What being outdoors does to a banner
An outdoor banner is under constant strain: wind pulls on every fixing point, rain and sun work on the material, and the edges take far more stress than the middle. Most banners that fail outdoors don't fail across the printed area, they tear at an edge or around a fixing. That's why the edge finishing matters as much as the print itself.
Material
PVC banner material is the usual choice for outdoor use because it is flexible, waterproof and strong enough to hold its shape when it's pulled tight. Lightweight paper or poster stock isn't designed for the same conditions and will deteriorate quickly if left outside. If a banner is going to stay up for a long period or on an exposed site, tell us so we can recommend the right material rather than the cheapest one.
Hems and reinforced edges
A hem is a folded and fixed edge that stops the banner fraying and gives the eyelets something solid to sit in. Without a hem, the edge of the material has to take the full load of the fixings, and that's where tears start. For anything that will be fixed to a fence, railing or building front, a hemmed edge is worth having as standard.
Eyelets: how many and where
Eyelets are metal rings set into the hem, and they are what you tie or clip the banner to. They are usually placed in the corners and spaced along the edges, and more eyelets spread the load so no single fixing takes all the strain. On a windy site, more evenly spaced fixings generally hold better than a few at the corners. It also helps to fix the banner firmly but not drum-tight, since a banner stretched to its limit has nowhere to go when a gust arrives.
Planning for wind
A large solid banner on an exposed wall behaves like a sail. If your banner will be somewhere windy, such as a fence line, a scaffold or an open site, mention it when you order. We can advise on fixing points and size, and on whether a different format might serve you better than one large piece.
Getting your banner printed
Star Printers prints banners at our Tooting shop for shopfronts, events and campaigns. See our PVC banner and roller banner pages, browse all printing services, or contact us with your size and where it will be displayed.