What Type of Printed Banner Do You Need for an Outdoor Event in Newton Abbot?
A substantial 510gsm PVC banner is a sensible choice for most outdoor events, but the material alone does not determine how well it performs. The correct size, finishing method, fixing points and exposure to wind are just as important.
I print banners for shop openings, village events, concerts, fundraisers, sports matches, markets and seasonal sales around Newton Abbot and South Devon. Most customers need the banner for a particular date, so knowing where it will be displayed is often more useful than simply asking for “an outdoor banner”.
Is 510gsm PVC suitable for an outdoor banner?
A 510gsm PVC banner is suitable for repeated indoor or outdoor use. It is a substantial material that can be printed in full colour with wording, logos and photographs.
The useful life of an outdoor banner depends on several things:
- How exposed the location is
- How securely the banner is fixed
- How many fixing points are used
- How long it remains outside
- Whether it is stored properly between uses
Material weight matters, but it cannot compensate for poor installation. Even a substantial banner can be damaged if it is attached only at the corners and left to move constantly in strong wind.
If you want to use the same banner for an annual event, take it down afterwards, allow it to dry if necessary and store it rolled rather than tightly folded. This helps avoid deep creases and makes it easier to use again.
What size should an event banner be?
A banner measuring 3 metres by 1 metre is a useful starting point for many shopfronts, fences and outdoor events. It is large enough to carry a clear message without becoming unnecessarily difficult to handle or install.
The correct size still depends on where people will see it. A banner read by pedestrians outside a shop does not need to work in the same way as one viewed by drivers across a car park.
Before choosing the size, consider:
- How far away the viewer will be
- Whether people will be walking or driving past
- How much wording needs to appear
- The available fixing space
- Whether the banner will obstruct a gate, window or sign
- How exposed the position is
I can produce banners in a wide range of sizes, including large banners for shopfronts, fences and events. An unusual space is therefore not necessarily a problem, but it should be measured before the artwork is prepared.
How much information should go on the banner?
An outdoor banner should communicate its main message in a few seconds. A clear event name, date, location and essential contact information will normally work better than a long explanation in smaller lettering.
The viewing distance affects every design decision. Text that looks comfortably large on a computer screen may become difficult to read when the finished banner is attached to a fence or displayed across a car park.
For most event banners, the important information is:
- The name or purpose of the event
- The date and time
- The location
- The main attraction or reason to attend
- A website, telephone number or booking detail, if needed
Not every banner needs all five. If people cannot absorb the information quickly, adding more wording can make the banner less effective rather than more informative.
Photographs and logos can work well, but they should support the message rather than compete with it. The event name and date should not become difficult to find because the design contains too many separate elements.
Do you need eyelets or pole pockets?
Eyelets are the standard finish for banners attached to walls, fences, gates and railings. They provide fixing points around the edge for suitable ties or fixings and help distribute the strain more evenly.
The important point is to use enough fixing points. Attaching a banner only at its four corners concentrates the strain in those areas and allows the middle to move in the wind. Using the eyelets around the edge gives the banner better support.
Pole pockets are more suitable when the banner needs to slide over existing posts or poles. They can also produce a cleaner appearance where visible eyelets and ties are not wanted.
Tell the printer how and where the banner will be installed before choosing the finish. Eyelets, pole pockets and mesh solve different problems, and the cheapest or most familiar option is not automatically the correct one.
When should you consider a mesh banner?
A mesh banner is worth considering when the location is particularly exposed to wind. The perforated material allows more air to pass through it than solid PVC, reducing the amount of pressure placed on the banner and its fixings.
Mesh is not required for every outdoor banner. A solid PVC banner may be perfectly suitable for a sheltered shopfront, indoor stand or short event. The decision should be based on the location and exposure rather than choosing mesh simply because the banner will be outside.
A coastal fence, open gate or exposed railing can behave very differently from a wall in a sheltered courtyard. This is why I ask where the banner is going before recommending the material and finishing method.
Can you put a banner on lamp posts or public railings?
You should obtain permission before attaching a banner to a lamp post, public railing or land you do not own. Permission may need to come from the property owner, landowner or relevant authority.
Event organisers sometimes arrange the printing before confirming where the banner may legally be installed. Checking first can prevent you from ending up with a banner that cannot be displayed in its intended position.
You should also make certain that the banner will not block a road sign, restrict visibility or create an obstruction.
Will you see the design before the banner is printed?
You should always check and approve the complete banner design before printing begins. This is the opportunity to confirm the spelling, dates, times, telephone numbers and location details.
I send a proof by text or email and do not print the banner until it has been approved. Once the proof is approved, that is the artwork that goes onto the machine.
Read the proof as information, not merely as a picture. Event dates and telephone numbers can look visually correct at first glance even when one digit is wrong.
If you do not have finished artwork, send me your logo, wording and contact details. Straightforward banner artwork is included, while more involved design work will be discussed before I start.
How quickly can a printed banner be ready?
A banner will normally be ready for collection from my Newton Abbot workshop within five working days after the order has been agreed and paid for. If you have a fixed event date, mention it at the beginning rather than after approving the artwork.
Delivery is not included as standard. It may sometimes be possible by prior arrangement, depending on the individual job and location, but this needs to be agreed separately.
Leaving enough time for artwork approval is important. A straightforward design can move quickly when all the wording and files are supplied, but missing logos, uncertain dates and several rounds of changes can delay the point at which printing begins.
What should you tell the printer when ordering?
To obtain useful advice and an accurate quotation, tell the printer where the banner will go, the approximate size and the date it is required.
Send the following information if you have it:
- The approximate finished dimensions
- The display location
- Whether it will be indoors or outdoors
- How exposed the position is
- The date it must be ready
- The wording to be included
- Any logos or photographs
- How you expect to attach it
If you do not know which material or finishing method you need, describe the location rather than guessing. A photograph of the intended position can often explain more than a long email.
I have been sign making in Newton Abbot since 1979 and produce the artwork and printed banners here. The most useful advice I can give is simple: decide where the banner is going before deciding what the banner should be. The location determines the size, material, finish and fixing method, and getting those decisions right gives the finished banner its best chance of doing the job properly.