Choose custom banner colors can be an important design consideration if the goal is to create a highly readable and visible sign.  Most signs are posted in traffic rich areas, and the average amount of time a potential customer has to read the sign is about 3 seconds.  One mistake that many companies make is to create a sign that is beautiful up close, but that is too complex or difficult to read from a distance.

Keep the colors high contrast and use clear easy -to-read fonts.  Also, don’t make your banner too wordy – keep the content short and powerful.

Foreground/Background Colors

When choosing your custom banner or magnetic background, don’t use anything that will make it difficult to focus on your main message. A color wheel will show you the importance of contrast, hue and value when choosing a foreground/background color combination. Opposite colors on the wheel complement each other. For example red and green would be complementary colors. They have a good contrast, but their values are similar, so it is not the best combination.

Colors that are next to each other on the wheel, such as blue and green, make poor color combinations on your custom banner since their contrast is similar in both hue and value. It is hard to see the contrast. Alternating colors, such as blue and yellow, produce the best combinations since they have good contrast in both hue and value. Black contrasts well with any light color and white works well with colors having a dark value. For example, yellow and black are different in the contrast of both hue and value.

Highest visibility color combinations to use on your custom sign according to the Outdoor Advertising Assoc. of America (OAAA) is as follows:

1. BLACK on YELLOW
2. BLACK on WHITE
3. YELLOW on BLACK
4. WHITE on BLUE
5. GREEN on WHITE
6. BLUE on YELLOW
7. WHITE on GREEN
8. WHITE on BROWN
9. BROWN on YELLOW
10. BROWN on WHITE
11. YELLOW on BROWN
12. RED on WHITE
13. YELLOW on RED
14. RED on YELLOW
15. WHITE on RED

It’s important to create a banner that will effectively share your message.  At Graphic Impact, we are the manufacturer of banners and we offer in-house manufacture of vinyl banners, fabric banners, indoor banners and outdoor banners.  We can design your next banner or street banner.

The use of the banner will dictate the banner materials, banner printing methodand banner finishes.   Regardless of whether it is an indoor banner or an outdoor banner, safety is paramount when determining the construction as well as the manner of displaying the banner.

Outside banners are subject to different conditions than inside banners may be. Exposure to the elements, wind, rain, sun can all take a toll on the printing and the materials.  It’s important to evaluate the structure the banner will be hung from. Especially if there are significant wind loads, its critical to know that the banner will be secured properly.

New innovations in printing enable us to create bold, full color banners with photographic images fully reproduced. These colorful banners can be used as street banners or event banners, sponsorship banners or sale banners.  Colors are fade resistant, these vinyl banners are rip resistant banners.

Banner mounted against a building:

Style A, Hem side edges with grommets top and bottom as needed, (number of grommets depends on banner size). Gold grommets are used.Most common finishing, useful for a variety of applications. Best for mounting against a wall or fence.

Banner mounted between two poles:

Style B, Hem edges with grommets top and bottom as needed, with rope seamed into the top and bottom hems, rope ends extend out from the banner edge making ties, length can be specified. This adds versatility and strength to the basic grommet style, allowing the banner to be tied between poles or other secure fixtures.

Banner tied between secure fixtures:

Style C, Hem edges with rope seamed into the top and bottom hems. Rope extends from banner making ties, length can be specified. For banners tied between secure fixtures, this is a strong construction, it spreads wind forces over the length of the banner.

Banners for high wind situations:

Style D, Hem sides with webbing seamed into top and bottom, webbing extends as needed for ties. This is an even stronger construction for banners that may be subjected to higher wind.

Large banners:

Style E, Hems sides, webbing top and bottom with grommets spaced as needed (depends on banner size). Adding grommets offers more tie down points, this is especially helpful to support larger banners to eliminate sagging, if the supporting structure will allow for it

Banners on hardware:

Styles F, To support banners on hardware, sleeves can be sewn into the top and bottom, The sleeve can be sized to fit the hardware, The circumference (dia. X 3.14) of the supporting pole, divided by 2 plus an inch will calculate a good sleeve size.

Banners extended above or below the sleeve:

Style G, Grommets can be added to the top and bottom in an extra extension above and below the sleeves for more versatility in display options.

Two banners sewn back to back:

Style H, Street, or light pole banners are usually finished with sleeves top and bottom with a grommet just below the top sleeve and just above the bottom sleeve. In this case  two banners are sewn back to back for extra heavy duty.

Reliable banner:

Style I, For a very strong construction which will be attached using ties you supply, seamed in webbing with “D” rings offers a very reliable solution. For large banners, needing more tie points, grommets can be added to the top and bottom, or even sides.

Other sign companies outsource their work.  In fact, we most likely produce their banners too.  When you choose Graphic-Impact, you know you are getting top quality for the price – there is no middle-man.

Our understanding of your sign requirements enables us to ‘right-size’ your project. A one-day indoor event banner does not need to have the durability that a year-round outdoor banner does.

We make it a point to understand your banner requirements.  Whether your banner is an indoor banner or outdoor banner, the materials and banner printing methods may be different.  Banner finishing such as grommets or banner stands may also require different banner printing methods.  We have one of the most complete printing facilities around and can create customized banners of most sizes or materials.

Custom banners can be any size.  We can use your design or we can create a design.  Color can be pms matched (pantone matching system).

Working with the manufacturer means that your banner material is unique to your situation.  Your banner can be produced quickly and efficiently.  If you are in the Tucson area, stop in to our showroom to see our equipment.  Our banners are produced in the U.S.A. using local talent.

Plus, what if there as a way that you could create something visual that with a simple smartphone, would get your potential customers directly into your online store?

The time has come for QR or quick response codes. What are QR codes?  You’ve probably seen them somewhere already.  Google introduced them recently into the Google local directory.  They look like a square with black and white designs.  Information is embedded into the square that when scanned with a cell phone, will direct to a url, text message or phone number!

QR (quick response) codes are cool for several reasons, not the least of which is that there are still a lot of people who aren’t quite sure what they are.  You can get a QR reader for your smart phone, and create an entire campaign that is based on the QR!  The QR connect through the phone’s browser and redirects to  a landing page,  URL, phone number or text message.

Here’s 5 Tips on why QR codes can boost your next campaign:

QR is easier than typing a URL into a browser

With QR codes all you have to do is point your phone and click – the message is right there!  No need to go to a computer and type in a url.  It’s fast and super easy!

Tracking information – robust capabilities

QR codes track key, usable information. It’s easy to determine who is responding, what they are responding to, and where they are.

The “COOL” factor: positions you as ahead of the curve

OK, so it’s neat.  There are many people who are not quite sure what the QR code is or how to read it.  There are also a lot of people who want to show them.  It’s cool.  You are in the “in” group because you understand the message.

Pack a lot of info into a small area

Even though you wanted to say sooo much, and just didn’t have the room?  Now you can be interactive and share more info than before.
It’s all about conversions – You have them at “hello”

Just point your phone at the QR and you have the info in the palm of your hand.  What could be sweeter?  Especially if you are focused in your request, you have a higher likelihood of conversions.

Banners can be printed on vinyl or mesh, opaque or translucent material. Dependent upon where the banner will be placed, there may be a need to consider weather resistant and fade resistant materials as well as inks.

How the banner will be displayed is also a consideration.  Grommets or sleeves can also be added during the construction process to facilitate the hanging of the banner. For example, Large banners subject to windy conditions may require a mesh material; it allows the wind to pass through.

Features that a banner material should have vary according to the purpose of the banner, the banner’s hanging place (outdoor or indoor banner) and its size.

The following is a list of 5 important considerations for selecting a banner material:

1.Indoor or Outdoor

If your banner will be and outdoor banner, it will be subject to sunlight, wind, rain, and temperature.  Banner material should be determined by taking all of these factors into consideration.  Obviously a banner that is placed in a sunny, hot environment will be subject to different factors than a banner that is in a cold, shady location.  Many outdoor banners are made of vinyl, and some are made of fabric.  Wind load plays a factor if a banner will be subject to heavy wind.

2. Duration of use for the Banner

A temporary banner can be constructed from different material than one that has to stand the test of time.  More durable materials, such as canvas will hold up better than lighter fabrics.  Also, if the banner is used in a location that is subject to being moved or disturbed, the fabrication must be flexible and not rigid.

3. Material thickness and Size

The overall size of a banner will also come into consideration when determining the appropriate material.  Banners that are very large tend to be very heavy.  The thickness of the banner also tends to add weight.  Before selection of the banner material is made, the banner designer should evaluate where the banner is to be hung. Appropriate material thickness for the size and environment of the banner will yield longer lasting results.Heavier fabric is less likely to tear because of the wind.

4. Opacity

Ever notice that fabric can sometime be seen through.  Especially when hung in a brightly lit environment, a banner that is visible on both sides should be evaluated for the opacity of the fabric.   Opacity of the banner material will either allow the opposite side of the graphics to be visible on the other side, or it won’t.  Some banners take advantage of the opacity to create a virtual 3D look.

5. Color and Hue

Not all banner materials are available in all colors.  Many of the popular vinyl colors are carried in stock.  When the end use is critical for a specific pantone color banner, be sure that the company you are dealing with understands that criteria.

Summary

In addition to these 5 factors, there are characteristics of banner material which should also be considered when evaluating banner material. The material has to be:

• stretch-free for long-term mechanical stability;
• resist scratches, punctures, wrinkles and folds;
• weather resistant and if possible to have reinforced heat seamed edges and grommets available.

Advertising by banners is an economic way to enhance brand awareness.  Because the banner is a representation of your business, you will want to be sure the selection of appropriate banner material is correct for your situation.