Critical Considerations When Purchasing Mesh Banners

When purchasing Mesh Banners, the 3 biggest variables (in addition to cost) that must be weighed are:

The balance of this article will address these 3 factors.

Indoor Versus Outdoor Usage of Your Mesh Banner - Especially the Tightness of the Weave

For indoor usage, especially if the banners will be viewed from a distance greater than 10 ft, we almost always recommend 70/30 mesh. They are light-weight and strong, hold vibrant colors and their reflective qualities are between traditional gloss and matte. They are an excellent choice.

While mesh banners are an excellent choice for indoor banners, they really come into their own when used outdoors. Mesh banner are ideal when wind conditions are a consideration. To the wind, the only difference between a between a large format banner and a sail is the digital printing found on the banner. The holes in the mesh allow air to flow through the banner, thus negating a substantial amount of the "sail effect".

70/30 Weave

The most common weave of vinyl mesh we use is 70/30.

This proportion means that the the surface of the banner consists of 70% material, and the holes constitute 30% of the surface.

These banners allow approximately 30% of the air to pass through, thus reducing the "sail effect' by approximately 30%.

30/70 Weave

The second most common weave we use is 30/70.

This proportion means that the the surface of the banner consists of 30% material, and the holes constitute 70% of the surface.

These banners allow approximately 70% of the air to pass through, thus reducing the "sail effect' by approximately 70%.

Consult with your local structural engineers or your local building codes department if you have questions concerning which weave of mesh to use for your application.

Size and Print Clarity of Your Mesh Banner

Distance and size matter when it comes to printing mesh banners. As a general rule, the closer the viewer will be to the banner, the higher the print resolution should be.

Mesh banners that are regularly viewed at short distances, such as gate entrances or walkway fencing, should be printed with at least 150 dpi resolution at full size ~ 300 dpi is even better. Printing at this resolution will provide crisp clean images that are very pleasing to the eye.

Large mesh banners such as those used for building wraps, construction site banners, or even large Stage Banners that may be viewed at 1/4 mile or more can be printed at 72 dpi. The human eye cannot discern the difference in 300 dpi and 72 dpi resolution at that distance.

If you are interested in the mathematics associated with text size and resolution in the design of your large format banner a presentation by the Federal Aviation Administration gives more details.

For more information regarding designing your banners for print clarity, please contact us by e-mail at info@northcoastbanners.com or call us at 800-231-4213. We will be happy to answer your questions.

Choosing the Best Finishing Solution for Mesh Banner

“You have to look at all the factors when deciding how you are going to finish your mesh banners”, says David Abramson, President and CEO of Northcoast Banners, in Ann Arbor Michigan. “If the banner is only moderately heavy and will be used indoors, then there is no need to reinforce the hems and seams. We would recommend reinforcing the hems and seams of an indoor banner only if it was a LARGE indoor mesh banner or if it will be exposed to extraordinary stresses. On the other hand, if the mesh banner is going to be used outdoors, where it will be exposed to the wind and to the elements, you absolutely-positively want to reinforce both hems and seams ~ if applicable.”

Finishing Large Format Banners - Theory in Action

Abramson recalls working on a 28' x 128' facade for a building in New York City. The banner needed to be mounted to the side of the facility in such a way that the wind could flow behind it and escape rather than stress and possibly stretch and tear the material.

“We used a 70/30 mesh for this banner, with nylon reinforced hems and seams and used bungee connections so there would be flexibility in the banner. The banner looked like a balloon starting to blow out and then, the air would flow through the holes in the mesh and it will just snap back in place.”

By taking that approach we lessened the torsional stress on the seams of the banner. Combining proper air flow with flexible connection can definitely increase the lifespan of the banner.

Abramson knows from experience that the proper finishing, coupled with proper installation will allow the banner to hold up better to wear and tear. “Even if you have a banner that's stitched and sewn, if you expose it to a high wind load and it doesn't have the ability to flex, it's going to tear,” Abramson says. So it's critical to understand where the customer is going to display the banner and to ensure it is mounted properly. Improper installation of a banner will undue the effects of excellent finishing every time.

Consult with your local structural engineers or your local building codes department if you have questions concerning which weave of mesh to use for your application.

Finishing Large Format Banners - Overlap Versus Butt Seams

There are two common types of seams used in finishing banners: overlapping seams and butt seams. What are the differences you ask? Overlapping has the advantage of being the quick and easy way to get the job done, but the disadvantage is that this method can leave unsightly strips in your beautiful work of art.

“Overlapping literally means you are taking two pieces of material and overlapping them by 3/4" to 1". One piece of material literally goes on top of the other,” explains Abramson. Butt seaming, on the other hand, is where the materials butt up against each other. This technique makes the seam almost invisible to the naked eye. Many believe butt seaming is the only way to go if you have realistic images of people or other critical imagery on your vinyl banner. The key is not to print the banner in a way that seams will come down the middle of text or critical imaging areas.

Perhaps surprisingly though, Abramson suggests the overlapping method much of the time: “There is a cost versus benefits analysis that must be made when choosing the method of seaming. Nobody makes a seamless material that's 30 feet wide and no machine can handle a 30-foot graphic. So you have to seam it. If it's done right, the human eye will ignore part if it, similar to the way it will overlook seams in a vehicle wrap. It's noticeable but not unsightly. A butt seam may be less noticeable, but ultimately, will cost more and will not hold up to outdoor weather conditions as well. It's a trade off. The key is distinguishing and understanding how and where the customer is going to display the banner. There is not one 'right' solution. There is only the best solution when considering all the factors involved in the application.”

By combining our ability to print 16ft wide seamless banners with our material welding and finishing technology, we can create your large format banners and stage backdrops to your size specifications.

For more information regarding finishing your Mesh Banners, please contact us by e-mail at info@northcoastbanners.com or call us at 800-231-4213. We will be happy to answer your questions.