Tension Fabric Graphics

Why are they called "Tension Fabric Graphics"? The word "tension" is used to describe the stretchy fabric that's become popular in trade show displays , because the stretchy fabric is almost always stretched tight (i.e., in engineering terms, it's under tension). 

Tension fabric printing is like a miracle cure when it comes to a unique, effective and stress-free trade show backdrop. No other exhibition graphic solution is as lightweight, easily assembled, low in cost or quickly updated. On top of all these innovative qualities, tension fabric displays offer a sleek, contemporary trade show backdrop look that attract the right attendees and customers to your company's custom trade show booth displays.

tension fabric trade show displays

Tension Fabric Capabilities

Is TENSION FABRIC reliable? The stretchy fabric backdrops and light-as-a-feather aluminum design that normally goes hand in hand with fabric graphics means light-weight displays and easy transportation in and out of trade show venues. These designs are also easy to set up and simple to store between shows. If it's a popup display with fabric graphics, you simply expand the lightweight, anodized aluminum pop-up frame and your tension fabric graphics (attached with Velcro or silicone edges (often called "SEG") become the star of the show. The collapsible aluminum frame allows your graphics to stay attached when the show is over.

Great Full Color, High Quality Printing. Tension fabric takes the dye sublimation process beautifully, especially for printing lifelike photographs. And ink jet printing on tension fabric produces sharp, stunning trade show backdrop graphics equally as well.

Wide Range of Tension Fabric Displays.There's a tension fabric size and shape for almost every need, from step and repeat banners to entire booths and everything in between! With customized, cost-effective and lightweight framing, the sky's the limit--or at least the ceiling of your next trade showDesign dreams can come alive in creative, free-form shapes, soaring trade show exhibit displays, eye catching three-dimensional structures and ceiling-hung signs, all designed to enhance your display's visibility.

Reduced Concern with Wrinkles. The unique composition of tension fabric is wrinkle-resistantso your trade show booths always look fresh and new so your display always looks fresh and new. This characteristic is improved because tension fabric graphics are, by the very nature, stretched out on the display, further reducing wrinkles. And tension fabric graphics can be machine washed (gentle cycle, gentle detergent, air cycle drying) if soiled or wrinkled due to improper storage. This sturdy fabric is also fade-, water- and fire-resistant, able to stand up to years of display use. This means you can use your tension fabric graphics inside or outside...whatever the weather!

Flowing, foldable and 3-dimensional fabric tension displays offer more versatility than other one-dimensional display products such as laminated panels. And there's a wide selection of colors, textures and opacities available for our tension fabric displays. Combined with direct or back lighting, company graphics come alive and garner eye-catching attention!

Tension fabric printed designs for your company's displays and exhibits can make your next trade show backdrop display stand out. That durable, easy care, stretchy fabric in combination with the lightweight aluminum frame offers superior portability, affordability, creativity and visibility, attracting more customers to your portable display. And they are not just great as a event backdrop - they are also used for corporate lobbies, museums, and shopping malls - anywhere you need to impress clients with a high quality, great looking graphic!

Tension fabric printing is an excellent solution for any person or industry involved in trade shows or other events where they need to present and change out their displays frequently and easily. The process entails printing on a durable, stretch fabric, normally by using a dye sublimation process. The final product will normally either attach using hook & loop tape (VELCRO®) or have a silicone gasket in its outer edge (Silicone Edge Graphics or SEG).

Advantages to Tension Fabric Printing:

  1. Tension fabric printing has sharpness and brilliant color saturation
  2. It's much lighter than the average display
  3. These displays are eco-friendly as materials can be recycled, and are also available printed using recycled fabric.
  4. Simple to ship with very little chance for damage in transit
  5. No glass or other rigid substrates needed, promising less installation concerns and much lower shipping costs
  6. Generate an "instant" mural or backdrop for any event

Tension fabric displays can be customized for any experience. They can be large and colorful enough to be seen across an auditorium.

Both the Velcro and the silicon bead enables the graphic to easily attach to the frame. The setup and dissassembly of tenson fabric printed graphics can normally be done in mere minutes.

This approach to creating professional displays is a good opportunity for museum exhibits, retail advertising, displays in airports, lobbies or hospitals, promotional events, and they make for outstanding architectural décor elements.

You can go from ad campaigns to decorative to retail display with tension fabric printing. You can even add backlighting to your fabric graphic to really grab attention.

Professional and innovative, they can be used to set up an exhibit booth or trade show display with no limit to the design, promote a campaign or event, display a brand in an impressive, yet not overwhelming, manner. With the possibility of rendering anything from a logo to photos, it’s a product that will return your investment in no time at all.

Printed tension fabric graphics are sturdy and promise a long, quality performance. They stretch just enough to eliminate wrinkles. They can be machine washed to remove collected dirt or grime. They will not shrink.  They are easily stored, ready for travel between shows - worst case, you can use a portable steamer to eliminate wrinkles from long term storage. Tension fabric printing is revolutionizing large custom exhibits with its ease of use and dependable quality.

Tension fabric printed graphics are offered for use in a large number of freestanding trade show displays, including hanging banners, floor standing banner stands, custom shaped towers, arches, and back walls - there are even custom fabric rooms.

We use tension fabric printing in countless trade show displays.  They can be prepared for modular set-ups, and can also be built to exacting specifications to fit your custom project. Supported trade show booths with tension fabric printing include:

  • Stretch Backdrops & 3-Dimensional Pop Ups
    • High quality tension fabric with vibrant color
    • Full custom graphics provided with dye-sublimation printing
    • Durable frameworks with lifetime warranties
    • Engineered frames keep the tension fabric graphic taut for a professional look
    • Portable designs offer simple, very easy setup and dismantle
  • Tension Fabric Table Covers & Counter Covers
    • Perfectly sized to fit 6' and 8' tables and counters
    • Inside leg pockets so table legs can be tucked inside to keep the stretchy material tight
    • Choice of traditional 4-sided covers with zippers and arched 3-sided covers
  • Stretch Fabric Ceiling Banners
    • Professional dye-sublimation printing
    • Several dozen sizes, shapes, and styles to choose from
    • Motorized ceiling hanger available to rotate your ceiling banner and attract more attention

Talk to us today about tension fabric printing and let's discuss the details of your display requirements. There are many, many ways you can take these versatile materials to create an unbelievably great looking, light weight, and easy to use displays.

What are Tension Fabric Displays, anyways?

The latest tension fabric display frames combine the best features of the other methods of exhibit booth construction, using light weight metal frames (popups, poles or extrusions) to create a framework for lightweight fabric graphics. The graphic for these fabric displays is made with "tension fabric", called that because it is slightly stretchy and is pulled tight when attached, to help eliminate wrinkles. These fabric graphics are lightweight and fold up compactly to ship, creating terrific and very portable displays.

Tension fabric graphics are attached to the frame in one of 3 main methods:

  1. With a hook and loop strip (Velcro) sewn onto the back of the fabric graphic, and a matching strip of velcro attached to the frame.
  2. Using silicone edges that are sewn onto the edge of the fabric, and pushed into a groove on the seg tension fabric frame ("pushfit" or SEG).
  3. Tension fabric graphics can also use a "pillow case" booth design, meaning the graphics is literally shaped like a pillow case, slipped over the frame, pulled tight and zipped shut. These tube frames covered with light weight fabric make high quality portable displays.

Tension fabric displays are smaller and more lightweight than traditional rigid graphics. Trade show backdrops constructed with tension fabric graphics can tower up and take command of the exhibition hall.

Many event displays are modular displays, meaning the frame sections can be combined to create larger or smaller (10x10 -> 10 x 20, 10x30, island shapes, etc) exhibits as needed.

A fabric backdrop is a product that is best printed with a process called dye-sublimation, which transfers very sharp, brilliant digital color images onto the fabric; these images do not run or smear. This process creates a striking effect that is very appealing and eye-catching. Dye sub printed fabric graphics can be machine washed in case they are soiled.