Heavy Duty Banner Printing

A Heavier Banner That Light Can't Get Through

Heavy duty banners are printed on 740gsm block-out PVC, a thick banner material with a dark layer inside that stops light passing through. That inner layer is what makes it different. Sunlight behind the banner won't wash out your design, and on a double-sided banner, neither side shows through to the other.

Choose single-sided or double-sided, enter any size in metres, centimetres, millimetres, feet or inches, and pick a finish. Banners are priced by the square metre.

Single-Sided or Double-Sided?

Double-sided is printed on both faces, with the block-out layer between them so each side stays clean. Choose it for any banner seen from both directions: hanging from a ceiling, projecting from a building, strung across a walkway, or fixed to railings that people pass on both sides. Each side can carry a different design.

Single-sided is printed on one face only and costs less. You still get the block-out layer, so choose it for a one-sided banner with strong light behind it, such as in a sunny window or against a bright sky, where a standard banner would let the light show your design through faintly from behind.

If the banner is only seen from the front and nothing bright is behind it, a standard PVC banner does the job for less.

Choosing a Finish

Trimmed to Size is cut straight to size with clean edges and no fixings, ready for a frame, a board or your own fixing method.

Trimmed with Eyelets is cut to size with metal eyelets added, for tying to railings, posts and frames. There's one eyelet in each corner and no more than one per metre in between. If you need them closer together, or in specific positions, tell us when you order. There's no extra charge.

Pole Pocket(s) adds a sleeve along the edges you choose, so a pole can slide through to hang or tension the banner. It's the usual choice for projecting and hanging banners. Tell us your pole diameter and we'll size the pocket to fit.

What Goes Wrong, and Why

A white edge on one side of a double-sided banner. The artwork didn't have enough bleed. Both sides are printed separately, and there's always slight movement between them. Supply 10mm bleed on every edge, on both sides.

The two sides don't line up exactly. The same slight movement affects anything placed near the edge. Keep text and logos well inside the finished size on both sides, rather than designing them to match up edge to edge.

Crop marks show on the finished banner. They were placed inside the bleed. If you include crop marks, set the offset so they sit outside the bleed area.

The pole pocket ate into the design. Pockets are made within the size you order, not added to it. Leave a clear strip along that edge.

Eyelets tear out. The banner was fixed with cable ties or rope that has no give. Use bungee ties through every eyelet. Like all banners, take it down in winds over 30mph.

Blacks look flat. 100% black alone prints washed out on PVC. Use a rich black of C50 M50 Y50 K100.

Artwork Requirements

Set your artwork up at the same proportions as your banner. You can work at full size, half, quarter or 10% scale. For anything over 5m in either direction, use a smaller scale, because PDFs can't exceed 5080mm.

• Bleed: 10mm on every edge, at full size
• Double-sided: supply the front and back as separate pages or files, both at the same size
• Safe area: keep text and logos well inside the finished edge, especially on double-sided banners
• Pole pocket allowance: on each pocket edge, keep important content clear of a strip equal to pole diameter × 2.5 + 30mm. For a 25mm pole that's 92.5mm; for a 50mm pole, 155mm.
• Colour: CMYK. For deep black, use C50 M50 Y50 K100.
• Resolution: if you design at reduced scale, switch off image downsampling when exporting
• Crop marks, if used, outside the bleed. No colour bars or keylines.
• Fonts outlined, images embedded
• PDF only
• One design per order. A double-sided banner counts as one design, with a front and a back.

Every file is checked by a real person before printing, so obvious problems get flagged. We don't make changes or fixes to artwork — files should be supplied print-ready.

Turnaround & Delivery

Production takes 3–4 working days. Turnaround covers production only — delivery is on top of that.

Standard UK delivery is free. Collection from our Burnley production facility is also available.

FAQs

What material are heavy duty banners printed on?
740gsm block-out PVC, with a dark inner layer that stops light passing through.

What does block-out mean?
There's a layer inside the material that blocks light. Your design won't be washed out by light behind it, and on a double-sided banner, neither side shows through to the other.

Can I have a different design on each side?
Yes. Supply the front and back as separate pages or files.

When should I choose single-sided block-out?
When the banner is only seen from the front but has strong light behind it, such as in a sunny window or against the sky.

What finishes are available?
Trimmed to size, trimmed with eyelets, or pole pockets.

How far apart are the eyelets?
One in each corner and no more than one per metre in between. Closer or custom spacing is free on request.

How much bleed do I need?
10mm on every edge, on both sides.

What sizes can I order?
Any width and height. Enter your size in metres, centimetres, millimetres, feet or inches.

Is it suitable for long-term outdoor use?
It's a heavier material made for outdoor use. Like all banners, it's temporary signage and should come down in winds over 30mph.

How long does it take?
3–4 working days of production, with free UK delivery on top.