Some words commonly associated with banners are cheap, temporary, and fast. While certainly true, not all banners are created equal. At Seismic Signs, we don’t stock “standard sizes” or try to squeeze your graphic or image into an arbitrary dimension by cropping or distorting. We produce banners to fit your specifications whether using vibrant, full color latex inks or precision cut vinyl. We can also provide a variety of materials in various weights including fabric to match your needs and your budget.
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How Temporary is Temporary?
Designing Your Banner Get the most out of your banner by becoming familiar with design specifications and standards.
Factor in viewing distance and time. If your sign is meant to be seen by passing motorists, take into consideration the distance from the street as well as the speed of traffic. Drivers can only give about 1.5-3 seconds of attention to a sign. The size of your lettering should be big enough to be seen from the intended point of view and your message short and to the point. If your banner will be viewed up close, you can use more wording and smaller fonts. Seismic Signs can assist you with determining the optimal height of your lettering.
Look for compelling color combinations. The higher the contrast between your lettering and the background color, the easier your banner will be to read. Most professional graphic designers are required to learn color theory which explains why certain color combinations are the most readable. We can guide you in the use of color to improve the effectiveness of your banner.
Use white space appropriately. Leaving enough margins allows the viewer to focus on your message. Your top and bottom margin should be about 10% of the banner height and the sides should be at least as wide as the font you choose (typically the letter “M”).
Get to know the difference between raster and vector images. Raster image file formats such as photographic jpgs, pngs, and gifs, especially those found on the Internet, don’t provide a high enough quality image for printing onto large format banners. The minimum resolution for a photographic image on a banner is 150 dpi at 100% size. Any smaller, and the picture can appear blurry or blocky. For the best quality images, we may use 300 or 600 dpi. These files tend to be very large and take up a lot of memory.
On the other hand, vector files such as eps, pdf, and native software formats such as Adobe Illustrator (ai) can usually be resized without losing quality. The images in these files are typically flat color with distinct outlines. These files are usually smaller and you can find clipart in these formats. However, be aware that vector files can have raster images embedded in them which do not resize well.
We can convert raster versions of your logo into vector-based ones if they only contain flat colors, simple gradients, and distinguishable outlines. We cannot guarantee the quality if enlarging photographic images or complex illustrations.
Caring for Your New Banner Follow these tips to keep your banner looking its best.
To store your banners:
- Roll vinyl banners with the printed side on the outside
- Loosely roll fabric banners with the printed side on the inside around a tube
- Do not fold vinyl banners
- Keep banners in a dry, controlled environment at room temperature
- Avoid hot or humid areas
- Make sure fabric banners are completely dry to prevent mildew or mold
- Do not place any object on top of the banners to avoid creasing.
Removing wrinkles from banners
Any wrinkles or creases will come out if you roll out a vinyl banner in the sun for a few hours. For fabric banners, a steamer can be used to get rid of wrinkles or creases. Never use an iron or throw a banner in a dryer.
Safely wash banners
Avoid strong cleaners which can damage the image or graphic on the banner. Use a clean rag with warm water to wipe down your vinyl banner regularly to prevent buildup. Some fabric banners can be machine washed in cold water on a gentle cycle, and then laid out or hung up to dry. Never use bleach, chemical cleaners, or scrubbers on fabric banners.
