When buying banner stands, you'd be forgiven for thinking that "a banner stand is a banner stand is a banner stand"...
... at The Display Store we tend to think otherwise, here's why:
Many companies offer what they may call a 'Budget' or 'Value' Banner Stand and most of the units at first glance may look very similar if not identical. You know the type, the standard aluminium box style with swivel feet and a three part bungee pole, usually accommodating an 850mm wide x 2000mm tall banner graphic.
Whilst there is nothing wrong with these basic banner stand units, they really are fit for the job and in many cases may be all that is needed, an instant display on a budget you may say. It's what companies put into these units that differs.
Some companies out there use a lightweight PVC banner material printed at low resolution or in some cases even poster paper! These graphics may look fine at first glance but when they start to curl at the edges and they are almost see-through, do they really give your prospective customers the right impression?
At The Display Store our Value Banner Stand consists of a basic aluminium unit, as mentioned above, that simply does the intended job but it's the material we use and the way we print on it that sets us apart from others.
We print onto a PVC material at 720dpi that is 100% opaque with scratch resistant properties, eliminating the need for a protective laminate, and is guaranteed to stay flat when in use. We use eco-solvent inks that give long lasting vibrant colours with minimum adverse effects on the environment and at just £69 RRP... that's what we call value!
On the other hand we know that no matter how much we try to advise customers of the best banner stand for them, some want a unit that will be used just once and will become redundant after the days event or promotion... that's no problem we say.
In this instance we have our Budget Banner Stand. We like to be upfront about this product, it's bog standard, it's printed on a standard PVC banner material, it lets some light through the graphic and to some degree will probably curl at the edges but at £45 RRP it is exactly what it's name suggests... budget!
Of course there are banner stands that do not fit into the above usage bracket. Maybe you're a sales rep on the road doing presentations all day long and you need something robust and reliable with a bit of style. In a situation like this you need a premium banner stand such the Barracuda or Sidewinder to name just a couple on offer.
These banner stands are better engineered using heavy weight robust materials and mechanisms with repeated long term use in mind. We couple this with a high resolution 1440dpi graphic printed on a 100% opaque material and finished with a crystal scratch-proof laminate and they are ready to tackle any job not just today but every day for years to come.
All in all it's a matter of "horses for courses" and if you would like any further information and advice please don't hesitate to give us a call on 0845 6434 955 or email info@thedisplaystore.co.uk with any requests.
Free graphic samples are also available on request so that you can see and feel the quality for yourself.
Feel free to post your comments and experiences on this blog.
Here you will find tips & tricks that will enable you to get the very best from your display and exhibition stands
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Preparing artwork for large format digital print
When preparing artwork for large format print there are many 'Do's & Dont's' and potential pitfalls that can be easily avoided.
Below is a brief list of the main things to look out for and if anyone out there has anything to add or you'd like to discuss any areas in more detail please don't hesitate to post a comment.
File Formats
The most universally accepted file format is .pdf. Make sure that your .pdf settings are set to high quality with images at 300dpi and, coupled with the other key elements mentioned in this blog, you can't go wrong. Other widely accepted formats include .eps, .jpeg and .tif.
Files in their native format such as .psd , .ai and .indd are acceptable but please pay close attention to converting fonts and effects when supplying in these formats.
File Size
When supplying your finished artwork it's always best to supply them at full size if possible but if the file size is too large a minimum of 1:4 scale is required, making sure that all images contained are a minimum of 300dpi. Large files aren't a problem here at The Display Store as we have a large file upload service for your convenience hosted by Yousendit.
Colour Mode
Always set your document to CMYK mode when designing or at least convert to this mode before sending to print. Never supply artwork as RGB or Pantone® colours, this will give unpredictable print results.
Fonts
Text included in your artwork should always be converted to outlines/curves prior to supplying for print. If the printer does not own a copy of the font used in your design there's a good chance that the font could be changed to an alternative style, rendering all your hard work and time spent laying out text worthless.
Transparent Effects
Many design programs now support transparent effects which allow designers to create stunning graphic designs. When it comes to the printing stage however these effects can sometimes be lost in translation and give undesired results. Always flatten transparencies before supplying artwork, that way you can see the end result of the effect and adjust if necessary.
Images
All images contained in your design should be a minimum of 300dpi and in CMYK mode. This is especially important if supplying your artwork at less than full scale.
Make sure that images used are either your own or you have the appropriate license/permission to use them. Often the best way of ensuring this is to buy the rights to use an image from online stock photography services such as istockphoto , getty images , shutterstock or other similar suppliers, this way you can rest assured that no one can accuse you of 'borrowing' their images
Well, that's just a few of the main areas to look out for but watch this space for more detailed blogs on individual areas in the near future. Don't forget... if you'd like to discuss any part of the above in more detail i am more than happy to do so.
Martin Popplestone
Print Manager
The Display Store
Below is a brief list of the main things to look out for and if anyone out there has anything to add or you'd like to discuss any areas in more detail please don't hesitate to post a comment.
File Formats
The most universally accepted file format is .pdf. Make sure that your .pdf settings are set to high quality with images at 300dpi and, coupled with the other key elements mentioned in this blog, you can't go wrong. Other widely accepted formats include .eps, .jpeg and .tif.
Files in their native format such as .psd , .ai and .indd are acceptable but please pay close attention to converting fonts and effects when supplying in these formats.
File Size
When supplying your finished artwork it's always best to supply them at full size if possible but if the file size is too large a minimum of 1:4 scale is required, making sure that all images contained are a minimum of 300dpi. Large files aren't a problem here at The Display Store as we have a large file upload service for your convenience hosted by Yousendit.
Colour Mode
Always set your document to CMYK mode when designing or at least convert to this mode before sending to print. Never supply artwork as RGB or Pantone® colours, this will give unpredictable print results.
Fonts
Text included in your artwork should always be converted to outlines/curves prior to supplying for print. If the printer does not own a copy of the font used in your design there's a good chance that the font could be changed to an alternative style, rendering all your hard work and time spent laying out text worthless.
Transparent Effects
Many design programs now support transparent effects which allow designers to create stunning graphic designs. When it comes to the printing stage however these effects can sometimes be lost in translation and give undesired results. Always flatten transparencies before supplying artwork, that way you can see the end result of the effect and adjust if necessary.
Images
All images contained in your design should be a minimum of 300dpi and in CMYK mode. This is especially important if supplying your artwork at less than full scale.
Make sure that images used are either your own or you have the appropriate license/permission to use them. Often the best way of ensuring this is to buy the rights to use an image from online stock photography services such as istockphoto , getty images , shutterstock or other similar suppliers, this way you can rest assured that no one can accuse you of 'borrowing' their images
Well, that's just a few of the main areas to look out for but watch this space for more detailed blogs on individual areas in the near future. Don't forget... if you'd like to discuss any part of the above in more detail i am more than happy to do so.
Martin Popplestone
Print Manager
The Display Store
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
With so many banner stands on offer... which one is for you?
When it comes to choosing a banner stand to display your products and services you'd be forgiven for thinking that a banner stand is a banner stand... it's not as simple as that!
Budget Roller Banner
Maybe you require a banner stand for a 'one-off' event or promotional campaign where the importance is on getting the message across on the smallest possible budget. The perfect banner stand for this occasion would be our newly introduced Budget Roller Banner.
A single sided, 850mm wide x 2000mm tall banner stand with a basic pvc banner graphic printed at a more than adequate 720dpi will do the trick, and at just £45 you can really afford to target a specific customer rather than worrying about whether your stand can be used for future promotions.
Value Roller Banner
If budget is still a major factor but you'd like a banner stand that has a liitle more finess, then our Value Roller Banner may be just the ticket. Similar to our Budget Roller Banner in stature but with the added benefits of a light-block, stay-flat, scratch resistant banner material and still only from £69... now that's value!
Available in 850mm, 1000mm, 1200mm and 1500mm widths the Value Roller Banner really does allow you to get more bang for your buck, as they say, without breaking the bank!
Premium Roller Banners
When a balance of value, impact, style and reliability is needed, our range of premium banner stands are certainly worth a look. From the Sigma Roller Banner with style and reliability at less than £150 or the robust heavy duty presence of the Barracuda Roller Banner and onto the Imagine Roller Banner with interchangeable graphic cartridge facility, our premium range is more suited for long term repeated use.
The main difference graphic wise with our premium range is a whopping 1440dpi print on a light-block ployester material, which is then finished with a textured heavy duty laminate to make for a totally scratch-proof display with vibrant, long lasting, photo quality results.
If more impact and presence is needed maybe a larger Pop-up or Modular display stand is the answer... but that's another blog!
Budget Roller Banner
Maybe you require a banner stand for a 'one-off' event or promotional campaign where the importance is on getting the message across on the smallest possible budget. The perfect banner stand for this occasion would be our newly introduced Budget Roller Banner.
A single sided, 850mm wide x 2000mm tall banner stand with a basic pvc banner graphic printed at a more than adequate 720dpi will do the trick, and at just £45 you can really afford to target a specific customer rather than worrying about whether your stand can be used for future promotions.
Value Roller Banner
If budget is still a major factor but you'd like a banner stand that has a liitle more finess, then our Value Roller Banner may be just the ticket. Similar to our Budget Roller Banner in stature but with the added benefits of a light-block, stay-flat, scratch resistant banner material and still only from £69... now that's value!
Available in 850mm, 1000mm, 1200mm and 1500mm widths the Value Roller Banner really does allow you to get more bang for your buck, as they say, without breaking the bank!
Premium Roller Banners
When a balance of value, impact, style and reliability is needed, our range of premium banner stands are certainly worth a look. From the Sigma Roller Banner with style and reliability at less than £150 or the robust heavy duty presence of the Barracuda Roller Banner and onto the Imagine Roller Banner with interchangeable graphic cartridge facility, our premium range is more suited for long term repeated use.
The main difference graphic wise with our premium range is a whopping 1440dpi print on a light-block ployester material, which is then finished with a textured heavy duty laminate to make for a totally scratch-proof display with vibrant, long lasting, photo quality results.
If more impact and presence is needed maybe a larger Pop-up or Modular display stand is the answer... but that's another blog!
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