One of the most common materials utilized to be printed on as graphic displays is vinyl. It is otherwise called as PVC or polyvinyl chloride. There are other available plastic items that can be used too, which are also petroleum-based.
The Vinyl Material
Vinyl, for one, is based on petroleum product. It embodies the so-called plasticizer which is pliable and able to roll smoothly on printers. Most digital and screen printers have used PVC for three decades now.
There is another type of plastic material that is used on banners that are displayed on most diners and food chains – polypropylene. The graphics tend to appear shiny. This item can be run through both digital and screen printers.
Polyester Fabric Material
Another one is the polyester fabric. It is almost the same cloth as your grandpa’s executive suit, but with is a little updated and improvised. It is a woven cloth that is well made of silky poly flags, sheer, and knits, perfect for outdoor trade events whatsoever.
Polyester banners have become even more popular. Do you know that they are printed differently than the usual digital process? It’s called dye sublimation printing wherein heat and pressure both aid the transfer of graphics from a special paper onto the fabric itself. It produces a graphic print that does not fade so easily and can last for long up to thirty years.
Technology and Cost of Printing
On the other hand, with the polypro and vinyl banners, the technology has been the same for both digital and screen printing for about fifteen long years. PVCs, by the way, are also quite affordable.
Those polyvinyl displays cost almost the same as fabric graphics. The recent upgrade on sublimation press called direct-to-garment printing has definitely heightened the pace of the print processing. And most of the time, when there is advancement in technology, the cost typically drops. But then I don’t think it would drop even further, but who knows?
With the availability of shipping services, it is very possible to outsource banner displays offshore, have them pressed with custom graphic designs, shipped, and delivered, with a cost that is cheaper than the labor and materials used in regions like Europe, Australia, Canada, or even in the US. In first world countries, the prices have now dropped in terms of getting a quality banner print display as compared to the previous years. Plus, the graphics look fancy on cloth compared to how it was before.
There is always a shift in the economy. You can certainly take advantage of all the good things, most especially if you happen to be the marketing director of a big advertising company that intends to deal with medium to large businesses.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barry K. Brown has been in the Sign, Banner, Decal and Display Business for over 20 years. It isn’t what he thought he’d do with his life, but he says he knows too much now to do anything else!
He has been marketing these products online since 1998, and the company he was general manager of in 1998 was the first sign company to be listed on Yahoo!