A step and repeat banner is a backdrop featuring a repeating pattern. This signage serves as a background for taking photos at events like trade shows, media galas, graduations, conferences, weddings, birthdays, etc.
Step and repeat backdrops are an excellent choice for businesses, as they act as a non-intrusive way to market your brand and attract sponsors. It is available in several sizes, and there are several different techniques for designing and customizing them.
Things to Take into Account Before Creating a Step and Repeat Banner
Before you recklessly dive into designing a step and repeat banner, here are some basics and specifics to account for:
Size of Banner
You must opt for a size appropriate for the space allocated to you and the size restraints levied by the organizers of an event. Considering that most customers will take pictures with your step and repeat, choose a size that provides enough room for a small group to fit in.
Some commonly used size dimensions include 8’ x 8’, 9’ x 8’, and 10’ x 8’. Wider widths help fit larger groups into a single shot and make your booth area appear fuller. Your size option will help to decide your design’s layout.
Size of Logo
Make sure that your logos are easily visible and do not clutter the design of the banner. If you use a square-shaped logo, opt for a size between 5 and 7 inches, and for larger logos, 8 to 12 inches is the way to go. Once you decide upon these factors, pick a design repeat pattern that will look elegant on your backdrop and attract customers to your booth at any event.
Aesthetics and Colors
Opt for a complementing background color for your logo. If you are only working with a single logo, choose a color used in the company’s branding. If you are working with several logos, opt for a neutral shade that complements most logos. Yet another tip is to contrast your background appropriately with the logos and have them stand apart from the competition.
Upon choosing a design, you have the option to continue experimenting with different repeat layouts for an unlimited amount of time. Here are five step and repeat patterns for your signage that can draw eyes and flag down more customers to your booth:
Checkered Pattern Repeat
The checkerboard logo pattern is the most commonly found backdrop design for a step and repeat banner, be it a single or multiple logos. Typically, brands spread out their logo evenly and line them up in sets of four or five in alternating positions across the entire banner.
Diamond Pattern Repeat
As the name suggests, a diamond surface repeat is made using a repeating diamond shape, which leads to the designs being stacked diagonally in rows.
Stripe Pattern Repeat
The stripe surface repeat features a seamlessly horizontal, vertical, or diagonal format layout. Unlike other repeat patterns, stripes are not limited to only color blocks. You can use stripe patterns in different ways, such as repeated motifs, patterns, texture, wavy lines, or even zig zags.
Full Drop/Block Pattern Repeat
A full drop or block pattern repeat is a simple and commonly found form across all repeat systems in the market. This pattern is crafted by arranging the original repeat block in a grid format. While this pattern is typically made in the shape of a square unit, full drop repeats can also assume a rectangular shape.
Half-Drop Repeat Pattern
A half-drop repeat pattern is yet another commonly employed surface pattern repeat. In this pattern, the repeat unit is stacked vertically in a column format. This design then gets offset by half in the next vertical row. These design traits make half-drop pattern repeats a great choice for casual events.
Brick Pattern Repeat
The brick repeat pattern is similar to the half drop and is typically found in surface pattern repeats. The only difference being that rather than the repeat unit stacked vertically in a column orientation, the stacking is horizontal. This unit then gets offset by half in the next horizontal row, which resembles a brick wall. Due to this, similar to the half-drop repeats, the brick pattern repeat makes the design appear less formal.
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