What is a Feather Flag?
A feather flag is an advertising banner that is used by businesses, event organizers, and many others to promote their business, brand, or event. The name “feather flag” comes from the shape of the flag that is like a bird’s feather (a.k.a quill). Feather flags allow for businesses to advertise by taking up very little space, which makes them great for high-density areas or locations with little space (such as trade shows, dense cities, indoor malls and etc).
How Much do Feather Flags Cost?
Depending on the size, style, and hardware chosen, a feather flag kit can range from as little as $14.99 to as much as $300. The most inexpensive feather flags are pre-printed ready to ship stock flags, which are only $14.99. The most expensive is the 17ft extra large custom feather flag kits, which can run up to $300. We have a variety of options for feather flags, so a business can get good value from every dollar spent.
How Long do Feather Flags Last?
If you are using your feather flag only for special events, then it can last you many years. If you are like most of our clients, then you’ll be using the feather flag kit outdoors permanently under various weather conditions. In that case, the lifespan of your feather flag will be between 6 to 12 months.
Flags in dry and calm areas like California typically last over 9 months, while in areas like Florida, which have erratic weather, the flags will last about 6 months.
What is a Flag Sign?
A flag sign is simply an advertising banner that is made from a textile or nylon material. We refer to it as a “flag sign” because we are using a flag as an outdoor advertising sign.
How Much Does a Custom Flag Cost?
Custom flag costs vary depending on the size and style. The smaller custom window clip-on flags are only 12×14’ in size’, making them the cheapest option at under $10 (some quantity restrictions apply). The most popular size is the 3x5ft flag, which can be bought for as little as $34.99.
What is a Windless Flag?
A windless flag is another name for feather flags or feather banners. Since feather flags do not require wind to stay open, some clients prefer to call them “windless flags.”
How do You Install a Flag?
Our feather flag kits will come with telescopic pole kits and mounting hardware. The most popular mounting hardware is the ground stake, which allows for a quick install in the dirt. The flagpole kit will come with 3 to 5 Flag Poles telescopic pieces that telescope together to create one large pole. For flat solid surface installs, a cross-base is the most popular option. Both of these mounting options require no extra tools to assemble and setup only takes a few minutes.
How do You Secure a Feather Flag?
Feather flags are secured with mounting hardware. There are various options when it comes to securing your feather flag and flag pole. The most popular mounts are ground stakes, cross-bases, and wheelbases. These three mounts are the most popular because they require no additional tools to install and secure your feather flags.
If you are installing at an angle, then a tie-down clip is necessary to secure your flag to the pole. All flags will come with an extra string at the bottom for this type of install. A tie-down clip is an optional add-on.
What are Feather Flags Made of?
Feather flags are made of a polyester material. The weight of the material varies from one company to another. At Feather Flag Nation, we use 110 to 125 GSM polyester material for our custom flags. We find this range of thickness to be lightweight yet still durable enough to survive the unpredictable outdoor weather elements.
How do You Print a Flag?
The majority of our custom flags will have the graphics directly printed onto them. This allows for great bleed-through and also slower fading. We also print some of our custom flags (3×5 flags, 5ft flags, garden flags, and window flags) via dye sublimation. Dye sublimation involves printing on paper and then heat pressing the graphics onto the flag material. This process will provide better colors but the flag will fade quicker.
What is the Standard Size of a Feather Flag?
What is the Standard Size of a Flag?
The standard size of a flag will vary on the type of custom flag you are purchasing. A standard feather flag size is 12ft tall and 2.5ft. A standard custom flag size for a flag pole (residential and business use) is 3ft tall and 5ft wide.
What is a Feather Banner?
A “feather banner” is another name for a feather flag. It is called a “feather banner” because it is a feather-shaped banner that is used for advertising. “Banner” is a term that is usually used for advertising print by business owners.
How do You Make a Flag Last Longer?
To maximize the life of your flag, be sure to take the flags and flagpoles indoors during severe weather conditions. If you notice the flag beginning to tear on the outside seam, take it down and get it repaired right away. Once the damage makes it to the inside of the flag, it cannot be repaired.
To clean the flags, hand wash them with a light amount of soap and let them air dry. Do not put them into the dryer.
What Flags Last the Longest?
All flags have the same lifespan, which is roughly 6 to 12 months. For dry areas (California, Nevada, Texas, etc), you will usually replace the flag due to fading. For areas with high winds (Florida, New York, Georgia, etc), you will usually be replacing your flags due to wear and tear.
To maximize the lifespan, take the flags indoors during severe weather or when you are not running a promotion.
What Fabric is Best for Flags?
Polyester fabric is the best for outdoor advertising flags. The fabric is durable and light-weight enough to wave in a gentle breeze. Nylon is a popular alternative, but those tend to fade, rip, and dry out when used outdoors for extended periods of time.
Which is Better for a Flag: Nylon or Polyester?
Polyester has proven to be a better material when using it for outdoor flags. Nylon tends to fade and deteriorate much faster than polyester. Nylon also dries out and begins to crack under dry and hot conditions. Because of this, polyester reigns supreme for outdoor textile prints.
Feather Flag?
A Feather Flag is a 5-15ft tall flag that is used to advertise a company and draw attention to an event or business.
As time waxes and wanes, there are some things that never change! Something that has withstood the test of time is marketing. This blog will help walk you through all the information you may need about feather flags. So let’s dive into how these flags are produced, their life span, everything and anything you may need to know!
Feather Flag History
Feather flags history started in the early 1960s with the American Kite Association. Kite flying was started and/or practiced around the world, including places like India, East Asia, Pakistan, and America, although it was considered more of a hobby. It can be a solo or group activity as some might enjoy the actual flying and others may enjoy just observing.
In 1984 a group of American Kite Associates attended a kite-flying festival in Singapore, China, and Bali. The festival in Bali had long, flapping tail flags, laced with bamboo poles and religious messages to the Hindu gods for abundant harvest and crops. This event is what birthed Feather Flags and brought them to the United States of America.
After the kite festival in 1984 and with help from the rise of the internet in the early 1990s, feather flag production exploded! They have gone through many name renditions since then, including “custom banners,” “swooper flags,” and “yard signs.” But no matter what you call them, feather flags are here to stay and remain a proven way to generate attention and increase your retail sales.
Use a Feather Flag to Draw Attention
A feather flag is a 5-15ft tall flag that is used to advertise a company and draw attention to an event or business. The purpose of feather flags is pretty obvious: GET ATTENTION. Like most everything in life, there are pros and cons to any and all marketing activities.
Let’s go ahead and get those cons out of the way:
- There’s always going to be a time factor. Flags will never last forever (more on that later!)
- Feather flags aren’t magic, they can only be in one place at a time.
- You can’t change your flag after production. Once you approve the design and the printing has started, you must go with the design that you chose.
Now for those pros!
- One flag can be moved and/or used in a variety of locations. Examples of where you will see people use their flags are trade shows, events, churches, festivals, and more.
- Feather flags are customizable! You can make them fit whatever your brand is. This will set you apart from other companies that don’t have personalized flags.
- Feather flags are affordable and can be ordered in large quantities to make an even bigger impact.
Although the goal of the flag may change from company to company, the overall purpose is to get customers’ attention and to achieve your target market to purchase your products and/or services.
Single-Sided vs Double-Sided
But what should you do, single-sided or double-sided?! At Feather Flag Nation, numerous people ask us every day “Should I get a single or double-sided flag? What’s the difference? Please help!” Don’t worry, I’m going to explain!
Our Single-Sided feather flags are printed on one (1) side of the fabric and you are able to see the design from the backside of the flag. When looking at the image from the back, it will appear reversed or backward and it appears at roughly 65% opacity, meaning it’s not the same solid, bright colors as the front.
Double-sided feather flags are a little different. For our double-sided flags, the design will read the same on either side, and the opacity is 100% for both. We actually print the design out on two separate pieces of fabric and then sew them together. In between those two pieces of fabric is a black mesh so the image from one side doesn’t show up on the other. Double-sided flags are the most popular custom flags we provide, and although they are more expensive, the quality and appeal are better.
What is a Vector Graphic and Why Do I Need Them?
Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon(s), which are all based on mathematical expressions, to represent images in computer graphics.
In layman’s terms, a vector file is an indestructible graphic that allows you to resize your image without losing any quality in the process. The file format you choose will directly affect the quality of images on your flag. For commercial printing purposes, ALWAYS use a vector format for your artwork. The difference between raster and vector file formats is obvious once an image is scaled to a larger size.
For example:Â Â Â
In the example image, you will notice that the raster image on the left is pixelated and distorted. The vector image on the right is considered high-quality and won’t distort and/or pixelate no matter how big or small your flag is.
The most common vector file formats are:
- EPS (Encapsulated PostScript): Encapsulated Postscript Vector graphics (Adobe Illustrator), or EPS, is a file extension for a graphics file format used in vector-based images in Adobe Illustrator. An EPS file can contain text as well as graphics.
- Adobe Illustrator (AI): Adobe Illustrator’s native format is an AI file that is created by Adobe Systems. It stands for Adobe Illustrator Artwork file. AI files are vector-based graphics contained in a single panel.
- Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG): An SVG file is a graphics file that uses a 2-dimensional vector graphic format created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It describes images using a text format that is based on XML. The SVG format is an open standard developed under the W3C, with Adobe playing a major role.
You should always keep an EPS version of your logo for future use. The EPS file format is the most commonly accepted, and the vector format used.
RGB, CMYK, and Pantone Colors
The colors that you see on your computer and phone aren’t the same color that will print. A commonly asked question is “Please explain CMYK vs RGB to me, I don’t understand. Why can’t you make the color match my computer screen?”
RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue. This color mode is used for digital mediums, such as computers, TVs, and phones. Your computer monitor and other RGB displays will display your color with a combination of red, green, and blue light. These lights create bright and vibrant colors with a neon “glow.”
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. This mode is used for printing materials such as feather flags, flyers, brochures, etc. To make color CMYK you have to physically mix different amounts of C, M, Y, and K ink to create your desired color. It’s like mixing paint colors.
Pantone colors use a Pantone Matching System (PMS) based on CMYK to print standardized colors across different businesses and industries. This system is used across the US to identify specific colors, match colors, or guarantee the use of color.
Custom Design, Production Time, & Lifetime Value
Every company creates and/or produces its feather flags differently. When it comes to customization, production, and how long feather flags last, each company varies.
Custom Design Time:
The custom feather flags design phase is based on (1) whether you’re creating the design yourself or (2) you want us to create the design for you. If you’re a designer or you have a designer who can create the flags, download our templates HERE. If you want us to design your feather flag in-house it typically takes 1-2 hours to complete the initial design. After we finish the first version, our design team will go back and forth with you until you’re satisfied with your artwork.
Production Time:
After you’ve completed your design and have placed the order, it’s time for production! Production is the actual printing and sewing of your flag. It usually takes 2-3 business days. After production, your order will be shipped out.
Lifetime Value:
Your feather flags will last roughly 9-12 months. Lots of factors play into flag life including how often it’s used, the weather, and if you take it down at night. The better care you give your flag, the longer it will last!
Conclusion
Feather flags are the wave of advertising’s future! These marketing materials can be purchased at a low price and displayed for up to a year or more.
Send us your design and let one of our talented designers create a beautiful, custom feather flag just for you. If your budget doesn’t allow for something custom, don’t worry! We have over 600 stock flags that will meet all styles, businesses, and budgets. Our promotional flags are created quickly with proofs available in hours and shipping within days. When you choose Feather Flag Nation, you’re choosing to work with a company that takes pride in excellent work at value prices.
Have any questions? Contact Us! Send us an email at sales@featherflagnation.com or give us a call at 1 (877) 900-5692. We are open M-F from 8am-4:30pm PST
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