Banner Stitching
Some of the greatest banner designs can be ruined by the finishings.
It’s not to say that the banner is mishandled or that their was a lack of craftsmanship. It’s simply a lack of foresight.
As designers and artists, we are compelled to design first. Ask questions later.
In an effort to avoid the unexpected, here are some specs for your reference:
Stitch and Grommet Defaults:
What you may not know, is that we have “Defaults” for how we handle banners.
These are our recommendations, thus our “Defaults”:
- We use 13oz. Matte Banner stock (Much better than the “Cheap glossy look”).
- 1″ double-stitched reinforced hem. This helps to minimize tear-outs due to stress.
- 32″ Grommet (eyelet) spacing (Spacing varies but will not exceed 36″). Placed in-line with stitches.
Problems to avoid during file setup/design:
The example above illustrates how your artwork could be affected by poor planning.
Remember to allow for the stitches and keep your art away!
Below, we’ll move the artwork around to avoid interference with the stitching.
After a few simple adjustments to the art, we’ve balanced out the art to avoid the stitches.
Clearances:
To be safe, whenever you’re designing your banner, add 1″ to the size of the hem or pocket, and use that as your safety margin. (Grommets, or eyelets, will be placed in-line with the stitching.)
See the table below for examples:
Hem/Pocket Size | Live-Area Clearances |
1″ Hem | 2″ Margin from the finished edge. |
2″ Pocket | 3″ Margin from the folded edge. |
3″ Pocket | 4″ Margin from the folded edge. |