Printing Outdoor Event Banners: Tips for Maximum Impact

11/7/2024

Add custom banners to your to-do list if you plan a concert, festival, or outdoor event! Simple as they are, outdoor event banners have the power to inform, captivate, and inspire action in your attendees. They can be used to promote sponsors and upcoming events and even guide attendees to your event’s custom merch. 

However, when organizing outdoor event signage, there are some factors to consider. Weather exposure and visibility issues can be challenges!  Here are our top tips for designing durable, eye-catching banners that stand out and hold up in any outdoor setting.

Outdoor Event Banner Design Tips

1. Choose Weather-Resistant Materials

• Select Durable Media: Materials like 13-oz scrim vinyl or waterproof vinyl are ideal for outdoor conditions. These options are designed to endure rain, sun, and wind, ensuring your banner stays intact throughout the event.
• UV Inks: UV-resistant inks help prevent colors from fading in sunlight, so your design remains vibrant over time.
• Reinforced Edges and Grommets: Adding reinforced edges and grommets every two feet provides extra durability for windy locations, keeping your banner secure and professional-looking.
• Tip for Durability: Vinyl with UV-resistant inks is ideal for outdoor banners exposed to sunlight, ensuring colors stay vibrant longer.

2. Emphasize Bold Colors and High Contrast

• Stand Out in Any Weather: For maximum impact, use bold, high-contrast color combinations that are easy to see from a distance. Dark text on a light background (or vice versa) is typically the most readable.
• Consider Seasonal Colors: For themed events, choose colors that complement the season while still standing out against natural surroundings.
• Helpful Hint: Test your color scheme in black and white. If text and graphics stand out clearly, the design will likely be bold and readable in color, too.

3. Use Clear and Readable Typography

• Font Choice Matters: Choose simple, sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica for optimal readability from a distance.
• Keep It Brief: Limit the message to three lines or fewer, aiming for no more than ten words per line. Focus on essentials like the event name, date, and call-to-action to ensure the banner is easily understood at a glance.
• Choose the Right Letter Size: Generally, use 1 inch of letter height for every 10 feet of viewing distance. For example, 1-inch letters are readable from up to 10 feet away, 2-inch letters from 20 feet, and 4-inch letters from 40 feet. This helps your message stay clear, even from afar.

4. Position Key Information at Eye Level

• Strategic Layout: Place the most essential information—event name, date, or call-to-action—at eye level for easy readability.
• Think About Viewing Distance: For banners that will be viewed from a distance, place the most crucial information in the upper half of the banner, ideally at around 4-5 feet from the ground, so it’s easy to spot even in a crowd.
• Balance Graphics and Text: Ensure images or graphics don’t overshadow the text. Be cautious with background images as they may reduce text clarity. Instead, use a subtle, faded image with a semi-transparent overlay and high-contrast text for readability and impact.

5. Plan for Multi-Use Banners

• Create a Reusable Design: If your banner could be reused for similar events, design it without specific dates or locations. This approach allows you to maximize its usage and cost-effectiveness.
• Add Changeable Sections: Consider areas that can be updated or customized for events with varying sponsors or details, such as detachable sections or writable surfaces.

6. Enhance Interactivity with QR Code Integration

• Engage Attendees with Real-Time Updates: A QR code on your event banner can transform it into an interactive tool, allowing attendees to quickly access your merch e-commerce storefront, sponsor information, sign up for your newsletter, or access your social media accounts. This is especially valuable at large outdoor events where printed flyers or postcards may not be practical. 
• Reduce Clutter While Keeping It Informative: QR codes enable you to maintain a clean, visually appealing design while still providing a wealth of information. Simply place a scannable code in a corner or along the bottom of the banner with a short call-to-action like “Scan for Event Details,” or “Order Custom Merchandise”
• Track Engagement Metrics: Another advantage of using QR codes is the ability to track scans. This data can offer insights into attendee engagement and inform future marketing strategies.

With these tips, you’ll be well-equipped to create event banners that attract attention and withstand the elements, ensuring a lasting impact for your event. For high-quality, weather-resistant banners, count on Eventgroove. You can send us your design files, and we’ll print your custom banners to your specifications, or our graphic team can whip up a design unique to your event.