In basic terms, a “soft sign” is printed digitally on fabric, and the ink bonds with the fibers. Mostly using a dye-sublimation ink set (for vibrant imagery), soft signage typically is printed on polyester-based or other synthetic textile substrates and, on occasion, on natural fiber such as cotton or cotton blends.

Opportunities in this segment of the wide-format (WF) graphics arena are vast and growing. What was once a specialty niche for WF print service providers (PSPs) now is a “must-have technology” for producing more mainstream applications, according to digital-print consultancy IT Strategies. Textiles bring advantages in ease of installation, recyclability and image resolution, reports the firm’s 2019 Wide Format Review. Soft-signage physical output enjoys a 20% share within the overall WF market, according to the annual review.

Last year, PSPs produced more than 388 million square meters of soft signage worldwide, as compared with fewer than 220 million square meters of dye-sub output in 2015. The total amount is climbing to over 435 million by the end of this year and should exceed 545 million square meters in two years. Such double-digit growth (CAGR averages >12%) is more than in any other WF sector—and ITS projects it will continue at this rate for the next three years. The breakdown of products/applications is as follows: