In the traditional days of banner printing you had a single choice, scrim vinyl. Choosing a banner material can become complicated as the variety of base material has expanded throughout the years. Advancements in printing equipment, ink and desire for longevity have expanded the available offering to include Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Scrim Vinyl, Polyolefin and the list can go on. Some of the most important questions you can ask yourself include: How am I going to finish it, Am I going to sew it, tape it or use grommets? What equipment am I printing it on? How long does it need to last? Do I need a particular finish?

Before you can answer those questions, you need to able to determine what you are going to print it on. Phoenix Media has “banner” grade material available from a variety of substrates which we’ve outlined below.

As with any product, we strongly recommend that you refer to each products specification sheet for more detailed information. These sheets are an invaluable asset when determining mounting and laminating recommendations, finishing recommendations and durability. These guidelines are created by the manufacturers to save you time and money!

A light weight material which can range in thickness from 6mil to 8mil. This is an ideal material for light weight, short term graphics and is normally Dye/UV compatible. Available in matte, satin and gloss it’s an economical choice to traditional scrim vinyl.
Our suggestion to try:

Part of our Green Planet Program, our WRP is made from 100% recycled material and is 100% recyclable. Suitable for short term outdoor and indoor applications this film provides you with a low cost film with a high quality output.

Considered to a mid weight banner material, this product is normally used for hanging applications where a curl resistant material is preferred for better “drape” properties. Polyethylene banner manner normally has a super smooth print service and is bright white with a 100% light block layer. Our suggestion to try:

10mil thick and a super smooth print surface make this ideal for promotional signage, this particular material is printable on 2 sides making it an economical alternative to stitching two one sided banners together.

This is normally the thickest and heavier duty of the banner grade materials, some manufacturers have additional reinforcement to the backside of the material to add strength. Designed to be taped, sewn, heat sealed and grommeted this is the most commonly used material for Inkjet and ECO/Solvent banner printing.
Our suggestion to try:

A single side printable indoor/outdoor material which has been treated to prevent ink bleed issues which can commonly occur in scrim vinyl. This banner material can be sewn, taped and grommeted for trade show and promotional signage applications.

A specialty base material from Valeron®, this banner material is designed for hanging signage which requires extreme tear resistance. Suitable for Inkjet and ECO/Solvent printers. Our suggestion to try:

A 12mil, super smooth banner material ideal for suspension and pole banners, pop up and scrolling style banner stands. Vinyl and Plasticizer free, this banner material is recyclable which makes it more environmentally friendly than traditional scrim vinyl and has superior wind test results for extreme tear resistance.