“The wind does not break the tree that bends.” 

—African proverb

 

Banners are great things. You can roll them, flex them, bend them, twist them—almost anything you want. This flexibility makes them exceptionally strong, but comes with other challenges.  Like trying to make them stand up by themselves. Fortunately there are many options available for these softies.

 

 

Fly ‘em 

One of the oldest methods of banner hanging is to use two vertical poles and stretch the banner between them. This works best with banners that do not have too large of a horizontal vs vertical size difference or they tend to sag in the middle. A lot of tension is required, so this method is usually limited to use in areas where other signage won’t work because of access or mounting issues for the frames.

 

 

Hang ‘em

Another tried-and-true ancient method is to hang them like vertical flags. Sewing a pocket across the top, sticking a horizontal pole through it and letting it hang down is as simple as it can get, and perfectly effective. If the banner is not heavy enough to hang nicely by itself, sewing some weights into the bottom often works wonders.

 

Stretch ‘em

Sometimes this is still not enough to get that tight-as-a-drum look. In this case, a frame with horizontal members top and bottom is required to hold the banner, and vertical members to maintain the tension. If the frame has a fixed size, the banner must be sewn very carefully in order to stretch correctly. It is better to use an adjustable frame to facilitate the precise fit that is required to stretch a banner attractively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mount ‘em

Artists have always known that painted canvas could be stretched beautifully and effectively across a wooden panel or a frame constructed of wood. This method generally involves stretching the canvas around the back of the frame and attaching it with staples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stand ‘em

Banner stands have revolutionized the banner industry. Making full use of the banner’s main features—light weight, roll-ability and strength—these stands have taken over the world of banners. They allow for an easy, attractive and inexpensive way to transport and display reasonably large graphics. There is a huge array of styles, but they generally fall into two categories. Cartridge models have the banner rolled up inside the base using a spring system similar to roll-up window blinds. Modular units have the banner as a separate piece that attaches manually to the base. In either unit the banner is tensioned using an upright center post that attaches separately.

 

Stick ‘em

Banners also can be used like wallpaper. Whether contact cement or white glue is the adhesive of choice, banners (especially canvas) make a unique and durable wall covering. Overlapping the seams, then trimming later with a straight-edge and sharp knife, makes the installation easier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frame ‘em

Banner frames have done for outdoor banners what stands did for their indoor cousins. They have allowed banners to be used for a huge variety of outdoor applications that were not previously practical or possible. Banner frames facilitate the stretching of a banner across very large metal frames. These units can be mounted onto buildings, truck sides or billboards. Easy changeability is another major feature of these versatile units. In a typical setup, banners are stretched across a frame using cams, rollers or other devices. Then this unit is attached to a mount system on a truck or wall.