Tension Fabric Arch Displays

A 32mm aluminium tube frame with a stretch polyester cover that zips shut at the base, pulling itself smooth as it closes. The range runs from C shape and welcome arches to square, tapered curved and multi-tier forms, single or double-sided.

Talk to an expert

800+ Products available

50,000+ Orders

30+ Countries

22+ Years experience

800+ Products available

50,000+ Orders

30+ Countries

22+ Years experience

What our customers say

4.9from 7,200+ reviews

Ordered a backdrop banner, they recommended enhancing image. A good call. The banner arrived within a week and it looks great/ good quality. Will use them again

Shaun PageEvents Director, BluePeak

The whole experience from designing, viewing the mock-up and delivery was simple and efficient. The end product proved to be better than expected. Will be ordering again.

Des DavidEvents Director, BluePeak

The customer service was awesome. Placed order on the Friday, recieved mock up on Saturday and recieved our order in 5 days. Very efficient process and happy with the product. This is our second order.

DianaFounder, Trendline Co.

Good communication. Very helpful. The product we ordered is as we anticipated. A canvas bag was included, along with Velcro tape for installation. Overall, it was an excellent experience. We are very happy with the result and would not hesitate to recommend them to others.

Michele BakerBrand Manager, NovaTech

Frequently Asked Questions

What does tension fabric mean on an arch? +

It means the graphic is a sewn sleeve rather than a panel. The cover slips over the assembled frame like a pillowcase and a zip along the bottom rail draws it tight, so the print pulls flat across the curve with no poppers, velcro or exposed tube. That is why a curved arch can carry an image at all: a rigid panel cannot follow the bend, and a loose banner reads as a tarpaulin in photos.

Single or double-sided printing? +

Double-sided if people walk through or past the back of the arch, single-sided if it stands against a wall. On a walk-through entrance the reverse face is the one guests see for longest, and a plain white inside reads as unfinished in every photo taken from inside the space. The cost is weight and a slightly stiffer cover to fit. A blockout layer between faces stops the front image ghosting through.

The cover looks slack once it is on. What now? +

Nine times out of ten the zip is not fully closed, or the cover is on upside down. Fit it with the zip at the base, close it end to end, then walk the seams into the corners pulling down and out rather than across. On a curved arch also check both legs are extended to the same stop, because 30mm of difference on one side shows as a diagonal wrinkle across the crown. Warm rooms slacken fabric and it tightens again overnight.

How do I choose between the arch shapes? +

By the span and what walks under it. A C shape gives a clean photo backdrop and needs the least floor. A square or peaked arch frames an entry and reads better from an angle, but it needs anchoring at both feet and more clearance overhead. Measure the doorway or aisle first, then pick the shape, because the cover is printed to one silhouette and cannot be moved to another frame later.

Can the cover be washed, and how should it be stored? +

Machine wash cold, no fabric softener, hang damp and it drops flat. That is the practical advantage over a rigid graphic at a food expo or a venue where hands touch the arch all day. Store the cover folded loosely in its cotton bag rather than crushed into the frame bag, because a hard crease along a seam is the one mark that will not steam out and it lands right where the curve is.

Are these suitable for an outdoor event? +

Only with ballast and a plan to drop them. The fabric shrugs off a shower and dries; the frame is the weak point, and every failure we see outdoors is wind loading on a tall structure with a narrow base. Weight every foot, keep the arch out of gaps between buildings where gusts funnel, and never leave one standing overnight unattended. If the site has no shelter at all, a lower square arch survives better than a 6m span.

Do I really need lights on the arch? +

Indoors, usually yes. Exhibition halls are lit for aisles, so a saturated file can look grey once it is 2.3m up on a curve, and the top of an arch is the part furthest from any house light. Clamp LEDs on the crown fix it for very little. Order power from the organiser early, and have every lead and fitting test-and-tagged to AS/NZS 3760, because venues such as MCEC and BCEC do inspect and untagged gear is removed.

How do I place an order? +

Pick the arch and span, choose single or double-sided, then send artwork or a rough idea of what you want on it. Our design team will set it up at no charge and return a free 2D mockup so you approve the look before print. Questions go to support@backdropsource.com.au or +61 7 3053 8668. Delivery is free anywhere in Australia, and the frame and fittings are covered by a 1-year warranty.