When you're looking at setting up banners on a mobile stage or any indoor and outdoor event, there are several key factors that will ensure your stage banner or backdrop has the best effect on stage. These include the design, size, and materials. But for outdoor stages, such as Stageline SL 250, SL 320, Apex stages, or other mobile stages, there are only two options that we recommend you use for your stages.
Blowthrough mesh banners for your stage banners and backdrops is a must. The mesh is an open weave of mesh and the space between each strand, so if you were to look at one square inch of blowthrough 70/30 vinyl blowthrough mesh, you’ll find that it is 70 percent material, and 30 percent holes. This blend allows wind - and sound - to flow right through the material.
With so much wind passing through your mesh, the load on the stage is reduced greatly and your event will be much safer for attendees. Stage collapse is a very real concern and using banners that are solid vinyl pose a greater risk to your event.
70/30 vinyl blowthrough mesh banners is a perfect balance of just enough material to allow your graphic art to clearly visible, and still allow for air to flow through. For 90% of our outdoor events, our customers choose 70/30 mesh. Here is a recent event below with 70/30 vinyl mesh blowthrough.
In high wind situations, such as beach events or in windy cities, you'll need to go even lower down to 30/70 blowthrough mesh banners. This material is 30% material and 70% holes, allowing far greater windflow.
However, your graphic art is also considerably less visible: in every square foot, only 30% of the area is your art design, the rest of the area is nothing but space. Stil, the eye justifies the difference from a distance so if you are in a high wind area, you'll be fine. Here are some photos below of 30/70 blowthrough mesh banners.
Planning your event with an outdoor mobile stage is a large scale project that entails much forethought and planning. From the stage rental, the lighting, and of course the talent that will be playing on your mobile stage, you'll need to spend time with your planning committee to nail down the specifics ahead of the event.
One key factor that is often left to an afterthought with little lead time before your event is banners for your Stageline mobile stage. But your sponsors will want that recognition on the stage, and your event photos that fans will post on Facebook and Instagram must have your branding in the banner design. Therefore, it's key to start thinking about stage banners for your mobile stage rental well in advance.
The banner sizes depend on the model of the mobile stage or Stageline rental, and the sizes also vary depending on the configuration of your mobile stage. Here are the banner sizes for some of the popular Stageline, Apex and other stages (sizes are height x width):
Stage Backdrop: 12' 8" x 23' 6"
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 16' x 6'
Stage Header (Top Banner):
Option 1 - 3' 10" x 24'
Option 2 - 3' 10" x 37'
Stage Backdrop: 14' x 30'
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 17' 9" x 12'
Stage Header (Top Banner):
Option 1 - 12' 6" x 30' 8"
Option 2 - 12' 6" x 32' 8"
Stage Backdrop: 17' 6" x 30' 10"
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 20' 6" x 13'
Stage Header (Top Banner):
Option 1 - 5' 1" x 46' 3"
Option 2 - 5' 1" x 35'
Stage Backdrop: 22' 4" x 38'
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 26' 4" x 15' 10"
Stage Header (Top Banner): 4' x 40'
20 Ft. Stage
Stage Backdrop: 16' 5" x 20'
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 16' x 4'
Stage Header (Top Banner): 3' x 20'
24 Ft. Stage
Stage Backdrop: 16' 5" x 24'
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 16' 2" x 4'
Stage Header (Top Banner): 3' x 24'
32' Ft. Stage
Stage Backdrop: 16' 5" x 32'
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 19' 9" x 4'
Stage Header (Top Banner): 3' x 32'
*Note: Although the official Apex 3224 banner spec book lists 4' high for the header, according to our official Apex sales representative, a 3' high top header banner is ideal.
The sizes for stage banners for custom built stages obviously vary greatly. Ask your rental stage company for the exact sizes, or you can put us at NorthCoast Banners in touch with your stage company and we'll be happy to work with them to determine the sizes.
We always recommend to our clients to double check the sizes and specifications for their mobile stage banners with your stage rental and lighting company. Their crew will be the ones rigging up the banners and they may have specific needs and sizes. For example, one of our NorthCoast Banners' clients takes 2" off all Stageline official banner sizes, so that the stage banners hang tight without sagging like a sail. Many other clients stick with the official sizes.
Always check with your mobile stage rental company before finalizing your stage banner purchase.
Do you need more information on how to buy the correct banners? Contact us today and we'll be more than happy to help. Our experienced sales team has over 30 years of experience working with banners for many mobile stages across the US.
Plastic roll banners are one of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to increase your brand awareness at an event and splash your logo all over the photos that will be shared on Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram. You know you want your logo in the background of the next viral Instagram photo. So much do they cost?
They're actually quite affordable. There are just two big factors that will affect cost.
Since the cost for plastic roll banners vary from order to order depending on your colors and length you’ll need, there’s no one size fits all answer - drop us a message here and we'll provide you with a quote or rate sheets on the same day, Monday - Friday.
However, you can expect to pay anywhere from $0.30 cents per linear ft to as low as $0.15 cents per linear ft, depending on the order size.
You've got a big dream. You and your team of volunteers are going to put on a major event or festival, and to do so you'll need sponsors for the event. Here are the five steps to finding - and retaining - sponsors to make your dream a reality.
These decisions will define your final budget.
The more specific you get with your focus on a specific age, community or culture, the more likely your sponsors will want to jump on board with you so that they can maximize their sponsorship dollars.
For example, if your music festival has a bar area, look for an alcoholic beverage company to provide the bar, inventory and staffing and you've got yourself a fully paid for major attraction at your event or festival. Or, a fitness gym in your area might be the perfect partner to provide apparel at your marathon.
At the event, show a 90 second highlight reel of the festival featuring the sponsors stage and event banners with their logos plastered all over the event. Look for other ways to remind them throughout the year how sponsorship impacts the event-goers and the city.
Special thanks to Daniel Melo of DRM Solutions for his contribution to this article.
Designing banners, whether they are plastic roll banners or vinyl banners, is a creative challenge.
The first and most important thing to remember is the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Silly) principle. Since the goal of your banner is to grab the viewer's attention and then communicate your message, the banner must be visually attractive and easily readable.
Finally, remember the K.I.S.S. principal and give your audience only the details they need.
The more you try to squeeze into your design, the more it detracts from the banners' effectiveness. Keep it simple... silly!
There's one thing we love at NorthCoast Banners: providing you with the ideal size to fit your company's needs. It's not easy finding the right size, and this can be a daunting aspect for any promoter in Radio, TV, Racing other plastic roll banner involved event. But buying roll banners should NOT be difficult for you!
Plastic roll banners start at 18"x18", and can go all the way up to 48"x54". We CAN perforate any size!
Based on years of experience, we created a list of the 5 most popular sizes for banners on a roll. Enjoy! Questions about either sizes? Just ask us and we'll be happy to help!
We accept files from both Mac and Windows platforms and most graphics software. Files can be saved in the following formats:
Note: We prefer applications files and .pdfs - as close to 300 dpi at full size as possible
** PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MAX REPEAT FOR 4 COLOR PROCESS FLEXO PRINTED ROLL BANNERS IS 36" **
** PLEASE CALL NORTHCOAST BANNERS AT 800-231-4213 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT 4 COLOR PROCESS ART LAYOUT **
OR
If you have questions on any of the above call 1-800-231-4213 and we'll gladly guide you through the process.
Flexography, often abbreviated to flexo, is a method of printing most commonly used for printing plastic roll banners and bags. This is the technology we use for printing plastic roll banners and plastic bags.
A flexo print is achieved by creating a mirrored master of the required image as a 3D relief in a rubber or polymer material. We refer to these reliefs as "plates". A measured amount of ink is deposited upon the surface of the printing plate using an anilox roll. The print surface then rotates, contacting the poly which transfers the ink.
Originally, flexo printing was very low quality. In the last few decades great advances have been made, including improvements to the plate material and the method of plate creation - usually photographic exposure followed by chemical etch, though also by direct laser engraving. Laser-etched anilox rolls also play a part in the improvement of print quality.
Full color picture printing now occurs, and some of the finer presses available today in combination with a skilled operator allow quality that rivals the lithographic process.
Flexo has an advantage over lithography in that it can use a wider range of inks and is good at printing on a variety of different materials. Flexo inks, unlike those used in lithography generally have low viscosity. This enables faster drying and as a result, faster production, which means low cost.
Our printing presses average speeds of 450 linear feet per minute.
Print cylinder sizes and repeat data available at time of quotation.
Pull off as many as you need and tear them... no muss... no fuss. It's that simple!
Your fans will love you. Your street team will love you. Concert security will love you. Give perforated plastic roll banners a try... You'll never go back.
Contact us today at 800-231-4213 and we will send you pricing and samples.
Low Density Polyethylene is the most widely used plastic in the world for making plastic roll banners. It is the polymer you see most in daily life. Low density Polyethylene is the material used in most poly bags. This is also the material we use when we we print Plastic Roll Banners. It provides a great strength, flexibility and water blocking properties.
Material Safety Data Sheet for LDPE (PDF, 116k)
By using Biodegradable poly for your plastic roll banners, you are helping to reduce plastic waste.
The material degrades over a period of 1-10 years in landfills instead of 100 years (depending on the specific type of plastic as well as the environment that it is in). Our plastic bio-degradable additive is:
Bio-degradable plastic products have indefinite shelf life and their remnants are Biogas, CO2, and Bio-mass.
Plastic roll banners and plastic bags are printed using flexography and this is a totally different animal than offset lithography.
In offset lithography, the process with which most graphic designers are familiar, the ink is on the same level as the areas of the plate that do not hold ink.
In contrast, flexography (or flexo) - so named for its flexible printing plates - is a letterpress printing process similar to the old-style block printing. To be more accurate, it's like printing with a big rubber stamp. The ink is applied to the raised surfaces of a rubber printing plate and pressed onto the poly surface to transfer the image.
Flexo printing tends to spread more because the surface of the rubber plate is slightly compressed as it applies ink to the poly.
Precision of a flexo presses are usually not as fine as an offset press, and multi-color registration tends to shift much more. Shift can be as much as 1/8".
If you (or your clients) are interested in dramatically stretching your promotions budgets, plastic roll banners may be the breakthrough you are looking for. Under the right circumstances, plastic roll banner are far and away the most economical means of delivering your company's (or clients') message to large numbers of people at events. They allow you to splash your marketing message all over your concerts, sporting, radio station and/or motor sports events, political rallies, etc. at a fraction of the cost of traditional vinyl and screen printed banners.
How cost effective are they? In many cases plastic roll banners are 1/10th the cost of traditional vinyl and screen printed banners – or less. It is common for us to deliver plastic roll banners for less than $.15 (that's right, 15 cents) per square foot.
Are plastic roll banners the perfect banner solution in ALL situations? No. Because they are printed using Flexographic Technology, there are technical and start up considerations that must be factored in to the cost equation. Every printer must deal with these considerations. There is no way around them.
What are the technical and start up considerations that must be factored in to pricing your plastic roll banners? We call them “The Big Three”. They are:
There are other considerations that can add to the costs of printing plastic roll banners, including rush order charges, non-standard roll lengths, special inks, special slitting and trimming fees, etc, but 90+% of the time, “The Big Three” considerations determine the costs of printing your plastic roll banners.
For more information on this topic please contact us at 800-231-4213 or [email protected]
You can also check us out at https://www.northcoastbanners.com/plastic-roll-banners
When designing your plastic roll banner or plastic bag art, it is wise to consider trapping as you construct the relationships between / among the colors.
"Trap" is the overlap of two colors when printed side-by-side, also known as a "butt fit."
Colors on your roll banners need to be trapped to each other so that a white space does not appear between them as the colors shift during the press run. Because of the looser tolerances of flexo presses, these overlaps need to be at least 1/8" (9pt).
When printing a dark color and a light color side by side on your plastic banner, always spread the light color into the darker one. This won't result in a visible increase in the size of either color area, because the overlap is usually not seen if the darker color is dark enough.
When printing two light colors side by side, the trap will be seen as a blended "third color" as one color overprints the other. A possible solution to conceal the overlap is to print a black or dark colored outline where the two colors meet. This outline must be at least 1/8" (9pt) wide.
Because of the trap width needed in flexo and its potential (and unintended) visibility, it is recommended that such traps be avoided unless they can work as part of the design of your plastic roll banner.
As we all know, crowds can get a bit out of hand sometimes. Because of this, it's good to create crowd control fences to set up safe boundries for people. After all, everyone benefits from safe boundaries. Luckily, plastic roll banners can be used for crowd control while spreading your branding message.
Plastic roll banners affixed to barriers can direct crowds, regulate lines, or even barricade off specific areas while at the same time communicating your marketing message. Attach them to fences, blockades, or trees. Roll banners will beautify your space, control your crowds and utilize free advertising space!
Remember! If you are using your roll banners for crowd control, do not perforate them. Perforated plastic roll banners are designed to tear easily - and you don't want your crowd control banners tearing easily. For more information about plastic roll banners and their uses, please give us a call at 800-231-4213.
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Roll Banners offer a spectacularly economical way to communicate your marketing message at concerts, sporting events, radio station events, motor sports events, political rallies, and anywhere else groups of people gather.
In the words of Torino Joe, Promotions Director for TMA Racing, "I simply couldn't do my job without my roll banners. They are indispensable because they are SO dispensable. With roll banners, especially perforated roll banners, I can show up at events and completely COVER the place with our logo and our image. It's RIDICULOUSLY easy."
While it is true that roll banners add tremendous ease to promotional professionals' and event sponsors' lives, there are some factors that need to be considered when buying roll banners. In the words of Richard Lapper, President of Lapper Branding, "There are roll banners and then there are ROLL BANNERS!" In other words, there are Plastic Roll Banners and Vinyl Roll Banners. It's important to choose the correct type of roll banner to meet your needs.
When it comes to the quantity of roll banners you need, the size of the run matters. For most printers of roll banners, the smallest run length that makes economical sense is 2,000 linear feet.
Set up time is a huge consideration for roll banner printers. The average set-up time to mount printing plates, mix PMS matched inks, unmount printing plates and clean up press, hoses and ink stations is 30 minutes per spot color. Because the average flexographic press runs at 400' - 500' per minute, the average minimum run length for roll banners must be at least 2,000 linear feet (6-8 minutes of press time) to justify the set up time. A run length of 3,000 feet translates into at least 1,000 roll banners, assuming the repeat is 36".
If 1,000 roll banners are more than you need, you have two options for printing a smaller quantity.
Digital printing uses no plates and has no limits on colors. For one low price, you can get as little as one 250’ roll. Although the cost per roll is higher than flexographically printed roll banners, the low minimum order offers more flexibility, and you won’t buy more banners than you need.
Another option to consider is vinyl roll banners. Whereas plastic roll banners are flexographically printed on low density poly, vinyl roll banners are digitally printed on 10 ounce vinyl. Best of all, the minimum print run of vinyl roll banners is 50'.
For more information on roll banners, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or call us at 800-231-4213. We will be happy to answer your questions.
The graphic below illustrates the basic principles of the "web and repeat" of a roll banner. Simply stated, in this case, the "web" translates roughly into the "height" of the roll banner. The "repeat" translates roughly into the "length" of the banner. Therefore, a 24" x 36" roll banner has a web of 24 inches and a repeat of 36 inches.
We print plastic roll banners with webs of 18", 24", 30" 36" and 48". We offer many repeat lengths, ranging from 18" all the way to and including 54". Our most popular sizes for plastic roll banners include: 18" x 36", 24" x 36", 30" x 36", 36" x 36" and 36" x 54". These are just some of our most common sizes.
Our widest web is 48" and our longest repeat is 54". As you can imagine, rolls of 48" x 54" banners command attention!
If you don't see the size of the roll banner you need, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected].com or call us at 800-231-4213. We are confident we can meet your size demand.
Many plastic roll banner printers have flexographic presses with the capacity to print 4 spot colors. Our printers can print up to 6 spot colors. In addition, we can print 4 color process (4cp) plastic roll banners. While it is true that we can print 4 color process roll banners, the size and scope of projects is quite different. We like to say that "printing spot color roll banners is to printing 4 color process plastic roll banners as Piper Cub airplanes are to F16 fighters." It is true that they have similarities. However, they are not to be confused.
For years, our minimum print run for 4 Color Process banners was 25,000 linear feet. However, due to recent technology break-throughs OUR NEW MINIMUM RUN IS 2,000 linear feet, and just 2,000 feet for spot colors! Our digitally printed plastic roll banners can offer even better image quality than 4 color process banners, without needing plates, and with a minimum of just 250 feet.
Printing 4 color process Vinyl Roll Banners is routine. Our digital printers produce full color (4cp) roll banners at resolutions up to 600 dpi. Our vinyl roll banners come with webs of up to 60" tall with repeats as long as you need. They are printed with indoor/outdoor (UV Solvent) inks, on reusable 10 ounce scrim vinyl.
If you want to know more about spot color and 4 color process roll banners, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or call us at 800-231-4213. We will be happy to answer your questions.
Many plastic roll banner printers require 4 weeks to ship SPOT COLOR orders. At Northcoast Banners, we regularly ship SPOT COLOR plastic roll banners in 2 weeks or less. For FOUR COLOR PROCESS (4cp) roll banners, turn-around time averages 4-6 weeks. Our streamlined processes and dedicated roll banner presses all us to complete orders faster than any of our competitors.
Our average time for fulfilling a vinyl roll banner order is 3 work days. As you can see, it is smart to factor in turn-around time when you place your order.
If you need your roll banners in a hurry, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or call us at 800-231-4213. If we promise to meet your delivery time, we will.
When your roll banner design elements impinge on the gap outside the live area, in most cases, we will work with you to eliminate the design flaw. However, on occasion, your roll banners will absolutely require a design with no gap between instances of the banners, and no white edge at the top and bottom of the banner. These are cases we refer to as "full bleeds".
We print roll banners with full bleeds on a case-by-case basis. Please submit artwork for evaluation. Trimming the outer edges of the roll banners is simple. All we need is at least 1" of margin to ensure a safe and accurate trim. The challenge is in elegantly eliminating the plate gap.
Flexo presses do not allow continuous print. Because of the way plates mount on the cylinder, a gap occurs between the lead and trail edges as they butt together. This area is referred to as the "plate gap". The key to creating the seamless effect between roll banner instances is to integrate the plate gap into your graphic design. Compensate for the plate gap fill into the roll banner graphic design by using a solid color BUMP plate that is wider than the normal gap fill. The BUMP plate can butt up to the primary design elements eliminating the appearance of any plate gap fill. The key is in making the seam as close to invisible as possible.
If you design your roll banner art with colors other than white between the images, select a PMS color that blends well into the background. By using an additional printing deck, a spot color can be printed to fill the plate gap.
Our experience has shown us that black is the absolute safest color to use to fill the plate gap in your roll banner design. We have successfully created full bleed roll banners with bump plates other than black, HOWEVER, black is by the safest choice of colors for your bump plate.
We provide the best quality plastic roll banners at a competitive price with the best customer service in the industry. Our company continues to meet the ever-changing demands of the banner manufacturing industry through innovative product development and competitive pricing.
As a family-owned business (located in Ann Arbor, Michigan) we pride ourselves on quick turn-around times.
Request a price quote, call us at 1-800-231-4213, or send us an email at [email protected]
We have HUNDREDS of reseller clients and we know we can position you to win any deal that includes Plastic Roll Banners.
We request that you give us the opportunity to print your PLASTIC ROLL BANNERS. We welcome the opportunity to assist you.
Need answers to the most common questions about roll banners?
Curious about the most common concerns of your clients?
Read the 8 Things You Need to Know to Effectively Sell Roll Banners.
Contact us today and we'll send you pricing right away.
As every Radio and Television Station promotion manager knows, banners -- especially roll banners -- are an essential tool of the trade. When it comes to creating name recognition for your station, nothing beats the flexibility and cost effectiveness of roll banners.
Over the last couple of years, we polled our Radio and TV Station customer base regarding how they used them and we received hundreds of ideas for possible uses for roll banners. Their responses ranged from "home made bikini" contests to "fire escape slides". While we won't comment on the wisdom -- or effectiveness -- of using roll banners in these ways, we will share with you the ten most common uses.
Top 10 uses most frequent mentioned by our Radio and TV Station clients:
Roll banners, in addition to being spectacularly easy to use, are remarkably effective for lining stages. For just a few dollars it is easy to line your stages, and thereby promote your station's message to large crowds. Give it a try. Your audience will love it.
Whether torn off of a perforated roll, or handed out as "cut sheets" it's easy and cheap to give roll banners out as souvenirs.
Simply roll out your banners and affix them to the face of your table. Doing so will define your space, create brand awareness for your station and hide ugly boxes and other stored promotional products from view.
Define your space and promote your brand. All it takes is rolling out a few banners and affixing them to your tent. It's easy!
Our clients tell us the troops are delighted to receive roll banners from their favorite stations - especially if the banners are autographed by your station's on-air personalities!
Use multiple runs of Roll Banners and the tape them together; Voila - an instant backdrop!
Create privacy and steer the crowd away from "off limits" areas. Just roll out your banners and affix them to fences, trees and posts with adhesive grommets. It's easy!
Go for it! Be bold! Use your roll banners to command eyeballs. Eliminate any question of who is sponsoring your events!
Give your sponsors added value. Include your sponsors' logos or tag lines. It's easy. Roll banners are inexpensive and we can provide TREMENDOUS added value.
Pretty up those ugly trash barrels while spreading your message. Trash barrels make great sponsorship opportunities! Don't waste this prime advertising space!
This article assumes that the reader has had SOME experience in the printing and/or ad specialty industry. It is written with the intention of providing information, tips and hints to increase your chances of successfully engaging clients that are interested in purchasing roll banners.
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If the answer to this question is "yes", then the odds are that you will not sell the deal. The reason for this cold-hard fact is that your customer has already spent HUNDREDS of dollars on printing plates.
On average, 24" plates cost between $300 and $400 PER color. For 3 color banners, your customer will have already invested between $900 and $1,200 in printing plates. They are going to want you to eat that expense in order to gain their business.
Usually, eating the cost of the expense that your client has already incurred for printing plates does not make business sense. It may in rare cases. Usually it doesn't. You will save a lot of time and effort if you know, going into a deal, that the client has already purchased plates for the banners in question, and has no intention of buying them again.
We like to say that buying Plastic Roll Banners "is like getting a GREAT DEAL on 5 gallons of peanut butter. If you run an aircraft carrier, this is absolutely a great buy. If you just need peanut butter for your family, this is a bulk purchase that doesn't make business sense." The cost per banner may be only $1.50, but you need to buy 2,000 linear ft of them. Like buying bulk peanut butter, it doesn't make economical sense unless your clients' needs justify the size of the purchase.
Why did we arrive at 2,000 ft as our minimum run? We need to cost justify our "hands on" set up time. Our average set-up time to mount plates, put in PMS matched inks, un-mount plates and clean up press, hoses and ink stations is 30 minutes per spot color. Because the press runs at 450 - 500' per minute, the minimum print run is 2,000 linear ft or 6 - 8 minutes of press time.
It is common for us to have resellers request pricing for "1 or 2 rolls" of banners when they engage us about roll banners for their clients. In these cases, it is common for us to refer the reseller to vinyl roll banners. They are the perfect complement to plastic roll banners. Many times you can meet your clients' banner needs with vinyl roll banners for less money than the cost of printing plates needed to print plastic roll banners.
To compute the number of banners a print run will yield, just divide the length of the run by the individual banners "repeat" length.
Determining banner yield per 1,000 linear feet:
The answer to this question is a function of the banner "rewind" length. In flexographic printing, it is common practice to print "roll to roll" using 200 lb rolls of poly. We will print the entire run, or even several runs using the same roll of poly. After the roll of poly has been printed, we then "rewind" it into smaller rolls that are easy to carry. Our standard rewind is 500 linear feet. We standardized on 500' rolls because they provide the best trade of between weight and ease of use. Additional rewinds are available at a modest additional fee.
We rewind 48" banners on 250' rolls. In our opinion they are too heavy to wind onto 500' rolls.
To compute the number of banners found on each roll, just divide the length of the roll (in our case, 500') by the individual banners' "repeat" length.
Determining banner yield per 500' roll:
** PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MAX REPEAT FOR 4 COLOR PROCESS FLEXO PRINTED ROLL BANNERS IS 36" **
** PLEASE CALL NORTHCOAST BANNERS AT 800-231-4213 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT 4 COLOR PROCESS ART LAYOUT **
Every day we are given specs for plastic roll banners that specify four color process (4 cp) banners. Occasionally, the roll banners DO require 4cp. Usually they don't.
We print plastic roll banners using flexography. In this environment, unlike digital printing, it makes all the difference in the world whether your client actually requires 4cp.
With digital printing, the above two banners (meaning the spot color art on the left and the process color job on the right) are printed using the exact same process.
The art files are RIPPED and then sent to the printer, where the printer microprocessor interprets the dot pattern and ink lay down. Then the microprocessor signals, via the slider board, the nozzles to spray cyan, magenta, yellow and black in accordance with the correct color profile.
Flexography is different. It is a lot more "hands on" than digital printing. In flexography, the art is RIPPED, with the rip software specifying CMYK, based on the colors included in the art. Once the art is ripped, very expensive printing plates are made in accordance with the color separations specified by the software. After the plates are made, they must be must be mounted on cylinders and loaded into the press where all the colors must be registered properly. It is only after the colors are registered properly and the banners are "in color" that the press throughput can be increased to production speed.
Because of the significant "up front costs", 4cp plastic roll banners require a much longer minimum run than spot colors to cost justify the run. Whereas in years past, our minimum run for 4cp banners was 25,000 linear feet. Now, because of some technological breakthroughs, we can now print runs of 4cp plastic roll banners as short as 10,000 linear feet.
We like to say that printing with spot colors is akin to "coloring in a coloring book" with REALLY powerful crayons and 4cp printing is akin to creating photographs.
The following list gives some general guidelines to help you determine if your client REALLY needs 4cp banners.
We are able to print up to 6 spot colors, and it is common for us to be able to print banners using spot colors that at first blush appear to be 4cp. In cases where the client is specifying 4cp, feel free to send us your art and we will "break it down" for you to determine if it REALLY requires 4cp.
It takes us 2-3 weeks for us to turn around spot color print runs. 4CP banners require 4-6 weeks.
The increased complexity of making 4cp plates and the increased length of the minimum run, makes the startup investment for 4cp plastic roll banners substantially greater than the start up investment needed for spot color banners.
In addition to the increased investment needed for 4cp plastic roll banners, they also require more time to produce. Our average time to produce spot color banners is 2-3 weeks. 4cp roll banners require 4-6 weeks to produce.
For more information on roll banners, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or call us at 800-231-4213. We will be happy to answer your questions!
When roll banner design elements impinge on the gap outside the live area, we will work with the designer to eliminate the design flaw. However, on occasion, the roll banner specs will absolutely require a design that has no gap between instances of the banners, and no white edge at the top and bottom of the banner. These are cases we refer to as "full bleeds".
We print roll banners with full bleeds on a case-by-case basis. Please submit artwork for evaluation. Trimming the outer edges of the roll banners is simple. All we need is at least 1" of margin to ensure a safe and accurate trim. The challenge is in elegantly eliminating the plate gap.
Flexo presses do not allow continuous print. Because of the way plates mount on the cylinder, a gap occurs between the lead and trail edges as they butt together. This area is referred to as the "plate gap". The key to creating the seamless effect between roll banner instances is to integrate the plate gap into your graphic design. Compensate for the plate gap fill into the roll banner graphic design by using a solid color BUMP plate that is wider than the normal gap fill. The BUMP plate can butt up to the primary design elements eliminating the appearance of any plate gap fill. The key is in making the seam as close to invisible as possible.
If you design your roll banner art with colors other than white between the images, select a PMS color that blends well into the background. By using our 5th or 6th printing deck, a spot color can be printed to fill the plate gap.
Our experience has shown us that black is the absolute safest color to use to fill the plate gap in your roll banner design. We have successfully created full bleed roll banners with bump plates other than black, HOWEVER, black is by the safest choice of colors for your bump plate.
For bands and live performance artists, image is critical. When it comes to on-stage visuals, making a big impact should be top priority. At Northcoast Banners, we understand this truth. That's why we've developed a range of products tailored specifically to bands and live performance artists.
For more information abour our pricing strategy, call us today at 800-231-4213. You will be both surprised and delighted.
We create Stage Backdrops and Band Scrims from a large selection of substrates including:
All of our Stage Backdrops and Band Scrims express vibrant colors, are fire-retardant, and are finished to exacting standards. These are some of the reasons why our stage backdrops and band scrims are a regular sight at top venues across North America.
Purchasing a Stage Backdrop or Band Scrim is a big decision for many bands and live performance artists. Their stage backdrop is a critical component of their onstage image.
The most common factors that impact the cost of your stage backdrops include:
Stunning Photos of Band Backdrops
When considering purchasing your stage backdrop, remember this: SIZE MATTERS!
The last thing you want is to show up at your venue with a lame, obviously undersized backdrop that has people squinting to see your logo image.
The next to last thing you want to happen is to show up at a small club with a huge oversized backdrop that is better suited for a stadium.
Having stated these obvious truths, some general guidelines for the size of your backdrop are as follows:
By combining our ability to print 16ft wide seamless banners with our material welding technology, NorthCoast Banners can make your banners and stage backdrops ANY SIZE.
Solid vinyl has vibrant colors and display your graphics with tremendous fidelity. However, it is the heaviest option, averaging 13 ounces per square yard and it requires greater care to prevent wrinkling. We do not recommend solid vinyl for anything but very small banners, table banners and small merch banners and signs.
Another low-cost option, vinyl mesh is our most popular stage backdrop material. Vinyl mesh has audio transparency, meaning sound can pass through the material since it has a 70/30 weave. In addition, weighing approximately 9 ounces per square yard, it is relatively light weight. Vinyl mesh is easier to care for than vinyl.
After a decade of printing hundreds band backdrops and stage scrims for bands, we have determined that 70/30 vinyl mesh is the best material for most bands. 95 percent of our bands use vinyl mesh for their stage backdrops and band scrims. The material is low-gloss, it allows air and music to flow right through, and your logo and design colors look great.
At 5 oz per square yard, Dye Sublimated poly poplin has the highest print quality for printing on stage backdrops. This fabric is very durable and can be laundered without any concern of it losing its appeal.
However, Dye Sublimated Poly Poplin is more expensive than vinyl mesh - it's usually about double the price. Unless your budget has enough room for an expensive banner, we recommend the vinyl mesh.
If do you have enough budget, Poly poplin is a stunning material and it has a very elegant look and feel and it is highly portable. It can easily be rolled and shipped. It is highly wrinkle resistant, and it easily fits stands, frames and structures. Dye Sublimated Poly Poplin is very durable and is a pleasure to work with.
For more information regarding Stage Backdrops and Band Scrims, please call Chevi, our bands expert at 323-395-9180 (direct) or email [email protected]
As a festival organizer, it's up to you to make sure all the moving pieces come together smoothly. Stages must be built, vendors approved, staff hired, and on and on.
At NorthCoast Banners, our goal is to make the banner buying process as easy as possible so you can focus on everything else. Our banner experts already provide first class support on your order from first contact to final delivery, and we compiled a list of considerations that will help you get a head start on selecting sizes and materials for your next order of festival banners.
Stage banners and backdrops are available in a variety of substrates, including solid vinyl, vinyl mesh, and dye sublimated cloth. Our most popular mesh substrates are 70/30 (30% blow-through) vinyl mesh banners, followed by 30/70 (70% blow-through) vinyl mesh.
The best choice for your event depends on a few factors:
If you expect high winds, 30/70 vinyl mesh, with 30% substrate and 70% holes, is your best bet. The larger weave lets wind pass with ease, and you avoid the dreaded “sail effect”.
In the absence of high winds, 70/30 vinyl mesh, with 70% substrate and 30% holes, is a great option.
Solid vinyl is good for indoor use. It can also be used outside if mounted on a hard surface. The tight weave does not allow air to pass through. In windy conditions, solid vinyl banners act like sails and can become a safety hazard.
Poly poplin cloth is for indoor use only.
For outdoor banners, 70/30 vinyl mesh stands the test of time. The higher ratio of substrate to air positions it above 30/70 in terms of reliability. Of note: creases can form on 70/30 banners if they are left folded for a long time. Hang up in the sun and those creases will come right out.
For indoor banners, solid vinyl is the heaviest substrate available. Hang up solid vinyl an hour or two before the show to get out any creases that may have formed if it was folded for a long time.
Dye sub cloth holds up well indoors but it should not be exposed to high winds.
30/70 vinyl mesh (70% blow-through) is the optimal weave for sound fidelity. Banners can be mounted in front of line arrays with minimal impact on sound quality. Sound engineers prefer 30/70.
70/30 vinyl mesh (30% blow-through) has only a minor impact on sound if placed in front of speakers. This effect is generally not noticeable to the audience.
Most clients still choose 70/30 because the graphics look much sharper.
Check with your sound engineer to see if they require 30/70.
Solid vinyl and dye sub cloth should not be placed directly in front of speakers.
Dye sub cloth banners have excellent image quality and color reproduction from all viewing distances.
Solid vinyl banners look great, with sharp graphics on an opaque material. Vinyl banners are available in black backed vinyl, which is even better at blocking light.
Mesh 70/30 banners let some light through, but the graphic is still sharp.
Mesh 30/70 banners let more light through, so the image is lighter in weight.
Cost per square foot depends on banner material and size. In order of cost, lowest first:
You want your banners to look great, and so do we. That's why it's important to provide high-resolution, properly scaled art files.
Refer to our in-depth article on art requirements.
The total cost of your banner(s) depends on the quantity, size, finishing requirements (such as grommets, pole pockets, and reinforced hems), rush orders, and shipping speed.
Our banner experts can help you order the best banner for your needs. For faster service, tell us about your event and upload your artwork:
By combining our ability to print 16 ft. wide seamless vinyl mesh banners with our capacities for printing 10' wide die sublimated banners, NorthCoast Banners can make your stage backdrops and band scrims ANY SIZE, and any configuration.
We offer:
Factors to consider when buying stage backdrops and band scrims
Call Today! 1-800-231-4213
The most common factors that impact the cost of your stage backdrops include:
Stunning Photos of Band Backdrops
Planning a festival or concert is a lot of hard work and requires attention to MANY details. Whether you are planning for a summer music festival, an international film festival or home town event, festival and concert banners are essential. This site helps you in planning your upcoming festival and concert events and the banners that will make it a success!
Whether you place a large or small order, you can count on high quality service at a reasonable price. Festival and concert banners by Northcoast Banners offer a great way to brand your events and get sponsors on board by advertising for them and you.
The Alive Festival backdrop at the top of this page is a great example of large scale stage backdrops for outdoor festivals and concerts. It consists of a 25' x 40' Mesh Stage Backdrop, along with two 10' x 25' speaker tower mesh banners, topped off by a 9' x 65' peak banner. These stage back drops were created using 70/30 mesh.
The mesh allows for air to flow through the banner, lessening the sail effect. The two stage scrims on either side of the stage offer privacy to the stage hands and upcoming performers.
When your festival or concert is outdoors and you are using large stage backdrops, allowing sufficient wind to blow through the mesh banners without distorting the sound is critical.
For this reason Northcoast Banners prints the majority of its stage backdrops on vinyl mesh with weaves as tight as 70/30 and as loose as 30/70. The most common mesh we print on is 70/30.
Read more about the effect of wind on the cross section of your banners (PDF, 14k)
Whatever the theme of your Festival or Concert, Northcoast Banners will deliver great looking banners in a timely and cost effective manner.
When you order banners from Northcoast Banners we offer personal, professional service and fast delivery. You talk to talented, friendly people who get you through the order process with attention to all the important details.
Your questions will be answered and the most cost effective solution for your festival or concert will be offered.
Our turn-around times are typically less than 1 week.
We accept files from both Mac and Windows platforms and most graphics software. Files can be saved in the following formats:
If you have questions on any of the above call 1-800-231-4213 and we'll gladly guide you through the process.
We LOVE printing plastic roll banners, but many of our clients find digital rolls to be a good alternative to plastic rolls. They give us the following reasons.
For Digital Roll Banners:
Does your event or company need mesh banners? Tried flyers, business cards or hundreds of distributed papers with your logo and had no luck marketing your brand effectively? Have a new brand or a major sponsorship, headline show or featured speaker or singer and you need to market the brand? If any of these are true, then it is time to buy a mesh banners. And we can help you do it.
70/30 Vinyl Mesh
30/70 Vinyl Mesh
The short:
For both indoor and outdoor events, 70/30 vinyl mesh is almost always your best option. 70/30 vinyl mesh means the banner is 70 percent material, and 30 percent air or holes. Therefore, the banner weight is reasonably light: for instance, a 15'x20' 70/30 vinyl mesh weighs just 19.5 lbs. On the flip side, the 30 percent holes are mostly invisible, since your eye makes up the difference. From just 3 or 4 feet away, you'll only see one clear, solid image print on the mesh banner.
What about very large format banners for music festival stages? Your number one concern when printing a 45' HIGH x 15' WIDE stage scrim, for instance, is the blowthrough, or acoustic transparency. 70/30 vinyl mesh is often called blowthrough mesh because the 30 percent holes will allow for air - and sound - to pass through without creating a billowing sail effect. This is why we print on 70/30 vinyl mesh for 95 percent of festival stage scrims and backdrops.
However, in high wind conditions, we carry a 30/70 vinyl mesh: 70 percent of the material on these mesh banners is holes, allowing for a maximum blowthrough. The obvious concern with this material is the print area. If only 30 percent of the mesh banner will be actual material, your eye will not make up the difference as well as it can on the 70 percent material mesh. The image can appear washed out or less vivid. We do not recommend 30/70 vinyl mesh unless your event will take place in very high conditions.
We carry a broad variety of substrates, including solid vinyls (13 Oz. 9 Oz. and more), dye sublimated poly poplin, eco friendly vinyl, and many others.
The short:
There are many factors that come into play when you're ready to set up your mesh banners. What kind of stage are you dealing with? What types of rigging capabilities does this stage? Are you using the banners on poles, on a truss, or hanging them in a windy area?
The answers to these questions will determine if you need reinforced hems, grommets, pole pockets, wind slits and other types of finishings. For instance, we recommend 1" reinforced hems for most outdoor stage banners, since they will be hung from large rigging and will need to remain sturdy in the wind. Grommets are handy or hooking cables through the mesh banner or stage backdrop, and pole pockets are useful for poles running across the tops and bottoms of the banner.
On the flip side, you may not need reinforced hems at all if you're playing at only indoor shows. Let us know what kinds of events/uses you will have for your mesh banner, and we'll be happy to help.
The short:
Mesh banners are most similar to shoes: there's never one standard size. Where you hang your mesh banner, the stage size, the application of the banners; all these factors and more will affect the size of the mesh banner, and your budget.
The number one budget factor is the size the stage backdrop, stage scrim or whatever kind of banner. So when considering your budget, make sure you have nailed down the exact sizes you'll need. A banner too large will unnecessarily inflate your budget, while a banner too small won't be noticeable to the audience or visitors. Check the stage manager, festival manager or other event coordinators to determine the size you'll be needing for purchasing your banners.
The most common substrates used for printing large format banners are vinyl and vinyl mesh.
Banners used indoors, such as trade show banners, are regularly printed on vinyl. This substrate works fine.
However, if the Large Format Banner is being purchased for outdoor usage, many times vinyl mesh is the best solution. The holes in the mesh are critical for allowing air to flow through. To the wind, the only difference between a large format banner and a sail is the digital printing found on the banner. Vinyl mesh is the best solution for outdoor Large Format Banners because they allow air to flow through so much more effectively.
There are two exceptions to this rule however.
For more information regarding selecting the correct substrate for your Large Format Banners, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or call us at 800-231-4213. We will be happy to answer your questions.
Distance and size matter when it comes to printing large format banners. As a general rule, the closer the viewer will be to the banner, the higher the print resolution should be.
Trade show banners, for instance, which are regularly viewed at short distances, should be printed with at least 360 dpi resolution. A billboard, which may be viewed at 1/4 mile or more can be printed at 72 dpi. The human eye cannot discern the 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 Large Format Banners for print clarity, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or call us at 800-231-4213. We will be happy to answer your questions.
When it comes to finishing your Large Format Banners, there are five common methods. These methods are: Banner Tape, Chemical Welding, Heat Wedge Welders, RF Welding, and Stitching. There are advantages and disadvantages to each solution. It is critical that you choose the best solution for your application.
“You have to look at all the factors when deciding how you are going to seam the banner,” says David Abramson, President and CEO of Northcoast Banners, in Ann Arbor Michigan. “If the banner is only moderately heavy and you are using it indoors, then there is no need to stitch it. You would stitch and nylon-reinforce a banner only if it was a LARGE indoor banner, or if it is going to be used outside for a long duration or exposed to heavy wind loads. A vast majority of banners used in North America are not exposed to the elements in that way.”
Abramson recalls working on a 28' x 128' facade for a museum in New York City. The banner was almost like a sail on a ship. 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 seams and used bungee connections so there would be flexibility in the banner. The banner looked kind of 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 tortional 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.
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.
-DESIGN TO SHOW
“This review is long overdue! I have worked with Joe with NorthCoast Banners for many years. He and his team always go the extra mile to make sure our orders are designed, printed and delivered on time. The quality and end product are always beautiful! It is a pleasure to work with Joe and his team! They are without a doubt our go to when it comes to banners.”
-CHALLENGE DAY
“NorthCoast Banners provides banners for our non-profit that facilitate Social and Emotional Learning workshops in schools. As a non-profit, it is a pleasure to work with a company that operates with a potent combination of heart and professionalism.”
-FLASHES OF HOPE
“The banners are easy to display and give us a big messaging impact within our budget.”
