The dictionary entry for banner reads as:

“A piece of cloth attached to a staff and used as a standard by a monarch, military commander, or knight.”
“The flag of a nation, state, or army.”
“A piece of cloth bearing a motto or legend, as of a club.”

A banner is also considered a flag or a piece of cloth containing a symbol, logo, slogan or some type of message. Before the advent of the industrial revolution, banner making was an ancient craft. The word is derived from late Latin bandum, a cloth used for making a flag (Latin banderia, Italian bandiera). A banner maker was a person who spent his/her full time making custom banners.

Today, banners are used by individuals and companies alike to celebrate events and mark special occasions. Birthday banners are very popular in the United States. Companies use custom banners to promote their products at fairs and exhibitions.

Custom banner making was a tedious task before the age of digital computers and digital fabric printers. Today, making custom banners has become a digital form of art.

Custom banner making starts with banner design. The first step in banner design is deciding on the banner dimensions which is followed by choosing the right banner image for the task at hand. After the image is positioned correctly by custom banner designers and approved by the customer, the banner printing process starts. After the banner printing process, the resulting printed fabric goes through fixation to make sure the water based inks are locked in to the fabric structure. A final finishing wash removes the surplus ink before delivering the custom banner to the customer.