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 Color gamut comparisons: 13oz Scrim = BLACK, SWOP CMYK = red, sRGB = purple It seems that very often banners are considered to all be the same. By far the most common material choice is 13oz scrim banner. It is economical, durable, and relatively light weight. When in doubt, this is the choice.
We don’t bother with considering ink loads or how many colors are involved when pricing. Just a simple price that depends more on dimensions, quantity, and finishing options.
The most common finishing options are simple hems with grommets according to overall size and use.
The applications and uses vary so widely that it is very hard to predict with any real certainty how long a banner will last. Most banners will last 6 months or more.
Some common uses include:
- Step and Repeat backdrop banners
- Durable posters that roll up easily
- Grand Opening banners
- Promotional banners
- Party and event banners
Technical specs
- 1000 x 1000 denier
- 53 x 45 lbs. tear strength
- 13oz/square yard
 The reinforcing threads that give scrim banner its durability also tend to show up in the surface texture  Grommets are placed based on the use of the banner and come in silver, brass, and our favorite - flat black.  Pole pockets are almost always on the top and/or the bottom of the banner to help it hang cleanly.
Banner options range from very heavy, reinforced scrim vinyl to light weight textile banners. Some of the most common choices are 13oz scrim banner or 13oz SuperSmooth, layflat banner.
The scrim banner is excellent for in or outdoor use with an emphasis on tear and tensile strength and durability. SuperSmooth layflat banner works both indoors and out but is generally better suited to indoor use because of its relatively weak tear and tensile strength. It has excellent print quality when viewed up close, is totally opaque, and can potentially be printed on both sides. SuperSmooth banner can even be used in place of more expensive Trade Show Film in retractable banner stands.
With out custom crafted color managed systems we’re easily capable of reproducing most spot colors accurately and without expensive and time consuming proof cycles.
 Color gamut comparison - BioFlex Banner = black, sRGB = red, US Web Coated SWOP = purple We’ve tried several different “green” or “eco” banner materials so far with varying degrees of success. At first they tend to start out looking like they’ll work well. But after some additional testing and using it in production we come to find that they often have issues. Ultraflex’s BioFlex banner has stood up to the demands of actual production and use. It isn’t a totally ‘green’ product, but the majority of the material will break down in dark, warm environments that are rich with bacteria….like a landfill.
Bioflex is thicker, heavier, and just as strong or stronger than typical 13oz scrim banner. The trade-off for biodegrading is a shorter life in actual use. But considering that most banners are used for months not years, it is often not an obstacle.
As you would expect, it is a bit more expensive. But not as much as you might think. Depending on the scope of the job, typical prices are $0.50-$1.00/square foot more than common scrim banner. Even with that, our prices for BioFlex banner are consistently lower than any other competitor’s we’ve heard of.
Technical specs….
- 15oz/square yard
- 1000 x 1000 denier
- Tensile strength 274/251 lbs/inch
- Tear strength 56/56 lbs
 Boulevard Street Banner Boulevard and street banners take a surprising amount of abuse. Banners suspended by brackets with horizontal poles are under almost constant tension and will fail if not built to take it.
We use a 16 or 18 ounce scrim banner with at 1000 denier. The weight gives an idea how heavy it is, the denier expresses tear and tensile strength. As a point of comparison, cheap 13oz scrim banner usually has 500 or 750 denier.
Boulevard banners typically have stitched pockets and are printed on both sides of a single piece of material. Banners that are stretched across the street are finished according to city specs or the hanging hardware used to suspend the banner.
Color gamut comparisons: Mesh = BLACK, SWOP CMYK = red, sRGB = purple When the dimensions of a banner get to a certain point, it becomes advantageous to use mesh banner instead of common scrim banner. The weight savings is 1/2 – 2/3 and the open weave of the mesh allows some wind pressure to pass through, reducing the overall stress on the finishing.
Often the finishing is quite substantial compared to the ordinary banner. Typically the hems are reinforced with webbing to allow the grommets something to really get a hold of and distribute the load along the sides. When the mesh banners get really big, we’ll even reinforce the seams between the panels with webbing as well to create an incredibly strong skeletal structure.
Even though mesh has ‘holes’ in it, the strength and tear statistics are stronger than 13oz scrim banner. This added strength together with the beefy finishing gives a banner than can hold up to some serious abuse.
Mesh banners fit well into construction sites for building size and barricade banners. Really anytime the size gets really big or you want air and or light to come through, mesh is perfect.
Technical specs…
- 9oz/square yard
- 1000 x 1000 denier
- Tensile strength 216 x 182 lbs/inch
- Tear strength 70 x 62 lbs
 Closeup of mesh banner material  Example of mesh banner in the wild
 Gamut comparison: red = sRGB, purple = US Web Coated SWOP, black = SuperSmooth Sometimes you need something a bit better looking than common scrim banner. SuperSmooth banner fits perfectly in retractable banner stands and indoor applications when you are looking for a banner that looks like a smooth fabric instead of a bumpy banner.
The thing our customers like best about this material is print quality that rivals photo paper. It works indoors or out but lacks the reinforcing threads that a scrim banner has. As a result it is not as durable but has the smooth surface that makes it so pretty.
Finishing options are the common hem and grommets and/or pole pockets. Grommet locations and frequency are driven by how the banner will be used. Be sure to let us know how it will be used so we can offer suggestions on finishing options.
Technical specs
- 15oz/yard square
- 266 x 264 lbs/inch tensile strength
- 8 x 6 lbs tear strenght
- capable of printing on both sides (4/4)
 SuperSmooth is perfect for indoor banner uses where paper would be too fragile  13oz SuperSmooth banner. An opaque vinyl that can be printed on both sides.  Retractable banner stand made from SuperSmooth banner material. |
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