How to choose your perfect printed backdrop?
ShowTex Middle East
Part of the ShowTex group ? Scenic fabrics, curtain tracks and reveal systems for event and entertainment professionals
Are you looking to turn your artwork into a stunning branded concept for your stage, event or venue? The ShowTex in-house production team has the capacity and knowledge to do that for you. With 3m and 5m wide printers for high-resolution imaging, all your wide format printing needs are covered.
But how do you select the ideal printed backdrop??Make your choice from an extensive collection of polyester and PVC materials, acoustic fabrics or eco-friendly solutions, all with their own characteristics to suit your project. On top of that, all ShowTex print fabrics are fire-rated according to the European standards!
What are your printing options?
There are?3 main printing techniques?to keep in mind, each with their own specifications:?direct sublimation, transfer printing and UV printing.?Depending on the type of fabric you need and your deadline, the ideal printing process will be different. Let's take a closer look.
1. Direct Sublimation
Especially when you're on a?tight deadline, direct sublimation is a good option. This?fast printing?technology yields?impressive colour results?for backdrops made of?100% polyester,?both for?front- and backlighting.
The printer’s sticky belt transport system allows you to?print?on stretch fabrics, delicate?sheers?and?mesh?textiles.?As the solid dyes are converted into gas and directly injected into the fabric, these backdrops will also fully maintain their specific look and feel after printing.
And there's more! You can?save on transport costs?as well, as backdrops printed with direct sublimation?can be folded.?The folding lines are hardly visible and will even totally disappear after tensioning the fabric.
2. Transfer Printing
This exciting printing technique suits fabrics with at least?80% polyester?and can?print up to 315cm wide.?It will first print your design on a special paper before transferring it onto the fabric using heat. You'll be amazed by the extremely detailed print this method leaves on your drape!
Because of the transfer paper, this technique allows you to?print?on very specific materials such as velvet, Molton and satin.?You should, however, keep in mind that this is a rather slow printing process that is less suitable for large quantity projects.
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Does your design require a?very special fabric??Let's fire up the transfer printer and surprise you with a?super sharp impression and brilliant colours!
3. UV Printing
Going?extra wide??The UV printer is suitable for?100% polyester textiles and flexible PVC materials up to 505cm wide!
The?speed and accuracy?of this printer are remarkable, whether you opt?for?a?frontlit?or a backlit drape.?Either way, you'll end up with a?high-quality image?printed at?dazzling speeds.?Perfect for short deadlines.
By?combining different printing profiles and fabrics,?you can also use UV printing to?create stunning special effects.?A partial blackout/backlit effect or a striking glossy/matte contrast just to name a few.?There are of course a lot more options!
The UV machine can even print on PVC projection screens,?which can then be welded almost seamlessly to create enormous printed backdrops up to any size.?
To top it all off, the flexible UV ink makes your prints?easy to tighten and even foldable for transportation.
We love to give you more advice on how to choose the ideal printed backdrop for your project!