Friday, May 31, 2013

How to Design and Order Decals Online

You Can Now Design Decals in Our Online Designer!

Decals are a form of sticker that you can apply to cars, trucks, boats, windows and other materials to advertise your company or as a form of decoration. Our standard finishing for decals is square cut. If you need a dye cut decal, you will need to work with a graphic designer to make sure the cut paths work correctly.

Choose your Decal Material
Depending on your needs, we have three different types of materials available: 3M Controltac, Calendered Vinyl with Lamination and High Performance Cast Vinyl with Lamination.You will need to select a material to begin.

Getting Started on Your Custom Decal
Once you are on the product page, there are two easy steps.
  • Step 1: Choose Size and Quantity
  • Step 2: Choose Design Method
Selecting the Decal Size and Quantity
The decals are sized in half foot increments. You will need to select the height and width from the drop down menu. You will also need to select the quantity of decals. Please note this is the quantity per artwork file. If you need multiple artwork files, you will need to design each one separately.
Decals: Choose the size and quantity
Step 1: Choose Decal Size and Quantity
Choosing the Design Method: Pick a Template, Upload a File or Let us Design
There are three different ways to order your decals. You can pick a template, upload a file that you have already created, or you can have one of our designers design the decal for you (pick this method if you need a shape cut decal).
Decals: Pick your Design Method
Step 2: Choose Decal Design Method
We will be discussing the picking a template and designing your decal in the online designer.

How to Start Designing a Decal in the Online Designer
If there is a template that you would like to customize, all you have to do is put your mouse over the template and click on the "Customize Template" button. This will take you into the online designer. All of the templates are fully customizable. You can also start from scratch by selecting the "Blank Template" option.
Decal Template in the Online Designer
View of the Decal Template in the Online Designer

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Wedding Planning: Banners, Yard Signs & Flags!

Wedding Season is Here - How to Use Banners, Yard Signs & Flags at your Wedding

How to Use Banners, Yard Signs and Flags at Your Wedding
There are lots of ways that you can incorporate banners, yard signs, table runners and flags at your wedding! From "Just Married Banners" and Yard Signs directing people to your reception, we have you covered!

Directional Banners and Signs
Wedding Reception Directional BannerWhen planning your big day, you will want to make sure that all of your guests make it to the wedding and reception without difficulties. If you have people who aren't familiar with the area, the best way to avoid people getting lost is to put up banners or signs directing people to the wedding and reception.

Wedding Reception Banners and Signs
At the wedding reception you can use a banner as a backdrop for the wedding party. You can put the wedding couple's name and wedding date on the banner. You can also make a banner for people to sign and put well wishes on (like a big guest book). Banners also work well to display pictures of the couple and information like how and where they met.You can also have a fabric banner or fabric flag that displays the couple's name and wedding date.

Wedding Reception Decorations
Wedding Reception Table RunnerIf you want to have a fancy wedding party table, you can get custom table runners made. The table runners are printed in full color so you can add photographs and text. You can also have removable wall graphics made to display. You can have the couple's name and wedding date, or you can put pictures of the couple up at the reception. Another popular option is to have a floor graphic made for the dance floor for the couple's first dance.

Just Married Wedding Banner TemplateJust Married Banners
You can also make banners that say "Just Married" with the couple's name and wedding date on it to put at the reception or on the vehicle that will be transporting the newlyweds.

Click here to get started on your wedding banners and signs!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Banners.com has lots of Father's Day Gifts for your Dad!

Father's Day is June 16th - be sure to get your Dad a gift he will remember this year!
Father's Day Banner
 Father's Day Decals
Create a customized "Number One Dad" decal or other custom decal for your father to display on his vehicle. You can also make bumper stickers that say "Best Dad Ever" or "Number One Dad". You can create customized decals and bumper stickers in our online designer.
Best Dad Ever Bumper Sticker for Father's Day
"Best Dad Ever" Bumper Sticker
Vehicle Decals and Wraps
If your dad has a boat, 4-wheeler, jet ski, motorcycle or other toy, you can get him a customized decal to put on it! You can do a small decal, or you can do a whole wrap on one of our three decal materials. Click here to get started on your decal.

Framed Canvas Wall Art for Dad
Canvas Wall Art makes a great gift for your Father! You can put your dad's favorite photograph on a canvas - whether it is a family photograph, a photo of his big buck, or scenery pictures, we can turn your photograph in to a custom canvas print!
Framed Canvas Wall Art for Father's Day
Father's Day Canvas Wall Art
You can also put a sentimental quote on a canvas, or your dad's favorite quote. Click here to get started on your Canvas Wall Art.

Father's Day Party Ideas
If you are having a Father's Day Party, be sure to decorate with a Father's Day Banner! We have templates available to customize, or you can design your own by adding backgrounds, clip art, photographs and text. You can also upload your own file or work with our graphic designers. Click here to get started on a banner.

What are you going to get your Dad for Father's Day?

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Marathon, Half Marathons, 10K and 5K Banners

How to Order Banners for Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K and 5K Races

Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K Race Banners and Signs
Planning a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and other races can be a challenge! There are lots of items to consider like planning the course, advertising for the race, registration, organizing volunteers, etc... Although we don't have all the answers, we can help you with all of your banners and signs for your race!

Race Advertising Banners and Signs

Before the race, you want to make sure that people know about your event! The best way to do this is to advertise your race with banners and signs! You should include the name of the race, the date and time of the race, race sponsors, contact information and registration information. You can also include any other relevant information, like registration fees, or if the race is for a charity. 
Race Advertising Banners and Signs
Race Advertising Banner
Registration Banners and Signs

On the day of the event, you will want to make it easy for people to find the registration area. You can display yard signs in the parking lots and shuttle areas with arrows leading the way to the registration area. At the registration area you will want to have a large banner labeled registration so people can easily find it.
Registration Banners and Signs
Registration Banner
Start Line Banners and Signs

It is important to clearly mark the start line of your race. People need to clearly see where the start line is so they can congregate there at the beginning of the race.
Start Line Banners
Start Line Banner

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Rate your Banners.com Experience

Banners.com now participates in Reseller Ratings

We just signed up as an official "Merchant Member" at Reseller Ratings. We would love to hear about your  Banners.com experience! All you have to do is fill out a quick review. You can get started on your review by clicking here.

Step 1: Write a Review

In this step you will write anywhere from 25 characters to 5000 characters about your order experience.
Your Review of Banners.om
Step 2: A Quick Survey

There are a series of questions related to Banners.com products, shipping, customer service and user experience that you will rate with a star.

A Quick Survey of Banners.com
When you are done, click on the "Finish and Share It" Button and your review will be posted! You can get started on your review by clicking here.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Online Orders: We Now Accept Checks!

Website Update: Order Banners Online with a Check!

We are happy to announce that you can now order banners, banner stands, yard signs and all of our other products online and pay for them with a check instead of a having to use a credit card.

How to Pay with a Check

The first step is to design all of your products and add them to the cart. Verify the finishing options and quantities are correct, apply any promotion codes you have and enter in your shipping zip code. Select your shipping method and click proceed to checkout.

Once you are on the checkout page, enter in all of your billing information. When you scroll down, the payment information is set to "Credit Card" by default.
Payment information - Credit Card default option
From the drop down, select "Check" instead of the "Credit Card" option.
Payment information - Check option
After you have typed the Captcha, click the "Review My Order" button to proceed to the Order Review page. If everything looks correct click on the "Approve Designs & Process Order" button.

A customer service representative will contact you to give you instructions on where to send the check. If you are placing your order with a check your order will not go into production until we receive the check.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Memorial Day Banners and Signs

Memorial Day Banners and Signs

Memorial Day is a day to honor all Americans who have died serving their country in the armed forces. It is also a mark that summer has begun and is a weekend full of cemetery visits, parades, family gatherings, celebrations and shopping excursions. There are lots of ways that you can use banners and signs for your Memorial Day events!

Support our Troops Memorial Day Banners and Signs

Support our Troops banners and signs are very popular for Memorial Day. People will display the signs in their yards. You can also put signs up for your family members who are in the military, or for family members who have served in the military.
Support our Troops Memorial Day Banners and Signs

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Church Banners and Signs

Common Church Banner and Sign Uses 

There are lots of ways Churches can use banners and signs to make an impact.  Church banners and signs are typically made out of vinyl, but we also have fabric church banners available. Churches can hang banners inside or outside for holidays like Easter and Christmas or events like Advent, Lent, Confirmation, First Communion, Sunday School and Pentecost.

Indoor Church Banner and Sign Uses

Lots of churches hang banners and signs with scripture reading and Psalms inside the church. Banners can also be used as backdrops.Banners are commonly used inside the church to let people know where to go. Examples include where the nursery is, where the office is, where the Sunday School rooms are, where the bathrooms are and where the choir meets.

Outdoor Church Banner and Sign Uses

Banners can be placed outside Churches to display the service times, Sunday School times and the church contact information. They can also be used to let guests know they are welcome. If there are special events, like Baptisms, First Communion and Confirmation, a church can display a banner outside so people know what's going on. Special services like Lent, Easter and Christmas can also be promoted with outdoor banners. Bible schools, church camps and other youth events also use banners for registration booths, activity booths and to direct people where to go.

Church Banner Templates

We have lots of Church Banner Templates created. The templates are fully customizable - you can add text, clip art, photographs, logos and backgrounds.
Template categories include Confirmation, First Communion, Baptism, Advent, Lent, Sunday School, Pentecost, Christmas and Easter.

How else do you use Church Banners and Signs? Leave a comment with other ideas!

Friday, May 10, 2013

Full Color Banners vs Text Only Banners

We get a lot of questions about the differences between our Full Color Banners and Text Only Banners.

Full Color Banners & Text Only Banners Similarities

Both types of banners are printed on our high quality 13 oz scrim vinyl. This material can be used indoors and outdoors and has a life expectancy of 3-5 years. These banners include heat welded hems and grommets, which provide added durability and make the banner easy to hang. Banners can be printed up to 16 feet wide by 50 feet in length without seams.

About Full Color Banners

Full Color Banners are digitally printed in full color. You can add unlimited text, photos, clip art, logos etc. There is a library of clip art images and backgrounds available for you to use as well. You can also upload your own photographs and images to customize the banners.

Full Color Banners - Online Designer
There are three ways to order Full Color Banners - Design Online, Upload a File or Work with a Graphic Designer. When you place your order, you can have your order go straight into production after payment is received, or you can select the option to receive a proof. When you select to receive a proof your order will not go into production until you approve the proof that you receive.
  
About Text Only Banners

Thursday, May 9, 2013

How to Make a Graduation Banner

How to Make a Graduation Banner

Graduation Banners are an excellent way to congratulate someone on their graduation. But, how do you make a custom graduation banner? At Banners.com it's easy to get a graduation banner. We have graduation banner templates already built for you to customize by adding text, photographs, clipart and backgrounds.

Getting Started on Your Graduation Banner

To get started, go to our Graduation Banner Page.
Banners.com Graduation Banners Page











Once you are on the page, there are three easy steps
  • Step 1: Choose Size and Quantity
  • Step 2: Choose Add-Ons
  • Step 3: Choose Design Method
 Selecting the Banner Size and Quantity

The first step is to select the banner size and quantity. Our most common sizes are 3' x 6' banners and 4' x 8' banners, but you can get any size up to 16' by 50' without seams.

Step 1: Choose Size and Quantity







Choosing the Banner Add Ons / Finishing Options

Our standard finishing for vinyl banners is hems and grommets. This makes the banner durable and easy to hang. We also have pole pockets, reinforced corners and reinforced hems. When you select the different options, you will see the price adjust.
Step 2: Choose Add Ons










Choosing your Design Method: Pick a Template, Upload a File or Let Us Design

We have three different ways to order graduation banners. You can pick one of our templates, upload a file that you have already created, or you can have one of our graphic designers design the banner for you.

We will be discussing picking a template and designing your banner in the online designer.

Pick a Graduation Banner Template to Customize

Now is the fun part - picking a graduation banner template!

















How to Start Designing a Graduation Banner Template

Once you have picked a template, all you have to do is put your mouse over the template and click on the "Customize Template" button. This will take you into the online designer. All of the templates are fully customizeable.

View of the Template in the Online Designer
Once you are in the designer, you can add a photograph of the graduate, you can add clipart from our clipart library, you can change the background images, and you can add and change the text. In order to select these options, click on the buttons at the top of the designer
Add Text, Add Clipart, Upload Image or Add Background Buttons









Selecting Graduation Clipart

Click on the "Add CLIPART" Button. This will open up a popup of all of our clipart. Scroll down until you reach the "Graduations" category. When you click, the graduation clipart will load.

Graduation Clipart
















Click on an image and it will be added to your design. You can then re-size and rotate the image.

Adding Backgrounds / Changing Backgrounds

If you would like to browse the backgrounds, click on the "Add BCKGND" Button. This will open a popup of all of our backgrounds. Scroll down until you find a category. Click on the category and it will load all of the backgrounds.
Pick a Background
















Click on a background you want to load and click the "Insert Background" button.

Once you have finished your design and you would like to begin the checkout process, click on the "Accept Design" button. If you would like to design another banner, or select another product, click on the "Save for Later" button.





Click here for more information on how to use the online designer. If you would like to get started on your graduation banner, click here to go to our graduation banner page.

Three Ways to Order Banners Online at Banners.com

Three Ways to Order Banners Online

There are now three easy ways to order banners online from Banners.com.
  1. Design Online with Templates
  2. Upload a File
  3. Let us Design 
Once you get to your product, select your size, quantity and your preferred method of ordering:
Three Ways to Order Banners Online

 Design Online with Template

You can either select a template that we have created, or select a blank template to get into the online designer. Once you are in the online designer you can add text, select clipart, upload photos and browse backgrounds.

Click for more information on how to use the online designer

Upload a File

If you have created your own files, you can easily upload them to our site by selecting the "upload a file" button. You will be taken into the online designer to make sure that the banner will print correctly.

Let us Design

If you are more comfortable having someone else design your banner, you can select the "let us design" option. You can upload any logos, artwork and photographs that you want to include on the banner. One of our graphic designers will create a banner for you based on your specifications and send you a proof for you to approve.

Click here to get started on a full color vinyl banner

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

How to use the Online Designer

How to Use the Online Designer to Make Banners

If you want to design a banner online, you can use our new online designer.We have created templates in all kinds of categories - Holidays, Sports, Political, Real Estate, Schools and much more! Or, you can create your own banner using a blank template. Once you are in the designer you can browse backgrounds and clip art and add text. You can also upload your own logos and photographs.

Update: You can now copy and paste in the online designer! We have updated blog posts on how to copy and paste clip art and how to copy and paste text.

Designing Online
To get into the online designer you will either need to select a "Blank Template" or click on a template to customize from the product page. Once you get into the online designer you will see the buttons to Add Text, Add Clipart, Upload Images and Add Backgrounds.
Online Designer Blank Template
Online Designer Blank Template

Adding a Background
 To add a background select the "Add BCKGND" button at the top of the screen.
Add Background Button
Add Background Button
A screen will pop up where you will be able to browse by different categories of backgrounds.
Pick a Banner Background
Pick a Background
Background Toolbar
Click on a background category to see the images in that category. Click on a background you want and click the "Insert Background" button and it will be added to your design.

If you want to change the background, you can repeat the process. You can also click on the "Remove Background Image" button on the left sidebar. You can also upload your own background image by clicking on the "Upload File" button.

If you just want a solid color for a background you can select a color from the color menu on the left sidebar.


Adding Text
To add text, select the "Add TEXT" button at the top of the screen.

Add Text Button
Add Text Button
After you have clicked the button, a text  box will open on the screen that says "Double click to edit". You can either double click the text or select the text box on the side. Once you have added your text, you can make the text larger or smaller by moving the red box on the screen. You can change the font by using the drop down menu on the left side of the screen. You can change the color by selecting a color from the left side bar.
Double Click to Edit Text Box
Double Click to Edit Text Box
Text Box located on the left side of the designer
Text Box located on the left side of the designer

Add Clipart
To add clipart, select the "Add CLIPART" button at the top of the screen.

Add Clipart Button
Add Clipart Button
Once you click the button a window will pop onto the screen where you will be able to browse through the clip art categories. Click on a clip art category to view the images in that category. Click on a clip art image to add it to your design.

Insert clipart
When the clip art is in the designer, it will have a red box with eight circles around the image. You can re-size the clipart by selecting one of the eight circles and moving your mouse. If you click "Ctrl" and move the mouse the image will keep its proportions. You can also move the image to the front or to the back by clicking on the up arrow or the down arrow. The red circle will revert your image to its original size and shape. The trash can will delete the image. You will be able to move the clip art by selecting it and moving it to the desired location, or you can use the arrows on your keyboard.
Clip Art in the Online Designer
Clip Art in the Online Designer
Upload Image
To upload your own image, select the "Upload IMAGE" button at the top of the screen

Upload Image Button
Upload Image Button
Once you click the button a window will pop up where you can select your desired files from your own computer. Files should not be larger than 100 MB.

Placing your Order
Once your design is done, click on the blue "Accept Design" button on the top of the page or the bottom of the page. After you select the button you will be taken to the product options page where you can select the finishing options.
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