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Blog Posts Written By

Barry K. Brown

Barry Brown has been in the Sign, Banner, Decal and Display Business for over 30 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!

How Does Dye Sublimation Cloth Banner Printing Work?

Digital press

The process, inks, and fabrics used in dye sublimation printing.

Question: How does sublimation printing work?

“Traditional” dye sublimation printing of cloth/fabric uses a print process that employs heat to transfer ink – or dye – onto synthetic fabrics or other materials.

Sublimation simply means that the dyes convert from a solid state to a gaseous state, although never becoming liquid. The process was developed to be able to transfer photographs and highly intricate designs onto fabric or cloth.

In our business, we print banners and fabric using dye sublimation mainly for banners or displays.

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How to Use Dye Sublimation Printing and Find a Good Printer

Wide Format Dye Sublimation Printers

Printing from dye sublimated dyes to regular inks, and finding a good dye sublimation printer.

Question:  Can a printer be used for Dye Sublimation after already having been used with regular inks?

No. The two types of printers are mutually exclusive to the types of material that are being printed.

First, traditional dye sublimation printing of cloths and fabrics is done with a CMYO ink set, which is different from CMYK. The CMYO (“O” stands for the clear overprint) printing is printed to a transfer paper, and then applied to the fabric using heat and pressure.

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Trade Show Booth Styles, Dye Sublimated Fabric Banners Explained

trade show booth

Trade show booth designs. Differences between flags & banners. Are banners fire resistant ? And, durability of dye sublimated fabric banners.

Question: What are the basic styles of fabric construction for trade show exhibit booths?

That is a very broad question. Kind of like how do you build a house? But let’s give it a whirl.

Most fabrics that are used for trade show displays are a polyester knit fabric with a small amount of a stretchy material called lycra in it to promote stretchiness.

Why would you want stretchy polyester fabric for your trade show display?

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Wind Load Ratings for Flags and Street Pole Banners

Pole Banner Prints

In this article, you will learn how to choose the flag banner sizes for different types of poles, how to install banners and flags on lamp poles, as well as the wind load ratings for light pole banners.

Question: How do you choose the right size flag for different pole heights?

If you are speaking of national or state flags, there is a specific formula for each flag pole.

Wind Speed

First, wind speed is the the first consideration. Regionally, the West Coast of the US is considered the lowest wind area,

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Choosing the Right Fabric for Your Dye Sublimated Cloth Banner

Custom Cloth Banner Printing

There are various kinds of cloth or fabric substrates that are suitable for dye sublimation banner printing. In choosing the right one according to your needs, there are certain factors to consider.

Question:  There are a lot of fabric choices when selecting a banner fabric. What factors should I consider?

This is a very good question, and one which we have some very valuable experience in. First off, let me congratulate you for your intelligent choice in selecting fabric banners. For the price, which is about what vinyl banners cost per square foot in the 90’s,

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What You Need to Know When Designing an Outdoor Sign

Outdoor display signage

Certainly, there are factors to consider when it comes to purchasing an outdoor signage.

Question:  Are there any special considerations when designing an Outdoor Display?

Absolutely yes. This is a pretty broad question in the way it’s stated, but let me give you some pointers on a couple different displays that would be used out-of-doors.

Signs, large signs, main I.D. signs for businesses, billboards would be one broad category. So what considerations would we give when giving you advice on these types of signs?

Durability of the Material

First, durability is a concern,

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Why Fabric Banners Look Better on Banner Stands than Vinyl

Pull Up Banners

Using fabric instead of vinyl on banner stands. And, how to remove wrinkles from cloth banners.

Question: Why are fabric graphics, rather than vinyl graphics, used for most premium banner stands?

Generally speaking, fabric is lighter and lays better than vinyl, or PVC banners. Hence, it rolls better inside a pop up banner stand or roll up banner stand and it doesn’t tend to get permanent wrinkles like vinyl will.

Fabric is the Best Option

There are other materials available for roll up banners as well that are decent quality such as polyethylene and plasticized papers,

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Banner Making Materials, Plus Dye Sublimation Vs. Screen Printing

Banner printing

You’ll see what materials are used to make printed banner displays, as well as the printing method used to press the graphics on. Plus, screen printing polyvinyl and fabric items versus dye Sublimation printing cloth fabric banners.

Question: What types of materials are banners made of?

This is a good question and is quite simple on the surface, although there are many variations within each category.

The two main categories of banner materials: vinyl (PVC) and fabric or cloth banners. That’s the easy answer.

However, it is helpful to know the variations within each category,

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How To Install A Sign

Install a signage

In this blog posting, I will cover the things that you need to do in order to install signs the right way.

Question:  What do I have to do to put up a Sign?

That is a loaded question, kind of like “what do I need to build a house.” The answer is fairly complex, but let me see if I can at least hit the high points.

Check the Local City Regulations

The first thing you need to do is to check with your local city or county planning department to learn what the regulations for the address where you want the sign placed.

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Making Banners as Banner Walls – Making The Graphics Last

Graphic Displays for Trade shows

Connecting banners to form a backwall display, and making banner graphics that can last for a long time.

Question: Can I make a “wall” out of the banners? Will the pictures connect?

Sort of. And sort of. There are several styles of banner stands that can help you create a sort of wall with your banners. Some of you might be wondering why you would even want a “banner wall,” but in reality, it can be a very professional looking backdrop to your stage or tradeshow booth.

Banner Stands

There are several styles of banner stands that will accomplish your wall o’banners.

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