January 12, 2009
There are essentially two kinds of ink used on vinyl banners: water soluble ink and solvent ink. In the past, industrial operations cared little about the environment and utilized an aggressive solvent ink. An aggressive solvent was very popular because of the image quality, durability, and cost (the ink and printing materials are easy to come by). They are, however, very toxic requiring special ventilation in the print shops because of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released into the air. They also must be disposed of carefully.
Seeking an ink that is environmentally friendly, the print industry has moved towards water soluble ink or, more recently eco-solvent ink. First, let’s consider water soluble ink. Water-based ink is defined as those that use either dyes or pigments in a suspension with water as the solvent. In order to set the ink on the material the water must evaporate evenly. Today you will find water-soluble ink being used for wallpaper, textiles, and more.
It must be noted, however, that water-soluble ink cannot be disposed of down the sink. It still contains pigments, binders, thickeners, and sometimes, even co-solvents in the ink residue. Water-soluble ink is still a chemical compound. Another disadvantage is that it works best on material more fibrous than the highly popular glossy vinyl material used on most banners.
So, what about eco-solvent ink? Eco-solvent inks are far less aggressive than their full solvent counter-parts. They produce no harmful fumes, are typically low odor, and do not require special ventilation or environmental equipment. They also produce less wear and tear on print heads. And eco-solvent ink can be used on glossy vinyl.
Eco-solvent inks are ultraviolet durable, have great water resistance outdoors, and cause less wear and tear on print heads, extending the life of a printer. They also offer the widest colors available in the printing world. They work just as well as their more harmful counterparts, with the added benefit of minimizing toxicity and waste.
Here at BargainBanners, in our effort to produce high quality banners AND be environmentally friendly, we use eco-solvent inks on all banners ordered.
January 7, 2009
You’ve purchased a vinyl banner and would like to use it more than once. Here are a couple of tips for maintaining your banner:
- Cleansing. All of our banners are water-proof, so they can be cleaned lightly with a mild detergent or soap in water. Do not use a harsh, abrasive, or alcohol-based cleanser; each of these can damage the image or message printed on the vinyl.
- Storage. Roll up your banner into a tube. Do not fold your banner. Folding a banner will permanently leave creases on the vinyl. Likewise, wadding up a banner and tossing it into the trunk of a car will produce a banner that will look the way you treated it. Keeping your banner in a cardboard tube is a good way to store it; this makes it easy to move and will have it ready for your next application.
The standard types of vinyl used are:
10 oz vinyl – this is the standard vinyl used for most banners. It can be used indoors and outdoors. It’s light and easy to hang.
13 oz vinyl – this provides the additional strength needed for added support and extended life. It stands up to more extreme wind conditions outdoors and repeated applications indoors.
We use 13 oz vinyl for all of our banners. It’s long-lasting, durable, flexible, and can handle most outdoor demands. It is also reusable and works well indoors for many promotional needs. It will last a long time if treated properly.
November 20, 2008
Banners are a great way to promote, sell, or communicate an idea, an event, or a product. Even as there are many places to hang a banner, there are many ways to hang one as well. In this blog we will give some of the more common ways to hang a banner made by BargainBanners.com.
When it comes time to hang your banners, you no longer have to worry about poking holes in the edges. Each banner comes with metal eyelets called grommets. These grommets are positioned on all four corners of your banner to make hanging fast and easy. They are also placed every 2-3 feet across the top and the bottom of the banner to provide added support. They can help keep the banner suspended without cutting through the material.
Hanging a banner indoors:
For permanent indoor displays, banners can be hung using nails or screws and washers. For less-permanent hangings, there are snap kits or zip ties to hang the banner from the ceiling, suction cups or tape to display it in a window, or tacks to hang it on a wall, cork board or other surfaces. String, rope, or bungee cords also work well to hold a banner in place. What you use to hang your banner is largely determined by where you want to hang it.
Hanging a banner outdoors:
For permanent outdoor displays, banners can be hung using the same materials as indoors: nails, screws and washers. Some customers have used glue against a smooth flat surface. For less-permanent hangings, the number one recommendation is to use bungee cords. They allow a small amount of give on a windy day, and can wrap around pillars and poles easily. A chain-link fence is a handy spot to hang a banner, using snap kits, zip ties, string, or rope. If the banner is being hung in an area with heavy winds, be sure to use a heavy zip tie. If there isn’t a building, fence or pole nearby, steel posts can be put it the ground and used instead.
Some customers have asked about ‘wind slits’. ‘Wind slits’ are cuts in the vinyl that allow the wind to more easily move through the banner and reduce the pull on it. We generally do not recommend them. A ’slit’ weakens the vinyl and can be the starting point for a tear to begin. If your situation calls for ‘wind slits’ you may add them as needed using a paint can as the template and a utility knife to cut the vinyl.
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