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Zoom Balloon FAQ

Do the balloons come inflated? No, we sell custom printed latex balloons that you inflate on site for your event.

Where can I get helium? Helium can be purchased from a local party store or welding supply or industrial gas distributor. Helium is safe and non-flammable.

How much helium does a balloon take? A 12 inch latex balloon will require ½ or .5 cubic feet of helium. So if you order 100 12inch latex balloons you will need
100 x .50 cubic ft = 50 cubic feet of helium. Get it?

How do I seal or tie a balloon? You can hand tie the balloon. This is the best method and lasts the longest. For large quantities, we have several tying methods, like the premium balloon seal which includes a 48 inch white ribbon and a choke safe device.

Can I order different colored balloons?
Yes, you can choose as many different colors of custom printed balloons at no additional charge. If you change ink colors on the order there is a charge to wash the screen and change the ink.  For example, if you want 500 red and white balloons, with a white logo on the red balloon and a red logo on the white balloon there will be a $25.00 ink change charge

Can I order a different message on each balloon? The cost for each quantity is for one image or logo. If you have multiple messages or multiple logos, you must order a separate quantity for each image.

Can I have more than one color of ink on a balloon? Yes, you can have up to two ink colors (see the charge for two ink colors).  There must be a ¼ inch separation between the colors and the registration will move on each balloon. Because balloons are a natural product and are not perfect, each balloon is inflated and then printed. Each color is printed separately and the two colors will move around on each balloon and they will not be printed in exactly the same place on each balloon.

Can I have an image printed on the second side? Yes, you can have the same or a different image on the second side (please see the price list for the additional costs).

How long does it take to get an order of custom printed balloons?  We can print up to 1000 custom printed balloons in our factory and ship them out the same day if your order is approved by you and paid for with a credit card by 11:00am CST.

How long will my custom printed balloons float?  Your custom printed balloons will float 4-12 hours depending on how big you inflate them and the temperature conditions of your area.  Heat will cause the balloons to lose helium. Your balloons must be inflated properly to full size.  Your 12 inch balloons should be filled until your balloon reaches the size of a basketball.

Are the balloons biodegradable? Yes our balloons are 100% natural latex and will biodegrade.  Because custom printed balloons are 100% biodegradable, please store balloons in a cool dark place.  If balloons are released into the air, they will fall to the ground and biodegrade at the same rate as an oak leaf.

Can we provide or create artwork?  Yes we can build or typeset simple or complex artwork for your custom printed balloons.  Simple typesetting is free and there is a charge for more complex typesetting.

How big can you print my logo?  Logos are printed as big as possible on a balloon. The logo or artwork should be 4 ½ inches by 4 ½ inches in diameter. The artwork should be as tall as it is wide. Artwork that is long and not very tall will appear small.  We recommend that your logo be round or symmetrical to be the best artwork for a balloon.

Do you have company logos? Yes, we have thousands of corporate logos for Fortune 500 companies and many logos for organizations and clubs available to add to your custom printed balloons.

What art files do I need to send?  We accept black and white artwork in the following format:  Vector line art, .eps, .ai, .pdf.  The artwork should be 4 ½  by  4 ½  inches in size and a high resolution of at least 600 dpi.  Photographs can be sent in digital format.  Please submit photographs that are clear with good contrast between the subject and background.  Not all photographs are suitable for custom balloon printing.

HOW TO INCREASE BALLOON FLOAT TIME

Latex balloon float time varies and is dependent upon several factors:

• Balloon size: Latex balloons come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The larger the balloon the longer the float time. The most common latex sizes are 7 inch. 8 inch 9 inch, 10 inch, 11 inch, 12inch, 14 inch, 17 inch and 20 inch. Sizes 7 and 8 inch are not designed to be used with helium. You will find sizes 7 and 8 inch at Walmart and K-Mart and they should be used for air filling only. 9 inch and 10 inch balloons will float for 4-6 hours and are designed for give-aways, parades etc. 11 inch and 12 inch are the most popular size balloons for parties, sales, wedding etc. 11inch and 12 inch balloons will float 8-24 hours. Larger size balloons will float 24 to 48 hours.

• Weather conditions will affect the float times of latex balloons. Intense heat or direct sunlight will cause the helium to leak faster out of the balloon and decrease float time. Do not put balloons in direct sunlight, like in a window or store in a hot car in the summer time.

• Sealing methods. The way a custom printed balloon is sealed or tied off will affect the float time of a personalized balloon. Hand tying, that is tying the balloon with a single knot, will seal the balloon off and provides the best seal. Sealing devices are designed to make it easy to seal a balloon and make them choke safe for kids. But hand tying is still the best way to ensure sealing a balloon and increase the float time of your custom printed personalized balloon.

• Inflation Size: Balloons, regardless of size, need to be inflated to full size. How big should a balloon be inflated or how do I know how big to inflate a custom printed balloon? The inch size of the balloon has nothing to do with the inflated size of the balloon. That means that an 11 inch balloon is inflated much bigger than 11 inches in diameter. An 11 inch is inflated to about the size of a basketball. So how big should you inflate a customized printed balloon? An easy way to know how big to inflate a balloon is this: The personalized balloon should be inflated until the bottom of the balloon starts to become “pear shaped” at the bottom of the balloon. When the bottom of the balloon pears out the balloon is properly inflated. One of the main causes of a decreased float time for a printed balloon is under-inflation.
  

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