do Reflective vinyl & banners work together?

[John Childs]

I’d have told him the same Lorraine.

But you still have hair. Well, you did when your photo was taken. 😀

[LOST]

HI LORRAINE.
As far as i know not all reflectives break up im sure there are some out
there that would do the job for a couple of months.
p.s. u could always screenprint it 😆

[Andrew Blackett]

Ello chuck 😉

Tell him that he needs to mount the banner on a rigid surface such as 5mm foam board or aluminium 😀

Andy

[Bob Gilliland]

Lorraine,

Ignorance is bliss!!

I just supplied a double sided banner a few months ago to span a street crossing that was advertising a one day event. The banner was 36” x 288” (91m x 731m?) and printed on an inkjet device but did contain a patch of reflective material that incorporated some Edge printed copy. That reflective area measured ~ 12” x 30” (300mm x 760mm?).

I wanted something to catch the eye of a passerby during evening hours (read that as in “dark”) and elected to use reflective in this area to do just that. It was located in such an area that as you drove by it, there was enough light to read it, but nothing to really get your attention initially (again, at night anyway) when you were farther down the road. I decided to try some reflective, understanding that I’ve been told it’s something you don’t do. Well, it worked! And worked well from what the client has said. Ignorance is bliss, or, I just got lucky this time around!

I was worried about it peeling or cracking to a detrimental appearance, but none of that happened. I did install the reflective on cast Black vinyl (Avery), and installed that directly to the banner, instead of placing the reflective directly on the banner material. This was done more for a convenience factor to allow the removal of the “3rd Annual” copy in preparation of “4th Annual” for next year. The banner was outside for six weeks and the reflective held up just as if had been placed on a rigid substrate. Very, very pleased with how it worked out. Not sure how much larger of a reflective area I would tempt, but I do plan on incorporating more reflective when appropriate on future banner designs (if client is willing to pay that is).

By the way, the banner was up for just over six weeks and I never took a photo of it installed spanning the street (and it was less then a quarter mile from my location). Guess I’ll do that next year. I did snap these on the day of the event, as they took the banner down the night before then strung it out between the two pieces of equipment at the entrance of the event.

[Steve Lamb]

Lorraine

I think you advised the way most of us would, giving your professional opinion and advising the ‘ignorant’ customer of the problems of using a material that is not made for the application.

Although we have not tried or bought any, I believe from a conversation
I had with a supplier last year, that either 3M or Avery, do a (white only!)
curtain side reflective. But then it needs printing and cutting to acheive a non-white image/text or whatever.

Obviously not really a solution to your problem of a daft customer who does not want to listen but may be good for future reference.

As for yer customer, give him what he wants, overcharge it (for the hassle) and make him sign your non-guarantee of bought product.

Cheers

[Martin Pearson]

Lorraine, just to confuse matters a bit more are you sure the customer wanted reflective vinyl on his banner ?
The reason I ask is because I have had a few people enquiring about day glow banners, using flourecent not reflective colours.
By the way your advice was spot on, I would always advise the customer to have the correct materials used on the right substrates. Although at the end of the day it is up to them.
I have just done some banners for a couple who run nightclubs, they wanted holographic vinyl on them and I explained that it was an expensive vinyl and might not stay on as it was not intended for this type of application. They were aware of the risks and wanted them done anyway. They have had their first event were delighted with the banners and have treated them with care, they know they may not last but are prepared to get them done again if required as its what they want.
I have stuck the holographic to a banner vinyl as they wanted shadows on them so this may help keep the holographic on.

[Lorraine Buchan]

Hi Martin,

I went through all that with them asking if they wanted it to glow under uv light if they just wanted flourecent vinyl etc… but they were sure they wanted reflective.

Anyway, they ordered a blue 5mm foam PVC board with the reflective vinyl.

Today I get an email saying they want green banners with the yellow reflective vinyl. Hmmmm 🙄

Well i’ll let them have them, but before commencing the work i’ll get them to sign a disclaimer.

You just can’t get sense into some

[Lorraine Buchan]

Well I’ve just completed the two premier banners with reflective vinyl.

First time using reflective and it weeds a treat maybe because its so thick!

I’m going to ask the customer to let me know how long it lasts.

[Brian Ramage]

In my opinion you should not use reflective on a banner.
It WILL go brittle over a short period of time. And it WILL start to crack, dog ear & appear messy.
Applying it to a banner is one thing. Take it down roll it up and then unroll it and put it up gain at the next event a few months later and you will have a very different story.
Most vinyls will have a short term life on banners (weeks). But 9/10 times your customer wants to use it time and time again.

[Robert Lambie]

i dont think i would use refelective on a banner if i could help it. ive heard and seen many use just normal vinyl and others and it going pair shaped.
banners are normaly temporary but the customer often wants them used time and time again. if this is the case i would advise not to use it and try stick to my guns.. if they insisted then they would have to sign that this is the case.