Trade Show Graphic

How should I handle my Trade Show Graphic prints to prevent damage?

These graphics are very durable so using common sense when handling them is usually sufficient. Any physical damage that would cause a scratch or dent in a laminated print will do the same to this material, but it could also remove some of the ink, so it would look worse. Here are some things you can do to keep your graphics looking good.

• Avoid creasing the material when installing it or rolling it for storage.
• Don't bang the edges of the graphic against the ground or other hard objects. The print is most fragile on the edges and this can cause the ink to chip.
• When packing your display, make sure the graphics are packed in such a way that the frame or other hardware that is stored or shipped with the graphics can't shift position and cause damage.

How should my trade show graphics be rolled?

Generally, you want to roll the graphics so that any residual curling of the material is towards the display. For pop up displays or any other style where the back of the graphic attaches to the display, you would ideally roll your graphics with the image on the outside. That way any residual curling of the material would be toward the display, preventing them from pulling loose from the frame, especially if they are held in place by magnets.

If your graphics were rolled the opposite way and you are having trouble getting them to stay attached to the display, you can roll them out flat and leave them for a few hours to relax. If you need to accelerate the process, you can roll the graphics the opposite way as tightly as you can without creasing them, and leave them rolled for as long as you can. Even leaving them rolled like this for 5-10 minutes will help, but it may take 20 minutes to an hour to flatten them out more completely.

Can you print new graphics to fit my existing trade show display?

Absolutely! For many brands of trade show displays, we know the specifications for the graphics, but for others, we may need some information in order to ensure the graphics are produced properly since each brand and model is a little different and it's important for full mural graphics to be extremely precise. If you can provide us with the brand and model of your display, we can get the necessary information. If you don't know the brand and model, we may need the display, the existing panels, or some detailed measurements in order to produce your new graphics. For pop up booths, there is also panel hanging hardware that is attached to the top, and usually the bottom, of each panel that allows the panels to hook onto the display at the top. Unfortunately, it seems every manufacturer makes these panels hangers differently so if you want to keep your existing graphics in addition to your new ones, you will need new panel hangers as well. Again, with the correct information we can usually get these for you. If you aren't keeping your old graphics, we can remove the old panel hangers and reuse them which will save you some money.

Why don't the graphic panels from another company stick to my pop up frame?

Most people don't realize there are many different kinds of magnets that are used for trade show displays, and every manufacturer seems to use a different kind. It's important to use the type of magnet that matches the display or the graphics won't stick properly. If you have graphics that don't stick to your frame, they either have the wrong kind of magnets, are dirty, or the magnets have lost their strength. Check and make sure the surface of the magnets are clean, as that can obviously have an effect. Also make sure the magnetic channels on the booth itself are clean. If your panels stuck properly at one time but don't stick properly any more, and you've tried cleaning them, they probably need to be replaced. Otherwise, they are most likely the wrong kind. We keep all the different styles of magnet on hand so we can use the correct type for each display. If we don't know, or can't find out, the correct magnets to use for a particular display, we can test your existing display to determine the correct type.

My old graphics are coming apart on the edges. Will yours do that, too?

There are several different ways to make panels for trade show displays, and like most things, there are more companies that do what's cheapest and easiest for them rather than what's best for the customer. Since the finished products tend to look similar, it's easy to get away with this, but all kinds of problems can occur when cheap materials are used. The most common problems come from using paper prints to make trade show panels. They will typically have a backer and a laminate to give them the thickness and rigidity necessary, and to make them look like higher end graphics. This kind of three piece construction is a bad idea for rollable graphics, and is particularly bad when there is paper in the center. As the graphics are rolled and unrolled, each part of this makeup is subjected to different stresses depending on which way the graphic is rolled so ultimately the paper in the center is left to absorb this stress and eventually will peel apart. The other problem that can damage any graphic is impact on the edges of one of the panels. When this happens, it puts a dent in the graphic and can cause the materials to separate. If the graphic is made from paper, this type of impact will cause the paper to split, and there is no way to repair this when it happens. To make matters worse, this will create a weak spot in the graphic that will spread and get worse as the graphics are rolled unrolled. That's why all our trade show graphics are made with a one piece construction that uses opaque polyester base film. This produces the greatest color depth, best print quality, and greatest durability. The different products we offer use different thicknesses of the film, but they are a one piece construction so that they will stay looking good over a long period of time.

Can I replace just one or two panels of my trade show display without reprinting them all?

This is generally not a good idea, but it is possible. If each panel of your booth is different where alignment and color matching isn't an issue, then there's no reason why you couldn't do this, but there are several potential issues if you are trying to replace one or two panels of a continuous mural. Certainly if you are having a different printing company make the new panels, the color will not match your previous panels, and the material itself could easily be different as well. We are particularly good at producing repeatable color, but even so, it could be difficult to get an exact color match to a previous job due to many factors including the fact that the materials get changed by the manufacturers from time to time. Plus, the process of producing a multi-panel mural involves very precise alignment and trimming, so trying to substitute panels later could create some alignment issues.

So, while it is possible, we don't recommend doing it unless your design is such that subtle color and alignment differences would not be a problem.