Better Banners: When to Choose Vinyl or Fabric for Event Signage

Banner printing is a staple in many print shops, and vinyl was the go-to for years. However, fabric is a top trend lately that customers demand these days. While fabric used for banners has some advantages, vinyl is still the top option in many circumstances. We put together this quick hit list on when to choose which media for the best event banner results:

Printer capabilities. If you have an aqueous printer, vinyl is generally your best bet. Fabric works well on latex or dye-sub printers. However, LexJet does offer LexJet Poly Select Heavy, for example, which works on aqueous or latex printers. It’s a good option when you want the drape of a fabric, but a heavier option that won’t curl like vinyl. It’s also available in Poly Select Light and Poly Select Medium that are multi-tasking products that can be used for backlit signs and trade show displays.

rodeo bannerEnvironment. Asking your customer where the banner will be displayed and what the ambiance is are the two most important questions to help you deliver the best banner for their expectations. At a casual, outdoor sporting event, a vinyl banner with grommets can deliver great results for the money. However, as Nackard Companies found when working on the Chuck Sheppard Memorial Roping event, opting for LexJet Poly Select Heavy was a great outdoor choice because when the signage hit the chain-link fence, it didn’t make as much noise as vinyl would, which could spook the animals in the rodeo.

No Dye-Sub? No Problem. You Can Still Print Great Fabrics

There’s no doubt about it: Printed fabrics are in demand right now. And with the textile market seeing a 75% increase in the soft signage category, print service providers need to offer fabric as an alternative substrate, or their customers may just walk on by.

One major misconception is that printers need dye-sublimation technology to print fabrics correctly. But with the advancements in media options and printer technology, that’s certainly no longer the case. And in some instances, inkjet-printed fabrics are an even better option than dye-sub.

Wide Format Printer Giveaway at the Shopper Marketing Expo in Chicago

Printer giveaway at Shopper Marketing Expo in ChicagoBe sure to stop by Booth 720 at the Shopper Marketing Expo in Chicago, Oct., 18-20, for a chance to pick up the Canon iPF8300S LexJet will be giving away to one fortunate booth visitor. Plus, when you buy an Expand banner stand you’ll get 50 percent off any roll of LexJet’s Poly Select fabric.

These show specials are in addition to LexJet’s current printer promotion: Buy a 42-inch or wider printer and you’ll get an iPad 2, while supplies last. As a reminder, all printers come with free shipping and everything else comes with the low LexJet flat shipping rate of $9.99.

The Shopper Marketing Expo will be held at Chicago’s Navy Pier and is focused on the “path to purchase.” LexJet is an integral part of that path to purchase, providing in-house corporate print shops and point of purchase providers with the graphics tools needed to draw the consumer off the path and to the purchase.

LexJet retail graphics experts will be on hand at Booth 720 to consult on finding the most efficient, economical and effective ways to implement a promotional and branding program. Take advantage of LexJet’s expertise, its wide range of products for any retail graphics need available through the industry’s most sophisticated and reliable shipping and logistics network, and promotional specials at the booth.

To register for the Shopper Marketing Expo, click here. If you have any questions or would like to set up a meeting at the show, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538. Stay tuned here at the LexJet Blog, as well as our Twitter feed for live updates from the Shopper Marketing Expo.