have the design, production, and delivery process
down to a science.
However, beware, as not all suppliers use the same process or equipment.
Get all the facts before ordering. Some still use silk screening methods
or low-end ink jet printers. Others use high-end solvent digital
printers. It is important to know the difference between these methods
and devices, and you may not be able to tell just by reading the
descriptions on supplier websites.
Silk screening, an older, low-tech process, is still used to print
certain things that cannot be done digitally. Silk screening is often
used to print on unusual materials or when special inks are required,
such as metallic colors, solid dense colors on dark backgrounds, or
colors that have to be closely matched (such as special corporate logo
colors). Four-color process printing can be done using silk screening,
but it’s usually not the best choice, as the cost of preparing the
screens makes it prohibitive for small quantities.
Lower-end ink jet printers may be used to print on vinyl, but the inks
are usually dye based and only good for indoor applications and
short-term outdoor use. These inks fade quickly in direct sunlight and
are susceptible to damage from scratching and moisture. While some
suppliers try to overcome these problems by laminating the vinyl with UV
protection after it is printed, this adds significantly to production
costs and takes additional time. It makes finishing more difficult, and
the resulting product is inferior compared to vinyl printed with true
solvent inks.
When ordering a vinyl banner for outdoor use, or one that you want to
last for a few years, your best bet is to go with a true solvent ink
process on high-grade vinyl, especially when the price difference is not
significant. If you don't, you are likely to be disappointed.
Non-solvent inks cannot resist UV light and scratching. They may also be
damaged by rain.
Some equipment manufacturers sell machines that use a “solvent-like”
ink. They claim that these solvent-light products have all the
characteristics of solvent inks without the disadvantages. It is true
that solvent-ink machines are more expensive and the inks are harder to
work with. However, some have found that the surface is too soft and
scratches easily. Other manufacturers have tried for years to create
water-based inks with the durability of solvent inks, but so far they
have not been able to do this.
When ordering a vinyl banner, especially for outdoor use, or one that
you plan to use for at least a couple of years, it’s best to go with a
true solvent-ink process. Any price difference will pay for itself.
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