Over the years flags have become a hit with retailers, corporations, museums and of course sports franchises too. Flags as well as banner fabrics are now a mainstay in visual advertisement, both for interior and exterior applications. Flags offer a translucent, flowing and lightweight product solution typically without the need for cumbersome displays. In addition, flags—due to their air permeability and bleed through—make for a great marketing medium from traditional, tear drop or pole banner applications.
多年来，旗帜逐渐成为零售商、企业、博物馆，当然还有体育行业的热门广告标识展示选择。无论是室内应用还是户外应用，旗帜和横幅织物逐渐成为如今视觉广告的主流。旗帜标识与复杂的显示屏不同，它是一种透明、流动和轻便的产品解决方案。此外，由于旗帜标识的透气性和渗透性，使旗帜标识能够成为传统、泪滴或杆状横幅的优质营销媒介。
Fabric Selection
面料选择
Selecting the proper fabric is critical to any successful flag project, especially considering the types of fabrics and printing methods that are available.
选择合适的面料对于任何成功的旗帜项目都非常重要，可用的面料和打印方法的类型值得制造商深思熟虑。
With such a variety of inks and textile fabrics on the market, all with different properties, it is essential to select the right combination based on the application.
市场上有各种各样的油墨和纺织面料，其性能各有不同，因此根据应用选择合适的旗帜组合非常重要。
Michael Sanders, director of Printable Textiles and Finishing Technology for Top Value Fabrics (TVF), Carmel, Indiana, says that when choosing a fabric for flags and pole banners, buyers will want to consider many factors including hand, drape, environment, function and printing process.
印第安纳州卡梅尔的高级面料（TVF）可印花纺织品和终端技术总监迈克尔·桑德斯表示，在为旗帜和旗杆选择合适的面料时，买家需要考虑很多因素，包括手感、悬垂性、安装环境、面料功能性和打印过程。
“A warp knit fabric will suit all three applications best due to its locking-stitch construction. Woven fabrics can also be used but the product is at a higher risk of ripping along the fill line whereas a warp knit’s locking stitch will not fray,” he says.
他说：“经编针织物由于其双线锁缝构造将非常适合所有的三种应用。虽然机织织物也可以使用，但产品沿着填充线撕裂的风险较高，而经编针织物的双线锁缝构造不容易造成磨损。”
“When it comes to traditional two-sided flags, clients typically want the best print-through possible and 70-100% print-through can be achieved with direct disperse printing. One-sided flags can be printed through dye-sublimation, UV, and Latex. Though, it is important to note that UV can alter the hand of the fabric and affect the drape,” Saunders explains.
桑德斯解释说：“对于传统的双面旗帜，客户通常希望获得出色的透印效果，使用直接分散印刷可以实现70-100％的透印效果。单面旗帜标识可通过染料升华、UV和乳胶印刷。以及，你需要注意的是，紫外线可以改变织物的手感并影响织物的褶皱程度。”
How’s it Hanging?
如何悬挂旗帜标识
Karen Lowe, president/owner at Swirling Silks, Harleysville, Pennsylvania, says a key thing to consider when working on a project is how the banner or flag will be hanging, whether or not an image bleed through is needed and length of time it will be used. “Outdoor flags and blade flags are generally produced on nylon or polyester. There are many more options for fabrics for indoor banners. If a client chooses a fabric that cannot be digitally printed, the fabric can still be screen printed in many cases.”
宾夕法尼亚州哈利斯维尔的Swirling Silks公司总裁Karen Lowe表示，在进行项目时需要考虑的一个关键因素是如何悬挂好横幅或旗帜，是否需要考虑图像渗透问题以及时间的使用长短。“户外旗帜和刀片旗帜通常用尼龙或聚酯材料制成，室内横幅织物则有更多的选择。如果客户选择的织物材料无法进行数字印刷，那么织物在很多情况下仍可以用丝网印刷技术进行印刷。”
Lowe adds that from a production standpoint, almost any fabric can be used for indoor banners, but most popular choices are polyester knits and poly poplin due to their inherent wrinkle resistance and flame resistance and the fact that you can easily digitally print on them. She notes that popular outdoor banner materials are vinyl, Sunbrella, nylon and polyester.
Lowe补充到，从生产的角度来看，几乎所有的面料都可以用于室内横幅的制作，但是聚酯针织材料以及聚乙烯府绸材料因其特有的抗皱性、阻燃性和易印刷性成为了非常流行的选择。她指出，乙烯基、赛百伦、尼龙和聚酯材料在户外横幅的选择方面都非常流行。
Getting Comfortable with Fabric
使面料更加舒适
Steve Weiss, western regional sales manager at Verseidag Seemee U.S., Randolph, New Jersey, explains that Verseidag’s sales reps train their customers on what fabrics to use based on machine type, direct or transfer, ink output and application. “This is an ever-changing field and must be -- simply because if you aren’t changing and improving, you end up last in your field. Today, customers demand better, quicker, sharper imagery.”
Verseidag Seemee公司在美国新泽西州兰多夫市的西部区域销售经理Steve Weiss解释说：“Verseidag的业务员会根据机器类型、直接印刷或转印、油墨输出和应用类型来告诉他们的客户使用哪种类型的织物更合适。这是一个不断在变化的领域，你必须不断地改变和进行提升，否则你就会在这个领域落后。如今的客户需求更好、更快、更清晰的图像。”
Outdoor Versus Indoor Apps
在户外和室内的应用方式
Saunders says it is critical to factor in the application’s environment into fabric, ink, and printer selections for both indoor or outdoor flag projects.
桑德斯说，将应用环境纳入到室内、室外标识项目的织物、油墨和打印机选择中是至关重要的。
“Indoor applications are generally less challenging and the most frequent specification are for fabrics with flame retardant (FR) finishes for commercial and tradeshow uses. Outdoor applications will require ink sets that have optimal color fastness to light properties, especially for long-term projects.
“旗帜标识在室内的应用中通常不具有挑战性，阻燃（FR）饰面织物多用于商业和贸易广告展中。室外则多使用油墨耐光度强的织物材料，尤其是对于长期项目的应用。
"Additionally, durable water repel (DWR) and anti-fungicide finishes are common necessities for outdoor flags and banners. In partnership with Georg+Otto Friedrich, TVF has created a revolutionary new fabric, Deko-Tex 7048SUN, to tackle outdoor projects with state-of-the-art waterproof and anti-fungicide finishes. Deko-Tex 7048SUN is designed for UV and Latex printing and is ideal for pole banners, umbrellas, tents, and awnings.”
“此外，耐用防水（DWR）和防霉剂处理剂是户外旗帜和横幅的常用必需品。TVF与Georg + Otto Friedrich进行合作，并推出了一种革命性的新型织物Deko-Tex 7048SUN，为室外旗帜标识工程提供了更先进的防水防霉处理剂。Deko-Tex 7048SUN专为UV和乳胶印刷而设计，非常适用于广告旗杆、雨伞、帐篷和遮阳篷。”
He adds that with each application end-use will dictate the printing method and fabric selections. “While warp knit and woven fabric constructions are compatible with all printing methods, fabric content and finishes will determine how they can be printed. For example, a fabric with DWR will not work for Latex and pigment printing unless the fabric has a specialty heat activated water repel finish.”
他补充说，每种应用方式的最终用途将决定打印方法和织物的选择。“虽然经编针织物和传统织物材料与所有印刷方法兼容，但织物含量和表面处理的方法将决定它们如何印刷。例如，DWR织物不适用于乳胶和颜料印花，除非织物经过了专业的热活化防水处理。”
Weiss says that using and buying indoor and outdoor materials, shops must look for the properties that come with that material and how the application demands it to be used.
Weiss说，使用和购买室内和室外材料时，商店必须查清该材料附带的属性以及应用环境要求如何使用这些材料。
“For example, an indoor graphic for a trade show which is framed out in SEG (silicone edge graphics) must be stretched to fit the frame properly and therefore. An outdoor graphic must be easy to install and weather the elements. What is also critical is to use a fabric/vinyl/mesh that meets the application.”
“例如，一个用于贸易展示的有机硅框架的室内图形必须进行必要地拉伸以适应框架的大小。户外图形必须易于安装和具有耐候元素，重要的是使用符合应用情况的织物、乙烯基或网状物材料。”
He points out that Verseidag’s vinyls go through a process of coating and lacquer that has been designed to meet specific applications the industry demands and our ink-receptive coatings are critical for optimum output. “Often in the industry we must compete against laminated vinyls and we simply educate our customer on why it’s important to use media that works in the application and performs best for the longevity of the application.”
他指出，为了满足行业的专业需求，Verseidag公司的乙烯基材料经过了涂覆和上漆的过程，而吸墨涂层对于实现优质产量至关重要。“在这个行业中，我们常常需要与层压的乙烯基材料进行竞争，我们需要告诉我们的客户，使用能够与产品应用范围和性能相适应的媒介，是保证产品长时间使用的重要原因。”
Best Printing Methods
前沿的打印技术
Saunders points out that direct disperse printing will provide the best print-through results for double-sided applications. “Dye sublimation, Latex, and UV printing are strong printing methods for one-sided applications, though UV and Latex deliver the best color-fastness-to-light results. While screen-printing is a suitable choice, design elements, such as photorealism or the amount of printable colors, will be limited and the hand of the fabric will be affected.”
桑德斯指出，直接分散打印技术将为广告材料的双面应用提供非常优良的透印效果。“染料升华、乳胶和UV打印技术主要应用于广告材料的单面印刷，并且UV和乳胶印刷的图像可以提供非常出色的耐色牢度。虽然丝网印刷也是一个非常理想的选择，但是类似图像写实或是打印颜色数量等设计元素会受到限制，织物的在后期处理时也会受到影响。”
He notes that when approaching any job, the best thing a customer can do is be transparent with their fabric, ink, and print providers. “Most of the time, complications arise when there is a lack of communication between the customer and their providers. For example, if the fabric provider does not know that the customer intends to make double-sided flags that will be outdoor long-term, they may not suggest a fabric at the right weight or construction to ensure optimal print through or with the correct finish to withstand the elements.”
他指出，在接触任何工作时，客户最好是将面料、油墨和印刷供应商之间的关系弄清楚。“在大多数情况下，客户和供应商之间缺乏沟通时容易出现相对复杂的情况。例如，如果面料供应商不知道客户打算制作长期在室外展示的双面旗，他们所提供的织物在重量和结构方面可能不能保证非常理想的透印效果，或是使打印效果能和相应的元素更加合适的融合在一起。”
Weiss adds that dye sub transfer gives users the best most vivid imagery. “Recently, direct dye sub and other direct methods are becoming much closer in output ability and since the industry feels that it’s quicker to print direct, machine manufacturers play on that and continue to design machines that are better and better. The print provider must again decide what is important to them and if they have the expertise to simply print direct or have workers that can properly transfer the print. For some direct print works best for their customers application.”
Weiss补充说：“染料转印为用户提供了色彩非常鲜活的图像。最近，直接印染和其他直接印刷方法在输出能力方面变得越来越接近，并且由于业内人士认为直接印刷速度更快，机器制造商开始在这方面努力研究，并继续设计出更好的机器。印刷供应商必须重新思考对他们来说重要的事情，以及他们是否具备直接印刷的专业知识，或是否拥有能够正确传输印刷品的工作人员。使他们的客户能够获得适合他们的直接打印成品。”
Lowe reports that dye sub and direct digital printing have similar end results that the average consumer won’t even notice. “With digital printing technology improving all the time, I find that each year there are fewer and fewer companies that do screen printing. Our company still offers screen printing and is the only way I’m aware of to print on Sunbrella fabric which is popular for small town light pole banners. We continue to offer appliqué using 200 denier nylon fabric as well. This process is still desired by some markets, such as school gymnasium and parade banners as well as large arena ceiling banners. There’s still something about that handcrafted look that appeals to some users.”
Lowe称：“染料转印和直接数码印刷的图形非常相似，一般消费者很难发现两者的差别。随着数字印刷技术的不断发展，我发现每年使用丝网印刷技术的公司越来越少。但是我们公司始终坚持丝网印刷，并且丝网印刷也是我所知道的唯一一种可以在赛百纶织物上印刷的方法，这种织物非常适用于小城镇的灯杆横幅。我们也继续使用200旦尼尔尼龙面料，这种技术仍然受到市场的欢迎，如学校体育馆和游行横幅以及大型竞技场天花板横幅就需要这种技术。一些用户对手工制作的外观非常感兴趣。”
Single- or Double-sided Printing Tips
关于单面或双面的打印提示
“When creating single- and double-sided flags the print provider needs to determine if they want a flag that shows graphics on one side or if they want a double-sided print with same or different image,” Weiss says.
Weiss说：“在制作单面和双面标识时，印刷供应商需要确定他们需要的是单面旗帜标识还是具有相同或不同的双面旗帜标识。”
“What our sales team does when they have questions in this area is to present our series of translucent flag fabrics based on their print method-whether they prefer dye sub transfer, direct UV, Latex or direct dye sub. ”
“当我们的销售团队在这方面有问题时，他们会根据他们的印刷方式向客户展示我们的半透明旗布系列——即使他们更喜欢染料转印、UV直接印刷、乳胶或直接染料印刷的印刷技术。”
Lowe explains that many of the flags and banners they print are single/reverse, which means the print reads correct on the front and have a reverse bleed through image on the backside. “This is ideal for outdoor flags flying on flagpoles as the single layer of fabric keeps the flags lightweight and fly well. We strongly advise against double-sided flags as they are comprised of three layers of fabric (front, back and liner) and don’t fly well. Light pole banners are generally double-sided and blade flags can be either single or double depending on the clients needs. Doubling a blade flag doubles the cost and most times isn’t necessary for the blade flag to be effective,” she concludes.
Lowe总结说：“大部分印刷的旗帜和横幅都是拥有正面和反面的，这就意味着当你从旗帜印刷的正面读取了正确的信息时，那么旗帜背面的图像就是相反的。我们强烈建议不要使用双面旗标识，因为这种标识通常由三层织物（正面、背面和衬里）组成，并不能在空中展现良好的漂浮性能。根据客户的需求，灯杆横幅通常是双面的，刀片标识可以是单面或双面的。不过制作双面的刀片标识也会将其成本增加一倍，并且大多数情况下，这种制作对于刀片标识来说都是不必要的。”
