Wide-Format Printing: Large-Scale Signage and Banners
Modern home and office printers have come a long way, and for many artistic or small business-related projects, they’re an ideal solution. But when you really want to make an impact, it’s always a good idea to scale up your message. That’s where home and office printers fall short.
Sure, you could print posters for your business’s next big sales event on multiple letter-sized sheets of paper and tape them all up on the wall, but let’s face it: it’s not going to look as striking as a full-sized poster… not by a long shot.
When you want to make a larger-than life impression on your customers or for an event, wide-format printing is always the best way to go. In this article, we’ll demystify wide-format printing and talk about the many ways it can be used to get your message across to the public.
What Is Wide-Format Printing?
By the generally accepted definition, a wide-format printer is any printer with a maximum paper roll width of between 18 and 100 inches. In contrast, the biggest sheet of paper your average home or office printer can handle is 8.5 x 14”. That’s a big difference!
Unlike other large-format printing techniques such as screen-printing, wide-format printing is an economical choice for short-run projects, such as event signage for a small business, trade show signage, banner printing for a weekend event like a cycling race, or printing a limited run of posters for an art show.
Wide format printers come in several types, including solvent, aqueous, and UV, and each style has its advantages. Aqueous printers are the most common, and they’re known for their excellent resolution, fast output, and ease of use. Solvent inkjet printers are excellent for outdoor graphics, as their inks are very durable in all types of weather. However, the inks they use can be quite hazardous, though eco-inks are available.
UV-based flatbed printers are often configured as flatbed printers, which allows them to print on a wider array of materials, and the inks tend to be just as durable as those used in solvent printers.
With Wide-Format Printing, the Options Are Endless
Wide-format printers are capable of producing impressive banners and posters on matte, glossy, and semi-gloss paper, but they’re capable of so much more.
It’s possible to print on just about anything, including wallpaper, vinyl, fabric, foam board, coated metal, PVC, and even wood or ceramics. For eco-conscious consumers, wide format printing can be done with environmentally friendly inks, as well.
What Can We Do With Wide-Format Printing?
Imagine the possibilities for a small-business owner interested in purchasing some eye-catching promotional materials for a grand opening.
The purpose of having a grand opening is to get customers through the door so that you can introduce them to the new business. Let’s start with some banners and signs. With large-format printing, we can basically make them as big as we want them. Oh, and let’s print up a flag with our logo! It’ll definitely turn heads flapping in the wind.
Now that we’ve gotten the public’s attention, let’s draw them into the store with some larger-than-life vinyl window graphics showing happy people enjoying our incomparably cool products. Let’s also do a few to highlight our big introductory special. Perfect! That’ll get them through the door.
Hmm. Our walls are looking sort of bare, aren’t they? Let’s print up some adhesive wall decals! They’ll give our store an exciting look that will set us apart from the competition, with their washed-out looking 8.5 x 11” flyers thumbtacked to the drywall. Don’t worry; if we ever get tired of them, they’re easy to remove.
We should probably print up some posters, too. Our store isn’t that big, so let’s go with a size that will get our point across without being too distracting. Two feet by three should be just the right fit. With a wide-format printing partner in your corner, all of these options are as easy as picking up the phone and ordering them.
Wide Format Printing for the Win
As you can see, we can use wide-format printing for a nearly endless array of applications, all of which can help us get our message across in big, bold color, helping our brand, business, or public event stand out from the crowd and get the attention it deserves.
If you’re printing out a flyer for the company picnic, and all you plan to do is distribute it around the office, sure — go ahead and use your laser printer. But if you want banners, posters, flags, or window decals, wide-format printing is the only way to go.
Not sure what you’ll put on your wide-format poster? Don’t worry! Many reputable print shops have on-staff designers who can help you create large-format marketing materials that will wow even the most distracted customer.
Wide Format Printing With East Side Printing Co. in Portland
If you’re looking for large-scale printing options for company signage, event banners and posters, or anything else, Portland’s East Side Printing Co. is here to help. With professional designers on staff, the best prices in the business, and free local delivery to the Portland metro area, how can you go wrong? Just fill out the contact form on this page or send us a message here, and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours or less.