Banner printing for The John Smith's Stadium Stand

Initial brief

This job involved the manufacture of a flexface banner (like the Fantastic Media banners), a regular banner that was to be screwed in place above an entrance to the John Smith's Stadium, and several replacement graphics to go onto existing directional signpost type fittings, around the stadium car parks.

Site survey

The old banners were removed and supplied to us so that we could measure them carefully. We also visited the site to measure the sign panels that the new directional graphics were to go onto. It was decided that the best way to proceed would be to cover the old graphics with a new piece of white vinyl, and then apply the new lettering over the top. This was to be in a blue cut vinyl, and would have to match the old graphics as closely as possible in colour and font, as well as lining up correctly with the existing panels above and below. Measurements were taken of all the panels that were to be replaces, and a colour and font match were obtained. The size and style of the directional arrows was also drawn out.

Design

The artwork was provided for the two banners, but needed to be sized and centralised appropriately, and some text was added to one of them. This used a supplied font that is specific to John Smith’s. The directional signs were also laid out, firstly as a visual for the customer, and then as separate cut path files for the white background and the blue text. These files are required by our cutting machine. Once the designs were all approved we could move onto the manufacturing stage.

Production

The flexface banner was printed onto a special backlit material, ideal for use with florescent tubes. The four sides then cut straight and plastic strip folded into the banner making a tough hem. The regular front-lit vinyl banner was also printed and finished with regular hems and eyelets, to be fixed into position with screws and washers. The white vinyl panels were cut to their rectangular shape. They were made oversize so that they could be fitted more easily and then trimmed to fit while on site. The blue lettering was cut on our plotter, weeded (excess vinyl removed) and had application tape fixed to the front. Application tape enables the backing to be removed from the vinyl lettering to reveal the adhesive side, without the letters losing their spacing.

Fitting

Both of the banners were quite high up, so we had to use a scissor-lift to get high enough. The flexface banner was fitted first. This was much the same as the Fantastic Media banner, except the fittings were slightly different. Instead of clamps and threaded tensioners, the banner simply hooked in place. We had to use a lot of strength to tension the banner by hand but a reasonable amount of tension was achieved in the end. The regular banner was screwed into place onto a wooden backboard, starting at one end and working along the banner, dong the top/bottom matching pairs of fixings as we went, as this is the best way to achieve good tension and a smooth, unwrinkled finish. The directional signs were next. The sign panels were cleaned with alcohol and any dirt removed. We then applied the white backing piece and trimmed it to size. The blue text was measure for position before being applied.