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Duplex simply means both faces of the panel are printed, each carrying its own artwork rather than a mirror image of the other side. Depending on the fabric specified, that is achieved either with an opaque blockout layer inside a single panel or by joining two printed faces together. Because dye-sublimation ink sits within the polyester fibres, both faces keep the same soft, low-glare finish and neither will crack or peel. In practical terms you are buying two graphics for one hanging position.

Whenever the two sides carry different artwork and the display is lit from behind or hangs in an open space. Without an opaque inner layer the reverse design shows through as a faint reversed image, and both faces end up looking muddy rather than sharp. The Duplex Blockout Polyester Backdrop (300 GSM) is the safe choice for signs hanging above an exhibition stand, window-facing banners and room dividers. Lighter fabrics are fine when both faces share the same design or the panel sits against a wall.

For a hanging sign that must stay flat and read cleanly from both aisles, the 300 GSM blockout gives the weight and opacity you need. Duplex Knitted Polyester (115GSM) is the lighter option when the same graphic travels to a different venue every week and has to pack into a bag. Duplex Satin and Duplex Shiny Satin add sheen for retail and hospitality settings, while Duplex Oxford Fabric Printing gives a coarser, harder-wearing weave. Match the fabric to how often the piece is folded, not just to how it looks in a photograph.

Send two separate files, clearly labelled front and back, at the same finished size, and tell us which edge is the top of each. Add bleed beyond the trim line and keep logos and text inside a safe margin, because the finished panel is stretched or hemmed and the outer few centimetres can roll out of sight. If one side is meant to be a mirror of the other, say so explicitly rather than sending a single file and hoping. Our team checks files free of charge and will send a free 2D mockup before anything goes to print.

Fabric moves during printing and finishing, so treat back-to-back registration as close but never exact. Designs where a logo on the front must sit precisely behind a logo on the back are the ones that disappoint; designs where each face is composed independently always look right. If alignment genuinely matters to the concept, keep the critical element well away from edges and seams and give it plenty of clear space. Ask us to flag any artwork where we can see a registration risk before you sign it off.

For short outdoor use — a weekend food festival, a county show, a race meeting — they perform well, but treat them as event graphics rather than permanent signage. Wind is the main constraint: a double-sided panel catches air on both faces, so the frame it hangs on must be properly ballasted, and on hard standing that means weights rather than ground stakes. Rain will not harm the print itself, but a wet panel must be dried before it is folded away or you will find mildew marks at the next event. Sustained UV across a full summer season will gradually soften the strongest colours first.

Take the panel out of its bag as soon as you arrive and hang it, because most creases in polyester relax out on their own within an hour. For stubborn fold lines, a steamer held a short distance from the reverse face works far better than a hot iron pressed onto the surface. Never iron directly onto the printed side, and never fold a panel that is even slightly damp. Rolling rather than folding between events avoids the problem altogether.

Every order includes free UK delivery, free artwork assistance and a 1-year product warranty on the printed panel, and the fabric is PVC-free. Graphics ship folded or rolled depending on size, so check the packaging on arrival and unpack straight away rather than leaving it boxed until the event. If you are delivering to a venue rather than an office, send us the on-site contact and any access restrictions when you order. For anything else, contact support@backdropsource.co.uk or +44 1628 904 188.