We’ve all seen them, printed balloons used by companies, organisations, individuals, and groups. Have you ever wondered about the process involved in getting those balloons from their boring, pre-printed state to the wonderful displays we see all the time?

Materials

To begin with, there are certain necessary materials. Basic to any print balloons is, of course, the balloon itself. This is usually a 10” or 12” standard latex balloon. Metallic or mylar balloons can also be used. In addition to the balloon you must have the design and inks for the colours of the design. Most designs are 4 colour designs.

Process

When a design is chosen it must be submitted to the company using a different graphic for each colour, presented in layers. Once the graphic is chosen and approved the true work can begin.  Balloon printing is often a screen printing process with each layer of colour being laid on separately. As stated before, these layers are often limited to 4 colours. The result is a sharp graphic image with very little bleeding of colour.

Durability

For their cost printed balloons are one of the best values around when it comes to the durability of the product. When inflated with helium most latex printed balloons will stay inflated for up to 8 hours. When filled with regular air that time span leaps to 1 week. Before being inflated, if they are stored in a cool, dark place they could keep for years!