Vinyl or Fabric: What is the Best Banner Printing Material?

There are two main types of banner materials: fabric or vinyl. Although vinyl has been a cost-effective mainstay in most printing shop’s retinue, leaps in printing technology have made fabric banners an attractive and attainable alternative.

If you want long-term durability and wind resistance, you should opt for vinyl banners; however, if you need exceptional image quality and more sizing options, choose the fabric. Here are some more details about which is the best banner printing material: vinyl or fabric.

Criteria for Banners 

In choosing which option is best for your banners, you need to consider whether it’s in a trade show or showroom and the cost, appearance, durability, ease of transport, and maintenance.

Cost

How much your banner costs depends on several different factors, such as size, what it’s made of, ink and material cost, lead time (especially if it has to be rushed), and any finishing options you choose.

Appearance

The appearance-based differences between vinyl and fabric have to do with translucency and texture. Since vinyl banners are reflective, they sometimes don’t photograph well. However, cloth banners can have issues with translucency and backlighting.

Durability

If you display outside, you need to have a vinyl banner as cloth banners are not weather-resistant. Cloth banners are best suited to indoor displays.

Ease of Transport

When vinyl banners aren’t stored correctly, they can become creased and wrinkled, and, unlike cloth banners, poor treatment may result in permanent damage. Cloth banners can be folded and rolled, but they stain more easily than vinyl, which can be wiped clean with a damp cloth if soiled.

Maintenance

Under most conditions, both fabric and vinyl are pretty simple to clean. If you have a lot of finishing options applied, you may need specialized cleaning beyond what you would typically do for cloth or plastic.

Vinyl Banners

Made of pliable, durable plastic,  vinyl banners are a great marketing tool if you have to display them at numerous outdoor events, have them outdoors for an extended period, and need a cost-effective option. Before you buy, you should consider transportation. Without a flat box or a proper means of transport, your banner may become irrevocably creased.

You can choose between two weights of vinyl banner materials to print: 13 oz. or 18 oz. The heavier the material, the more durable it will be, but most vinyl banner needs can be satisfied with 13 oz. vinyl, the same that’s used for billboards. 18 oz is only used for very heavy-duty industrial or construction use.

If you opt for a heavier vinyl custom banner, you need to consider how to hang the banner up. Some banners are designed with pole pockets, and others have grommets. If you need a banner that can stand up to the worst outdoor weather and still look vivid, vinyl is your best bet.

Both vinyl and fabric banners can be reinforced to strengthen them, although different techniques are used to produce the desired effect. Vinyl banners sometimes have  an internal scrim of polyester cording inserted for extra durability; the polyurethane-based layer that your design is printed on goes over this scrim.

Fabric Banners

If you need a banner that will look fabulous in photos, is easy to transport, and provides a classy, luxurious appeal to your marketing strategy, choose fabric banners. You often see fabric banners hung at concerts, art galleries, or other prestigious events.

Although they’re more expensive than vinyl banners, fabric also has the benefit of transporting efficiently, as you can fold it without damaging it. You need to keep it away from staining liquids or other corrosive materials, as fabric will stain more easily than plastic vinyl.

The scope of design, however, far exceeds that of vinyl. You can create memorable images for your business or celebration with the dye sublimation process and high-quality polyester fabric. Any image you dream up, you can print onto fabric materials with photo-realistic quality.

Finishing Options

Many banners can be cut to size, reinforced at both corners and hems, and have grommets for easy hanging. Both cloth and vinyl can be given a matte finish so that light reflections aren’t as much of an issue.

By heat-pressing two vinyl banners together, a printing specialist can create a double-sided banner that is less opaque; fabric banners can attain this same effect, only you have to sew the banners together and hem it so it doesn’t fray.

Cloth is more malleable of the two types of banners as it can wrap a column or another odd shape in a way that vinyl might not want to bend. Cloth or fabric banners are much more conducive to unique shapes, like a heart or pumpkin-shaped banner for Halloween.

The Verdict

Each banner offers specific qualities for your marketing campaign; for the lightest option of them all, you can even opt for a mesh banner. If you want a vibrant banner to accent an indoor event or need to move your marketing tools without damage and quickly, a fabric banner is your best choice.

However, if your banner will be located mainly outdoors and you need something to keep its shape and color through the worst weather, go for vinyl. A vinyl banner will not tear or rip in strong winds, and its plastic material ensures that any design remains as vivid as the day you hung it.

For the best marketing solutions at practical price points, use a reputable professional printing service like Comix Well Spring to ensure you have every option available to you.