The window graphics or signs are versatile and reliable,
cost-effective advertising solutions for the business. There is no matter what
type of business you are running, the methods will efficiently be utilized in
the marketing to increase sales and then, among the people side, bring out more
awareness about its brand.
The window graphics are the visual solution to the people
to bring out the unique aid in the business. This marketing methodology will
utilize in the family-owned shop and multinational companies with a worldwide
customer base. Make sure to pick the reliable team for Window
Graphics in Washington DC By Heritage Signs & Displaysand get unique aid without any more difficulties. This
marketing method will give moiré benefits to the people in various ways.
Keep reading the post; you may gain more information
about the window graphics methodology in the business.
Easy way to increase the traffic
The customized Frosted Vinyl sticker
will act as a significant advertising part. With the aid of it, you may develop
your brand by increasing traffic. This is applied in the glass and then also
easily removable. It is suitable for all kinds of places and then enhances the
leads in the business by improving the views. This natural look will develop
the company excellently, so consider the marketing method and then enhance the
company in a high way. The window advertising with Frosted Vinyl is an
effective way to get your products and services in a negotiable way.
It helps to build your brand
Branding with Perforated Vinylwill consist
of setting your business from the various competitors. It is the most
significant part to identify the motto of your business. You have tangibly
accomplished your goal; make sure to consider this method and then build the
business.
The windows graphics give your customer what makes your
company different from others. It is easy to accomplish the main goals, which
are branding and giving unique emphasis to your business. Building up the brand
tends to increase sales without any more issues. The Custom Cut Vinyl
Lettering is an effective way to build the brand and give
unique aid to the people leading the company.
Easy to update the graphics
The Graphics are Customizable to any Window, and
your business may develop and get more leads. This can be easily enabled by utilizing
the window graphics, and the vinyl signs are Easy to Install and Remove.
Thus, glass is a smooth place, and then you may easily update the graphics, and
at the same time, it will easily peel off. The mode maintenance is easy and
probably gives good services to the business people.
Enables to provide shade and privacy
The window graphics may also be used to showcase your
items, products, or services, and at the same time, it will create privacy when
you need it. In addition, it Can be Used to Block out Sunyour
storefront as directly. On the interior side, it will give good privacy and
easily advertise your business significantly. By the way, you may provide
relevant information and then enhance the business highly, so consider the
window graphics and gain various benefits.
Is windows graphics are versatile?
The windows graphics are striking and reliable for
marketing, which may give the business the best features. This is why most
companies are gaining more advantages in these types of graphics. The primary
window graphics will provide more versatility and give people visual solutions
regularly. Make sure to consider the pictures in the storefront and then
quickly develop the business significantly.
Need to utilize the window Graphics? Could you
hire us?
Now you may get more information about the window
graphics and how it is utilized in the business. At Heritage Signs & Displays, we are the best in providing the good sign
to the company as per the needs of the clients and so bring to get the services
with the aid of expert designer and then gain unique benefits. Our team of
designers, technicians, and installers will work as by the needs of the
clients, and then, by the way, you may quickly develop the business.
Contact us to get the window graphics services and gain
practical benefits.
Do
you know the right printing products will boost your business and your
company's reputation? Of course, the high-quality printing services enable the
best impression and then enhance the credibility of your business with the
public, customers, and even within your team. When it comes to starting
printing the right products and the first thing you have to remember is to
understand the commercial printing services.
This
is why how they make unique differences while helping the companies get visual.
Make sure to hire the best Commercial
Printing in Washington DC By Heritage Signs & Displays,and
then develop the business excellently. It will be the best marketing tool for
your business, and with the aid, you may improve the sale and leads as the
business owners.
Grow
your business by booklet printing:
In Booklet Printing, you
may have more space to display your products and services dependably, which
will tell various data behind your brand. This will educate the clients and
then give awareness about the brand. Of course, it is an untapped resource for
marketing, and then print materials are more crucial to selling the products
and services. Move with the creative design in the booklet printing and
ultimately develop your brand.
Why
does a business need Brochures Printing?
The Brochures Printinghelps
to bring out the targeted clients in all aspects, like a small and emerging
company with a tight budget. These are practical and pocket-friendly
advertisements rather than product ads in magazines and newspapers. The
brochure is a classic and intelligent way to share information; in case you are
going to tell a brand story or want to debut new products, the brochure is a
crucial part of developing the business. On the business side, the brochures
are most important and then act as the key part of promoting the brand.
Is
Presentation Folders a reliable promotional tool?
In
the business, the Presentation Foldersis
moved out as excellent handouts in order to distribute the various opportunities
to develop the business. From accounting to the HR department, the corporate
presentation folders will run the business effectively. It is a custom design
marketing tool that will be used to store the imported documents. When it comes
to utilizing, it may hold the loose papers or any other documents, and the
sheets are closed as by stiff. The presentation folder contains different types
of enhancements to the company and explains the projects clearly.
Does
magazine printing reliable to the business?
Most
businesses rely on Magazine Printingto
bring out potential and permanent customers. This is the latest way to promote the
business and give people effective services. With the aid of it, you may
improve the brand individually and then tend to lead the business's sales. The
significant benefits of magazine printing are scaling the business, easily
connecting with the customers, promoting your expertise, sharing helpful
information, and creating compelling social markets for your products and
services. The magazine printing is the right idea for the people to reach out
to the targeted audience.
Are
Self-Published Books successful?
Self-Published Booksin
a business are relying on to achieve your business with targeted clients. It
mainly helps to achieve the desired level of the company. It will act as a
great advertising strategy for the industry, and the books are met over to the
targeted audience in bringing the unique development. It will give the business
more and provide various advantages to the people.
Why
need to move Marketing Materials?
The Marketing Materialswill
develop the company in a significant way, and so it will give unique aid. The
various marketing materials include posters, flyers, social media graphics,
attendees, and other materials. It will move out as the promotional material
for the business and then give a better advertising strategy.
Are
you looking for commercial printing? Could you hire us?
At
Heritage Signs & Displays,
we are giving the best portfolio for the business printing products that will
be designed to meet the client's needs. Whether you are looking for commercial
printing, we are the right choice, and then give the best services to the
people. We are providing good value to your business by providing high-quality
services.
Please
do not hesitate to get the services; therefore, contact us and gain
benefits.
Conventions, trade shows and other industry big events continue to get lots of attention these days! Are you effectively participating in these opportunities to distinguish yourself from your competitors?
Standing out in a crowd can be easier if you know how!
Event Towers
Why are Event Towers a good idea for your next tradeshow, conference or meeting? Floor space is always at a premium at most events. You can only purchase so much square feet of floor space for your booth but have you ever thought about going UP!!
The average height of trade show exhibits across the convention floor is typically around 8 feet tall. The few vendors that select to reach higher than their competition attract a lot more attention and are more positively remembered. Although our standard event tower is about eight feet tall, it can be configured to rise your brand above the cloud of vendors and make your display a huge talking point.
Touch your next customer, from across the convention floor, with a custom event tower from Heritage Signs & Displays.
We custom print and contour cut, event towers up to 12’ tall! We propel your logo, brand and message to the thousands in attendance with direct image printing and custom cutting each individual panel.
Our event tower panels are easy to store, transport, assemble and disassemble. Assembly is easy, build 3 or 4 sets of panels, then connect the sets, for an impressive event display that is affordable.
Don’t become overshadowed and diminished by the competition at trade shows, when affordable event towers are easy to attain.
Our custom event towers can serve numerous functions, they can be configured to form a booth backdrop, hold company literature and more. Have your marketing department speak to our team and discover how affordable and easy to use event towers have become.
More than just event displays, our towers can be utilized for Point of Purchase (POP) displays. Consumers and loyal customers can easily access the “Special of the Week” at the grocery and convenience stores.
The flexibility of a custom event tower has multiple advantages:
Cost Effective
Easy to Assemble/Disassemble
Portable
Reusable
Towers over Competitors
Versatile
So please contact us today to learn how we can help you achieve greater heights at your next big event! We are here to help.
The Benefits of Custom Wall Wraps For Your Business
When looking for ways to expand your marketing efforts, don’t overlook the many benefits of a wall wrap for your business.
A custom wall wrap is so much more than just a pretty design. The right environmental graphics can transform a bare and plain-looking office into a thoughtfully-designed space that inspires your employees and engages with your customers in a way no other marketing materials can.
Discover the benefits of custom wall wraps, and check out our list of our personal favorite displays for inspiration on how you can use a wall wrap in your own office.
What is a Wall Wrap?
Wall wraps are large decals made of thin vinyl that are applied directly to a wall or other flat surface. By covering the entire wall in a graphic, design, image, or logo of your choosing, the space can take on a new appearance with minimal effort and maximum impact. Wall wraps replace the need for paint, signs, frames, banners, and so on.
The Benefits of Wall Wraps for Your Customers & Employees
Fosters an Emotional Connection
An innovative design displayed in your building is easily seen by all passersby, including customers and employees. But why is this important? Custom wall wraps are a creative and eye-catching technique used for connecting with people in multiple ways. In the world of business, an emotional connection to your products, services, or brand is what encourages customers to keep coming back, and what leaves your employees feeling more engaged with your company.
You may already have photos of team events or framed certificates commemorating past projects displayed throughout your building. However, unlike a small plaque or a framed piece of paper, a wall wrap does a better job of stopping people in their tracks and prompting them to actually take in what’s being displayed. Think of a wall graphic as a beautiful piece of art that can engage, inspire, or inform anyone who sees it.
Drives Brand Awareness
Your brand’s logo or mission statement can be beautifully displayed on more than just a banner or within a frame — it can also be designed as a wall wrap that expands from floor to ceiling. As you will see in the examples of wall graphics below, this gives potential customers the impression that your business is creative, innovative, and looks to inspire — all positive traits to have.
Use a wall wrap to show off your company and what makes you so special. Imagine this as your chance to let your voice shine and truly show who you are as a business and why you are good at what you do.
Utilizing various printing and graphic design techniques, we can print graphics, murals, and full wallscapes to cover as many walls within your space as you would like. Before submitting your design to us, we perform an initial site visit to determine what would look best in your office space.
Our team handles the entire process from start to finish to ensure high-quality printing, site visits for graphic and sizing recommendations, and seamless delivery and installation.
Best of all, maintaining your wall graphics is extremely simple as there’s virtually no maintenance required. Therefore, you will enjoy your wall wraps for years to come!
Examples of Past Work
Below is just a handful of the many wall wraps we have created and installed over the years.
1. Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina
Located in each terminal of the Charlotte International Airport are designated “potty stations” for pets that are traveling with their owners. These wall wraps feature a playful dog in a restroom as a fun way of showing what the station is meant for. Each wrap consists of a custom vinyl wall graphic that is easy to clean — a must-have for this particular space.
2. Trane Technologies, Davidson, NC
You could say that the vision behind this wall graphic was to take the viewer on a ride. Trane Technologies is a company with a focus on sustainability and sharing their innovative methods with the world. By showing how nature can responsibly intermingle with urban development, this wall wraps demonstrates how to enjoy the best of both worlds.
3. British International School of Charlotte, North Carolina
As a private day school, BISC is known as one of the area’s top educational institutions. Their passionate staff delivers an exceptional educational experience that they wanted to showcase throughout their building. The wall wrap demonstrates the depth of the education parents can expect their child to receive here, while also engaging with the children through curious images and fun colors.
4. York County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Mill, South Carolina
The York County Sheriff’s office proudly displays its values on their walls as a daily reminder to its officers and employees. Instead of compiling each of these values in a list format, it’s displayed in an engaging way that is interesting to read and much more memorable.
5. CGAP World Bank, Washington, DC
Wall wraps aren’t just for walls! Wall graphics are very versatile and can be displayed on many types of surfaces, including columns. Creatively installing wall wraps is a simple way to get your message out there to any visitors who walk through your building. Overall, the more your brand is seen, the more trustworthy you come across.
See our complete photo gallery of wall wraps and graphics for more ideas on how we can help you transform your office space.
Ideas for Engaging Wall Wraps
Although we did not create the wall wraps featured below, we admire the design and encourage you to use these examples for ideas when creating your wall graphics.
1. Skype Headquarters, Palo Alto, California
A satellite image of North America at night showcases where Skype users are located across the globe. Not only is this wall wrap a beautiful way to bring artwork into the otherwise bland commercial space, but it also serves as a reminder of the worldwide connections Skype has created as a brand.
2. Adobe Campus, Lehi, Utah
Adobe’s wall graphic at their Utah campus shows a young child lost in one of her creations. The image features powerful symbolism behind Adobe’s suite of products, and what can be accomplished when Adobe users tap into their creativity. In all, it’s an excellent way to display the company’s values in one wonderful design.
3. LinkedIn Headquarters, Sunnyvale, California
LinkedIn is a social platform solely focused on making connections with others. Above is an example of how a wall wrap can make an uninteresting space such as a hallway a bit more exciting.
While the “Link Up” neon sign at the end of the hallway adds a bit of fun interest, the wall wrap directly across the elevators adds further impact. Without the arrow design, the neon sign would feel incomplete and somewhat random here.
4. Gary Lee Partners, Chicago, Illinois
No interior design firm is complete without a beautiful office of its own. In terms of design, this company focused on keeping it simple, with all black and grey furniture. On the wall to the right you can see they added a graphic wrap featuring a modern pattern as an accent wall to incorporate a wider color palette.
5. Nike Offices, London, UK
Nike’s London office has a graphic wall in the employee kitchen that highlights a simple waffle recipe. Not only is this a creative use of space, it’s also practical and helpful for employees. If you look closely, you will notice the neon green letters and black words mixed within the orange text that share subtle messages!
Wall Wraps at Heritage Signs & Displays
While we are experts in wall wraps, you are the experts of your business. Our goal is to work with you collaboratively when designing, printing, or installing any of our products.
From the very beginning of the process, we will coordinate a site visit to show you the best options when it comes to turning your vision into reality. As we get to know you and your plans for the space, we can make suggestions to guarantee you love the end product.
Back at Heritage Signs & Displays, our team will work diligently to turn your creation into a custom wall wrap perfectly suited to the space we’re working with. From delivery to installation, you will have one individual from our team working closely with you throughout the process. This ensures there are no miscommunications and you can feel confident in the product that is being delivered.
When it comes to maintenance, our team will explain what is needed for your custom wall piece. Generally speaking, there is not much maintenance involved, as our wall graphics are made from high-quality vinyl that can withstand any lighting, traffic, and the like.
Turn Your Unique Vision into a Custom Reality
Does it feel like your office space is missing something? Does it feel uninspiring and uninviting? Wall Wraps may be the missing piece you never knew you needed. Simply let us know what you have in mind and we can start the creative process together.
If you like our work and have questions about how we bring our customer’s vision to life, please reach out to us via the button below. We can’t wait to discuss your ideas with you.
Discussing signs generally can become a complex topic, especially if you are unfamiliar with the industry. Because we know engineering a sign can include a wide range of components and fabrication techniques we hope to give you some working knowledge of some of the materials and processes that are available when ordering your new sign.
Essentially it is a term used to describe the product of utilizing technologies and skills to fulfil the unique visual communication needs of a specific business or organization, in the efforts to be seen, communicate a message or make a visual impact on their audience. It is a broad term in the sense that many different looking signs could all be considered custom, but the determining factor is that your perfect sign is probably not sitting on a shelf somewhere waiting for you to order it. They are special ordered and have a lot of thought put into them. From concept to installation there are many decisions to be made and if you have never ordered a one of a kind sign, or it’s been a few years since you’ve updated your signage, it pays to have an experienced professional there to help. As time passes technologies advance and the better sign companies grow and invest in the latest equipment and technologies to expand their capabilities and resources. So even if you’re ordering from the same sign company it’s a good idea to get a tour of what they are capable of so you’re not limiting your new sign’s potential by not knowing what could be.
We’re going to talk about some of the elements that make up signage and the fabrication methods you should be aware of when ordering your new custom lobby sign, outdoor business sign, or that neon lit “vintage” brewery sign to complete your home bar aesthetics.
Let’s start with materials:
What are custom signs made of?
There are four main categories of materials used in signs which are:
Wood
Plastic
Metal/ACM
Foam
They each serve their own purpose and a knowledgeable Sign Company in Charlotte NC will guide you on the where’s and why’s but here’s a few of them so you can be knowledgeable yourself.
Wood Signs
Wood is great for achieving that rustic look or natural appeal. Wood signs can be made from glued panel boards, high-end wood slabs with and without live edges, and even plywood. Deciding which type of wood is best for your sign is mainly aesthetics, but some types of wood serve specific purposes better than others. For example, plywood tends to warp over time if not sufficiently adhered on all sides and a glued panel board would serve better if you were ordering a hanging sign.
Wood is pretty versatile and durable, depending on the grade and treatment, a well crafted wood sign can last years. Wood has the ability to be laser etched/cut and cnc routed, direct printed using flatbed printers or simply stained and used as the back panel for custom routed letters. It can be used as a frame or base for a sign or as a free standing sign itself. Wood signs can be interior or exterior, but the treatment of the wood and the additional sign elements should be intentional in regards to it’s installation environment. The wood used for signs varies so much depending on the individual sign that there aren’t common sizes or thicknesses to mention. However, there is such a variety of wood available that whatever your need is there’s wood to match.
Laser engraved wood sign with a direct printed graphic.
Plastic sign materials is a pretty large topic as well, so we’ll discuss a few of the most common types.
The most versatile plastic sign material is PVC or sometimes called sintra. PVC comes in many thicknesses and forms. The most common thicknesses are: ⅛’’, ¼” and ½” but it goes up from there in ¼’’ increments up to 2” thick. It comes in a variety of colors but it’s usually more cost effective to use white and print or paint it. There are benefits from using colored PVC, and most sign vendors have samples of available colors to choose from. The main benefit is the color is all the way through the material, so any scratches or external damages won’t remove the color from the sign as would happen if printed or painted, as well as the colors longevity in exposed environments. There are many color’s but it’s usually much easier to match colors with print or paint than it is to find a specific color of pvc if you are matching a branded color. PVC can be used as the substrate or backboard of a sign and it can be cnc routed to specific shapes like letters. Using pvc as a substrate should be limited to indoor use as it has a tendency to warp in extreme temperatures. This does not apply to using it for letters or shapes if adhered to a more durable substrate such as wood or metal. Because letters are attached to the substrate securely and bare virtually no weight it’s rare for them to warp.
Routed and painted PVC dimensional Business Sign
PVC Sign Applications:
Indoor Direct Printed Signs
Indoor Standoff Signs
Wall Mounted Displays
Custom Cut Letters
Custom Painted Letters for wall or substrate mounting
Heat bent table toppers
Small Custom Displays
Custom routed and painted pvc interior sign display
Close up of custom routed and painted pvc interior sign display
Fabrication Methods:
Direct Printing
Adhesive Vinyl Application
CNC routing for letters and custom shapes
Painting
Bending
Acrylic Signs
Another and maybe just as common sign plastic is acrylic. Acrylic signs can be made as a lighter more durable and cost effective substitute for glass signs. Acrylic comes in many colors and thicknesses as well. Common colors are clear, white and black but many colors are available, it also comes with textured finishes such a frosted and scalloped. Most common thicknesses are: ⅛”, ¼”, ½” but ¾” and 1” are available. Acrylic has the unique ability(of the plastics family) to be laser cut which achieves a glossy finished edge over cnc routing that leaves a frosted edge. Acrylic is usually what is used to achieve an illuminated box or backlit display as it is translucent and rigid. These properties also make it a great option to achieve an elegant look as both Indoor lobby signage and second surface painted laser cut letters. There are many applications for acrylic in signs, but we suggest to not use acrylic for applications that will take a lot of direct sunlight. The sun’s radiation will cause the acrylic to yellow overtime. The outdoor backlit signs you see are usually a type of polycarbonate plastic that is usually referred to as lexan and it doesn’t have this limitation.
Second surface printed dimensional acrylic standoff sign with halo led lighting effect
Acrylic Sign Applications:
Direct Printed Indoor Signage and Graphics
Standoff Signs
Plaques
Lobby Signs
Dimensional Letters
Heat Bent Bases and Signs
Museum Display Boxes
Fabrication Methods:
Direct Printing, First and Second Surface
Laser Etching, Text and Images
Laser Cutting, Shapes and Letters(Gloss Edge)
CNC Routing, Shapes and Letters(Frosted Edge)
Adhesive Vinyl Application
Painting, First and Second Surface
First surface frosted logo on half inch acrylic mounted with standoffs
Metal Signs
Metal signs for the most part will be referring to aluminum sheet metal or an aluminum composite material aka ACM. These days aluminum sheet metal is reserved for fabrication of channel letters and lightboxes. It doesn’t get much use on its own since the introduction of the much better ACM.
What is ACM?
ACM is a composite material comprised of two sheets of aluminum with a rigid plastic substrate between them. The plastic core adds strength, rigidity, and to the overall possible applications while maintaining the appeal of a metal sign. ACM comes in ⅛” and ¼” thicknesses and a variety of colors and specialized options like brushed silver and gold finishes as well as ferrous metal versions used for signs requiring a magnetic receptive element. ACM is very durable and can withstand years of outdoor conditions making it ideal for permanent business signs as well as signs that may be moved from site to site. It can be cnc routed into letters and custom cut signage, direct printed as well as having adhesive vinyl graphics applied to it. It can be used for indoor lobby signs and branded office decor as wall mounted routed letters or stand off signs. It has been used to clad existing structures like desks and custom displays as a way to add brand graphics or interior design appeal. The plastic core also allows for the material to be routed and folded to create custom structures such as boxes and custom displays. It can be drilled to have holes for standoffs which is an elegant way to mount any sign to a wall.
Direct printed folded ACM box sign
ACM Sign Applications:
Outdoor Permanent Business Signs
Custom Cut Logos
Custom Routed Wall Mounted Letters
Desk and Display Cladding
Architectural Aesthetics
Magnetic Displays
Double-Sided Hanging Signs
Custom routed brushed silver ACM installed with hidden sandoffs
Custom routed and painted ACM hanging sign with dimensional letters
Fabrication Methods:
Direct Printing
Adhesive Vinyl Application
CNC Routing, Shapes and Letters
Bending
Foam Signs
There are many different types of foam but for a general idea we’ll discuss foam boards here. Foam boards are sheets of an expanded foam material sandwiched between either paper or polystyrene plastic sheets. We can refer to them as paper-faced and poly-faced foam boards. The difference being paper-faced is the more economical version and poly-faced is more durable. Typically white in color, thicknesses range from ¼” to 1” in ¼” increments. Foam board is a great product for an affordable short term outdoor display, or a more permanent indoor display. It’s most common use is as meter boards for events or directional signage because it can be direct printed on both sides and at ½” is rigid enough to stand eight feet tall with a minimalistic floor stand. It’s also versatile enough to be custom printed and CNC routed into shapes and layered to create dimensional displays. It’s extremely lightweight but the paper face is susceptible to water damage, where as the poly-face version is not. It’s also used to create large light-weight custom displays where the design requires walls or dimension.
Direct printed foam board custom display
Direct printed and CNC cut foam board dimensional display
Direct printed and CNC cut foam board dimensional display
Lighting:
When the subject of custom signs comes up, it is often that lighting is an ideal component. Lighting a sign really gives it life and demands more attention, as well as achieving perpetual visibility. The evolution of LED technology has really improved our options when adding a lighting element to a sign. LED stands for Light Emitting Diode and this technology has a lot of benefits:
Benefits of LED Lighting:
Produce Minimal Heat
Energy Efficient
Many Colors and Intensities
Long Lifespan
Led backlit custom routed letters on stand off mounted wood sign
We can light mobile signs with battery packs or install LEDs that plug in for a more permanent installation. We can create backlit letters for the front of a sign, or a backlight the sign itself for a halo effect. We can create backlit boxes for displays or interior signage and even edge light a single piece of acrylic to light the graphics on the display. Lighting a sign is usually not a necessity, but it can be a very nice and practical addition.
This is not close to an exhaustive list of materials or processes but it is some of the most common elements involved in sign fabrication. Beyond materials and fabrication methods there are countless combinations of these used to produce one of a kind signs. The possibilities are endless. We hope this gave you some insight and helped clarify your sign ordering aspiration. If you have any questions or are ready to get your new sign made, give us a call or click the contact us button. Heritage Signs & Displays is one of the best custom sign fabricators, we have made the investments to have state of the art printers and CNC cutters, on site paint booth and wood shop, and a talented team dedicated to delivering quality commercial printing, signs and displays fast. With strategically placed locations in DC, Maryland and Charlotte, NC we can get the graphics you need where you need them fast.
Custom routed and printed dimensional letter lobby sign with led halo backlighting
When it’s time to order a new visual solution and you’ve finally decided on a banner to send your message, you still have a few questions to finalize the order. Your size, your design, the stand or display option, and finally what material? This is a good question as it is important and will serve you and your investment the best if you get it right. There are two options, vinyl or fabric. However, there are a few sub-options of these that can cater to certain environments and uses, but those specifics are beyond the scope of what we will cover here.
Vinyl or Fabric?
Let’s look at the main differences and then we’ll go into detail about them..
The main differences of vinyl and fabric banners.
Cost
Cost is probably the highest criterium on most lists.
Appearance
Fabric or vinyl will have an impact on the overall appearance of the banner, mostly because surface textures andother material characteristics.
Durability
Where and when it will be used and how long it can be used in this way before it fails or looks bad.
Transport
When transporting a banner, by shipping, car, plane or train, it will be different depending on your banner.
Maintenance
This will matter the more you use your banner, if it’s just a single use banner then this will not apply to your situation.
Cost Factors
The cost of a banner relies on a few factors.
Size
Material
Ink cost (Measured by image and background color ink densities)
Finishing
Lead times(the same banner will cost more if the order needs to be rushed, pushed ahead of other orders)
Size
The size of a banner is more of a multiplier to the rest of the other factors. It plays a role in determiningcost, but only after having set the other factors in the equation. A banner costs a certain amount of money to produce depending on the material used, the amount of ink needed to print the images, and the method of finishing whichalso takes time, labor and materials. Given these factors, the bigger the banner, the more it will cost.
Material
As we learned above material will play a part in the cost of the banner. This is simply because some materials cost more than others. Typically fabric will be more expensive across the board, because it is a more expensive material to make and use.
Ink
Ink is a very specialized and technical part of this equation and different types of printers use different types of ink. There are differences in ink down to molecular levels that determine its durability and longevity. Most high quality printers will use long lasting and durable inks and some companies will use the cheapest on the market to keep costs down. Heritage Signs & Displays only uses high quality inks on our products because we care about our reputation and the quality of our products over profit. The material used for the banner also plays a part in how much ink is used, because fabric material is a porous material it requires more ink to create the same image that would need less to be printed on vinyl material. Along with material, the image on the banner and the background color will determine how much ink will be used and again, how much it will cost. A banner that is mostly white will cost less than a banner that is mostly black, or some other dark color.
The banner with the darker background will require more ink and therefore cost more to produce.
Finishing
Finishing a banner means, what needs to be done to a banner after it is printed to fulfill the order and allow the banner to be easily displayed whether it be hanging on a building or put on a banner stand.
All banners can have grommets, pole pockets, Velcro or simply straight trimmed. The only difference here is that fabric banners require a special trimming method called a hot knife and the edges, whether it’s a hem, pole pocket or Velcro, will need to be sewn to maintain integrity and lasting quality. Where as a vinyl banner can be totally finished using a heat weld or adhesive tape welding methods.
Lead Times
This is applies to both fabric and vinyl. The less time between placing an order and needing to receive the order, the more your order will cost. Rush orders exist because we know sometimes things need to happen fast, but doing certain orders fast requires pushing other orders back and/or having staff go into overtime and extending working hours which all costs money. So the more time you allow for your production the cheaper your banner will be.
Appearance
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”… maybe. I’d wager to say that a lot of people can agree on what looks good and what does not. However, there are situations where a vinyl banner will look better than a fabric banner and visa versa. I need to preface this with “given all other factors remain the same” because there are specialized materials that can work for many situations that basic vinyl and basic fabric will not perform as well in. But for the sake of argument we are comparing the basic elements of fabric and vinyl banner materials.
The main differences in appearance between fabric and vinyl are the surface texture and translucency. If your banner will be part of a photo opportunity you will want to make sure you get a matte finish whether it is vinyl or fabric. However fabric banners will have a much better appearance in photos because of their inherent surface texture. Matte banners work well for photography but they still have a smooth surface and when ink is applied it can still result in a shine or glare in flash photography where fabric just performs much better in these conditions.
Translucency is the materials ability to let light pass through it. This does not matter if your banner is facing the strongest light source or if you are indoors with plenty of ambient light. However, if your banner is facing away from a strong light source and the light source is facing the back of the banner, this light will pass through a fabric banner much easier than a vinyl banner. Light passing through the back of a banner will cause the imageson the face of a banner to look washed out or cause inconsistencies across the banner in photos or real time appearance. This is somewhat negated by the saturation of the ink with fabric prints, but as a general concern some images can be washed out from backlighting, there is a specific material and process used for backlit fabric prints that isn’t used for banners unless specified.
If lighting isn’t an issue then the only note here is that fabric banners can appear more elegant simply because they are fabric and not plastic vinyl. If you’re shopping for a multiple use banner and will be transporting it, the appearance of the banner will heavily depend on the care of the shipping and handling its involved in and a fabric banner is much easier to manage in that regard.
Durability
Vinyl banners are more durable IF it will be used outdoors AND you roll it up correctly when stored or transporting it.
Fabric banners are more durable IF you plan on using it over and over again in short term events indoors AND it is properly cared for when transporting.
Transporting
This is a pretty big factor in many cases, as traveling is a big part of marketing and promotion and you want transporting your banner as easy as possible.
Fabric banners are by far the easier method to travel with because they have the unique ability to be folded without damage where vinyl banners will crease and sometimes crack after some time. A fabric banner can be folded and typically included in the frame or stand it accompanies while a vinyl banner can only be rolled and the size is limited to the shortest dimension of the banner. If the banner is a 8’ by 6’ banner then the shipping container will be a 6’ long box.
You can see here that the fabric banner collapses to a much smaller size.
Maintenance
Maintaining either banner is pretty simple given normal use conditions. Vinyl banners can be rolled onto a core and stored indoors for ages without any noticeable effects. Fabric banners can be folded and stored indoors with the same expectations. However, a vinyl banner has an advantage here because if it were to get dirty, have something spilled on it, or dropped in the dirt it can easily be cleaned by a wet cloth. Whereas a fabric banner is susceptible to stains and dirt and will need to be dry cleaned to have it return to its former glory.
Summary
Fabric Banner If:
Indoor event with photography
Multiple location involving traveling
Appearance over Budget
Away from dirt and liquids
Vinyl Banner If:
Outdoor events
Long Term outdoor use
Single Use Event
Budget over Appearance
Not traveling with it or don’t mind shipping.
Again, these are comparing base materials and no specialized materials. There are many varieties of both fabric and vinyl banners engineered to support many different circumstances. If you need a specific type of banner, or any banner at all, Heritage Signs & Displays is a leading provider of high quality banners and banner stands with quick turn around and shipping times. We have experienced designers and project coordinators on staff ready to help you accomplish your project on time and on budget. We also welcome rush orders as we know when you need it fast, you need it fast, and we do everything we can to meet your needs. Give us a call or get started on a quote and we’ll get started on you banner order today!
If you’re in need of a Fabric Banner or Vinyl Banner in Washington DC, Alexandria VA, and Bethesda MD. Click the button below to request a quote.
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