There are two main types of materials for banner displays: vinyl and fabric. The variations between materials provide a multitude of differences to consider. In order for you to know which material is right for your needs, below you will find a crash course within the world of vinyl and fabric printing.
Vinyl banner displays utilize screen printing or digital printing on a wide format digital printer. Vinyl comes in a variety of weights, the most common weights being 13 oz., 15 oz., and 18 oz. Each ounce refers to the weight of the banner per square yard of material; the heavier the weight, the more durable the banner. Installation is paramount while setting up vinyl displays, and for the installation to have the proper hardware and supplies. Vinyl is one of our most popular and durable materials for the outdoors and has no curling along the edges. It’s extremely cost effective, easy to display, and easy to install.
Fabric banner displays are commonly made from: polyester, nylon, satin, Celtic cloth or other synthetic fibers. The variety of fabric materials provide you with endless options to create a seamless representation of your brand. Most of these materials are currently being printed using the high definition printing method – dye sublimation. Fabric is ideal for indoor and retail sign, as well as, banner application. This has made the printing method of dye sublimation the preferred choice for tradeshows wanting vibrant and high quality images. Dye sublimation is the most common method of printing on fabrics today. The printing process uses heat and pressure to transfer the image from the transfer paper to the synthetic fabric banner itself. Textiles can be customized with photo quality images to become an abiding part of the fabric. This method is faster and cheaper to produce without effecting quality.
Dye sublimation is one our personal favorite printing processes and we recommend it for the highest quality images on banner displays. At OAI, we refer to some of our products that utilize the dye sublimation process as Tension Fabric Displays. Tension Fabric Displays are a great and easy way to display your graphics. The displays are versatile and can be used in various settings including airports, exhibitions, tradeshows, retail displays, showrooms, and much more! These prints are easily interchangeable which makes installation and replacement a breeze.
I like fabric banners printed through dye sublimation more. The colors are printed in continuous tone. The print result appears with a full color photographic effect. It’s more expensive than vinyl though, but should be worth investing.