Banners

[Chris]

Recently when appearing at a carnival in St Helens the magician working alongside me was intrigued by my use of printed vinyl banners to decorate my booth and table.

Since these are an easy and economical way of adding flash I thought others might be interested. The banners can be designed by yourself in a DTP or art program, or even in WORD. They need to be done to size, and submitted to the banner printers as a high definition jpeg or as a pdf. There are many competing banner making firms available on the internet, such as:
http://www.fastbannersuk.co.uk



I've used these banners for several years now and the colours have proved waterproof and lightfast

[Nick Jackson]

Thanks for this very useful link, Chris. The prices are impressive! I'm now wondering about reproducing the front of my outdoor show and fastening it permanently to my folding frame.

[Chris]

One of the advantages of banners over more permanent decoration is the fact that they need not be used all the time - there may be occasions where a more discreet appearance might be preferable - in schools for example, or at private events. Also you can have different banners to project different images - to create a period image perhaps. Also if you change your phone number you don't have to repaint the frontboard!

[Nick Jackson]

Yes, good point there. But I do like the idea of copying the front of my outdoor show on to my portable one.

By the way, like the proscenium in your picture. Is this also a hands-in-front booth? Would love to see more pics.

[Nick Jackson]

Given that they also print on various types of board, I can't help wondering about having a proscenium printed. I'm quite a good on-screen designer but not steady enough of hand to paint it myself.

[Chris]

Actually I have changed that proscenium and done away with side panels of the pros. Here I am using without the banner. Also I've been trying a black background. Puppets look good, but a backcloth is more cheerful and I have reverted.



Below is my outdoor booth (hard standing) which has a similar proscenium to the folding panel booth



Below is the lazy tongs booth for outdoor work where I can peg down. This has a different pros



All three are hands-in-front. I wouldn't change back to hands-above.

[Nick Jackson]

Thanks for those, Chris. The first looks a similar construction to my portable – will post a pic.
I tried working hands-in-front but my arms were killing me in no time. You must have greater stamina or stronger upper arms. But I'm off-topic!

[Chris]

Here's another way of using the banner

[Professor Joe]

Nick,
Glyn Edwards has a printed proscenium arch, he had it designed by a graphic designer then printed on to a foam board.. I've forgotten the proper name for it. It's probably worth asking Glyn where he had it done etc etc
all the best
Joe

[Nick Jackson]

Thanks for that, Joe.
I contacted the company Chris mentions above as they list foamex, among other materials, on their website. Sadly they've stopped producing these and now specialist solely in banners.
But, yes, I'll give Glyn Edwards a bell.

[Chris]

Foamex is OK for a permanent site - but not for a portable pros. It would need to be battened all round, or glued onto plywood - but the printed surface is much more prone to abrasion than paint on wood. However for a permanent installation it is splendid - but even then it is better to use vinyl cut letters and logos rather than printed. The ink lasts better on a banner because there is a weave and the ink is absorbed and adheres strongly, and also because between use a banner is normally rolled thus protecting the colours from fading.

Incidentally off the exact topic, but relevant to do-it-yourself printing if you are making posters and display signs to be used outside: Most ink-jet printer inks are dye based and are neither waterproof nor lightproof, they fade rapidly in the sun and run in the rain. Some black inks are pigment inks and are OK for outdoor use. With some printers you can buy sets of archival inks which are probably suitable.
Lazer toner printing washes off in a sharp shower.

You can laminate posters and make them usable outside. Use a hotter heat setting than usual so that the laminate is sealed all over, not just at the edges, otherwise if you cut the poster after lamination the water will seep in. Also use matt laminate, not glossy. Glossy laminates reflect light and reduce visibility.