banner hemming with tape

[Shadowglen]

OK I have searched in tips and tricks trying to find help in the area of hemming my banners with double sided hem tape 1" no matter how I do it I seem to get creases and not always the straightest hems. If there is a thread on this already please point me there. I have seen many amazing tips on this board. any help is appreciated.

Thanks: Dave

 

[CS-SignSupply-TT]

Dave, are you trying to complete the hems by yourself, or with a second set of hands?

 

[J Hill Designs]

draw a line 2 1/8" inset on the back of the banner. lay down tape on that line. fold, starting in the middle working either way outwards. its simple and takes 5 mins.

 

[CS-SignSupply-TT]

laying banner tape

draw a line 2 1/8" inset on the back of the banner. lay down tape on that line. fold, starting in the middle working either way outwards. its simple and takes 5 mins.

Nicely said. Nicely done.

 

[steeltech]

Practice. My example, For 8 footers I pre-crease a 1" inset line without markings. Place the hemming tape down inside your crease and expose the top, fold the crease back over with about 18-24 inches separating your hands to properly get a straight, even line. Once the center is down, the outsides should flow to the ends and continue in a straight path. Once its pressed down by hand, I use a squeegee to press it down tight, and create a tight fold. There are folks who have done this longer than I have , and probably have greater tips. This is my method, and no one showed me how but I get pretty good results. The trick is to LIGHTLY press it down at the center then work your way out, because you can pull it up if its not to your liking. Once its down correct, press with squeegee. Presto Change-O!

 

[tsgstl]

most straight edges are 2"-2.5" wide just lay it down and mark it off (ON THE BACK) after a while you wont need to do this anymore.

 

[Shadowglen]

Dave, are you trying to complete the hems by yourself, or with a second set of hands?

Usually flying solo in the sign shop most everything on my own.

I will try the Line suggestion I was eyeballing before using the tape as a guide. Thanks I will practice on some banner scraps.

 

[J Hill Designs]

Yeah I used to put the tape on the edge and eyeball it, but when I found out about the 2 1/8" trick its now extremely simple (the extra 1/8" is for air pocket room)

I made an 8' straight edge @ 2 1/8" wide out of scrap sintra for easy line making

 

[Pat Whatley]

Like they said above the key for me has been drawing a line 2" up on the banner, applying the tape to that line, and then folding the material over that. You might still get a crease this way but it will be on the back so it's not seen.

 

[Mosh]

Practice, do 12" or so at a time and work along.

 

[westpointsigns]

I print a 1/8" outline 1" away from the finished size around the banner for trimming.

If the inside of the banner is white inside then I print a box that is going to be the finished size and another outline (1" from the finished size outline) that is my edge so I have a trim line and an outline in which to fold to.

From there I tape the edge and fold it over to the banner edge outline starting from the middle working to one side then to the other.

Straight and Square every time.

 

[eahicks]

Practice. My example, For 8 footers I pre-crease a 1" inset line without markings. Place the hemming tape down inside your crease and expose the top, fold the crease back over with about 18-24 inches separating your hands to properly get a straight, even line. Once the center is down, the outsides should flow to the ends and continue in a straight path. Once its pressed down by hand, I use a squeegee to press it down tight, and create a tight fold. There are folks who have done this longer than I have , and probably have greater tips. This is my method, and no one showed me how but I get pretty good results. The trick is to LIGHTLY press it down at the center then work your way out, because you can pull it up if its not to your liking. Once its down correct, press with squeegee. Presto Change-O!

Yes this method!....but I tape the edge first, then pre-crease along the edge of the tape....its very easy to 'feel' where it needs to crease. Then peel off the liner, start in the middle and work your way down, pressing firmly. After it's all down, we use a J roller to press it to a nice crisp edge. I can run a 4' x 20' banner on our table in about 10 minutes.

 

[bob]

The reason you get wrinkles, folds, and creases is that you're not holding the banner material flat on the table through the entire taping process. The trick is to leave your long rule laying on the banner to help hold it flat and keep it from moving. Winkles and stuff happen because the banner material is not being held flat and motionless on the table top.

Step by step...

First draw a 2" line. I use a 2" wide 6' rule aligned to the edge of the banner material. I draw the l2" line on all four edges

I set the 6' rule on the banner about 1.5"-2" in. This holds the banner flat. If the banner is relatively small I'll add a few architect's paper weights, shot filled leather bags, to hold it flat.

I put the tape on the edge of the banner and not at the 2" line.

Once I put the tape down I run an old squeegee over it such that the fabric pattern in the banner material shows in the backing on the tape.

Then I move the 6' rule to slightly inside the 2" line. Still using it to hold the banner material flat.

Remove the tape backing and fold to the 2" line using a Brayer roller in a constant black and forth motion at a slight angle to the edge.

 

[ChicagoGraphics]

The easy way of doing it is, when you print your banners let's use 48"x96" full color, make your art board 50"x98" and print a 0.0001 stroke line around your banner, now you trim it on that black lineand should be an inchof white space,flip it over lay your tape on the edge and fold from the center. No need to draw any lines, it's as easy as 1-2-3

 

[GAC05]

We don't tape many banners here - the weather tends to cause failures with tape.
When we do for interior or short term stuff we do it kinda like bob - but a little faster.
No drawn lines just tape on the edge, pre-crease using the tape as a guide.
I start at the end, set a few inches and then use a quick grip spring clamp so that I can pull the seam straight and tight as I fold the rest down the line.
(have a 16ft table so I can set the top and bottom hems without moving most banners)
It leaves a very smooth, clean fold.

wayne k
guam usa

 

[2B]

The easy way of doing it is, when you print your banners let's use 48"x96" full color, make your art board 50"x98" and print a 0.0001 stroke line around your banner, now you trim it on that black lineand should be an inchof white space,flip it over lay your tape on the edge and fold from the center. No need to draw any lines, it's as easy as 1-2-3

Same principal works for the white background banners do a box that is the correct size that then finished banner needs to be, print the box as a faint line border only so when you turn the banner over and apply the tape it is hemmed until the faint line is in the crease of the hem

also the denier in the banner can be used as a guide for the hemmed edge.

 

[Shadowglen]

Thanks all!

Used the 2 1/8" line method and it went off perfect.

 

[Tim Aucoin]

Here's a video of me hemming a 4' x 14' banner using tape (there were 6 banners for this particular job). I'm taping along the edge and folding in, BUT... I have also used the Onyx Sign & Banner Plug-In for Illustrator on the print file. This plug-in automatically adds 1" bleed and prints a line (color is my choice) 1" in from the bleed. I trim the banner to the edge of the bleed, turn it over, tape it, then I fold it in creasing on the printed line. Very simple, and very fast.

Oh yes... the plug-in also prints grommet marks at whatever intervals I specify. Great little tool if you do banners on a regular basis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OKVTo7st0w

 

[Shadowglen]

Thanks I have seen that video several times in my search for tips. I always go to you tube. Your commentary is what through me off Tim. :Big Laugh

I was digging Jackson Brown then the Bee Gees jumped in. It makes more sense now.

I saw the area that looked like a grommet hole yesterday and wondered what was up. Now I understand.

Thanks:
Dave