4 Types Of Vinyl Banner Material

Four common types of vinyl banner material are frontlit, backlit, blockout, and mesh.

Choose Vinyl Banner Material by Display Type

Your display	Material type	What to compare
Signs viewed in daylight or lit from the front	Frontlit Banner	Finish, backing, and fixing method
Light boxes with lamps behind the graphic	Backlit Banner	Print appearance with lights on and off
Graphics that hide the background or face two directions	Blockout Banner	Opaque layer and printable sides
Fence and building graphics that allow airflow	Mesh Banner	Open weave and printing liner

1. Frontlit Banner

For shop promotions and outdoor billboards, start with frontlit vinyl banner material. It uses daylight or lamps in front of the sign to show the graphic. Choose a matte or gloss finish, then select the backing for the display. Compare weight and base-fabric construction by model.

White coated frontlit PVC banner material with a smooth print face and reinforced base

Here’s Why It’s Popular:

Uses:
- Outdoor billboards and wall signs.
- Shop promotion banners.
- Event signs and exhibition graphics.
Popular options:
- Coated and laminated banners.
- Matte and gloss finishes.
- White-back, grey-back, and black-back versions.
Weights & models:
- LFG35/340: 340 g/m², gloss laminated frontlit banner.
- LFM11/440: 440 g/m², matte laminated frontlit banner.
- CFM11/440: 440 g/m², matte coated frontlit banner.
- CFM11/510: 510 g/m², matte coated frontlit banner.
Roll sizes: Listed models: 50 m rolls; widths from 1 to 3.2 m, plus 5 m.
Advantages:
- Flexible rolls for large-format printing.
- Can be finished with hems, grommets, and pole pockets.
- A choice of finishes and backings for different displays.

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2. Backlit Banner

Choose backlit vinyl banner material when the lamps sit behind the graphic. This translucent material lets light pass through the printed face of a shop sign or shopping-center light box. Compare the same printed sample with the lights on and off, then check its fit with the light box frame.

Translucent laminated PVC backlit banner material for illuminated sign faces

Here’s Why It’s Popular:

Uses:
- Illuminated shop signs.
- Shopping-center light box graphics.
- Large indoor and outdoor flexible sign faces.
Popular options:
- Laminated backlit banners.
- Coated backlit banners.
Display method: The material forms the sign face, with the light source behind it.
Weights & models:
- LBG55/440: 440 g/m², laminated backlit banner.
- CBM11/510: 510 g/m², coated backlit banner.
- LBG55/610: 610 g/m², laminated backlit banner.
- CBG11/610: 610 g/m², coated backlit banner.
Roll sizes: Listed models: 50 m rolls; widths from 1 to 3.2 m, plus 5 m.
Advantages:
- A translucent surface for illuminated graphics.
- Flexible rolls for large light box faces.
- Different base fabrics and weights to choose from.

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3. Blockout Banner

For retail signs viewed from both sides, choose double-sided printable blockout vinyl banner material. Its opaque layer separates the two printed images. Single-sided versions serve graphics that only need to hide the background. Select the printable sides as well as the blockout construction when choosing a model.

White coated PVC blockout banner material showing its opaque inner layer

Here’s Why It’s Popular:

Uses:
- Retail hanging signs and two-sided displays.
- Exhibition and event backdrops.
- Graphics that need to hide the background.
Popular options:
- Laminated blockout banners for single-sided printing.
- Coated blockout banners for double-sided printing.
Weights & models:
- CDM2525/440: 440 g/m², double-sided printable coated banner.
- LDM11B1/510: 510 g/m², single-sided printable laminated banner.
- CDM55/610: 610 g/m², double-sided printable coated banner.
- CDM11/800: 800 g/m², double-sided printable coated banner.
Roll sizes: Listed models: 50 m rolls; widths from 1 to 3.2 m, plus 5 m.
Advantages:
- An opaque layer keeps light from showing through.
- Double-sided versions display messages in two directions.
- Flexible material for hanging signs and framed graphics.

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4. Mesh Banner

Choose mesh vinyl banner material for fence graphics and building wraps that need an open structure. The holes let air and some light pass through. Select the mesh construction and liner setup together: a printing liner catches ink passing through the holes; linerless mesh requires the printer manufacturer’s specified ink collection setup.

Open weave of white PVC coated mesh banner material for printed outdoor graphics

Here’s Why It’s Popular:

Uses:
- Building wraps.
- Construction fence advertising.
- Sports fences and event barriers.
Popular options:
- Mesh supplied with a printing liner.
- Linerless mesh.
- Black-back and double-sided printable mesh.
Weights & models:
- M99P: 340 g/m², supplied with a liner.
- M1212NP: 360 g/m², supplied with a liner.
- M1212D: 400 g/m², double-sided printable mesh.
- M1212B: 240 g/m², black-back mesh without a liner.
Roll sizes: Listed models: 50 m rolls; widths from 1 to 3.2 m, plus 5 m.
Advantages:
- The open weave lets air pass through.
- Some natural light reaches the covered area.
- Panels can be joined to make large graphics.

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After Choosing the Type, Compare These 4 Details

Weight and base fabric: The g/m² figure is the material weight per square meter. Compare the model, base fabric, and finish as well as weight. A heavier material does not by itself mean a brighter or longer-lasting sign.
Width and layout: Include hems or pole-pocket allowances in the print layout before choosing the roll width. The models listed here come in 50 m rolls, with widths from 1 to 3.2 m, plus 5 m.
Printing and samples: Print a sample with the planned printer, ink, and settings. Check small text, solid colors, and drying or curing. Also check backlit prints with the light box switched on.
Finishing and installation: Plan the hems, grommets, pole pockets, or frame grips around the display design. Make one finished sample before starting the full production run.

Why Choose UNISIGN?

Four material ranges: Frontlit, backlit, blockout, and mesh for common sign and display applications.
Clear product choices: Compare weight, finish, backing, and width by model.
Samples and quotes: Get material samples to compare the surface, feel, and print results.
Support for roll buyers: Product details and order support for print shops, sign makers, and distributors.

Start with the display: frontlit for signs lit from the front, backlit for light boxes, blockout to hide the background, and mesh for graphics with airflow. Contact UNISIGN for samples and a quote.