Banner printing
Turn a blank space into a clear message with printed banners for promotions, events and business signage.
Banner printing
Blockout banners
Hold a standard banner up to bright daylight and you may see shadows or the structure behind it coming through. Blockout banners have a light-blocking layer in the material, so they suit double-sided jobs and any position where a clean, solid colour matters.
The show-through problem
With a banner hanging in an open space, a window or sky behind it can make colours look washed out, and anything behind it, such as scaffold poles or a second print, can appear as a ghost image. A blockout layer stops that. You will not need it on a banner tied flat to a solid wall, so this is a choice driven by location. Think about what sits behind the print, and at what time of day, before paying for the extra layer.
Double-sided jobs and alignment
Blockout material is the usual route for two-sided printing. Street-hung pieces, gantries and banners hung across a hall are seen from both directions, so each face carries its own artwork. Mention that you need both sides early, as it affects the design as well as the material. Keep key text away from the edges and eyelets, and consider how each side will line up with hems and pole pockets. Supply each side as a separate page, set up as our artwork guide describes, and label them clearly.
Where the extra layer earns its keep
Common uses include suspended exhibition banners, event entrance gantries and any printed backdrop that has to hide lighting or equipment backstage. Blockout banners tend to be heavier than a single-layer banner, so check that fixings and rigging can take the weight. They still catch wind like a solid sheet, and they are no substitute for mesh banners at height or on exposed sites. If you are unsure which applies to your position, a photo of the location is a good starting point.
Related topics
Useful to know
Your questions.
Do I need a blockout banner for single-sided printing?
Only if strong light or visible objects behind it would spoil the print. For a banner flat against a wall, standard material is usually fine. Describe the location and we can give you a view.
Can blockout material have different artwork on each side?
Yes, that is one of its main uses. Supply each side as a separate file at the same size, and say which way up each one should hang so the finishing lines up.
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Backdrop printing
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Mesh banners
Mesh banners bring large graphics to fences, scaffolding and exposed display areas.