Large-format printing offers you many new ways to promote your brand to consumers. Through display graphics, pop-up, and trade show booth graphics, you can use wide-format printing to cut through the clutter and communicate your brand promise.
In a super-size manner, let’s take a closer look at what large-format printing is and the display graphic solutions you can produce with this technology.
What is Large-Format Printer Technology?
One large-format printer in the UK describes large format printing as the printing of large graphics onto large rolls of paper or other materials. We agree and would add that marketing with large-format printed projects captures your audience’s attention in today’s crowded marketing landscape.
Graphics Arts magazine has a few ways to define the technology. The category of printer type ranges from a roll-fed or roll-to-roll printer to a flatbed printer. Per the magazine, large-format or wide-format printers refer to those that can print on materials 24” to 120,” and “grand-format” printers go from 120” and wider. The size of the printer used depends on the project it needs to print.
The large-format printer technology is digital, which means it has a computer-based interface. Software and tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud-based computing, have enhanced both the accessibility and productivity of the technology. The technology is also evolving quickly. As a result, the use of wide-format display graphics has increased in the past few years.
What Kind of Projects can be produced by Large-Format Printing companies like Westamerica
The is a wide range of projects for branding and advertising that large-format printers can accommodate. Generally, display graphics will be viewed by large numbers of people from a distance, like trade show booth graphics or outdoor advertising and vehicle wraps. From construction blueprints to trade show booth graphics to customer wallpaper, we can printers produce many different types of printed projects on a variety of materials.
Typical projects for Large-Format Printing & Display Graphics include:
- Posters & Banners
- Foamcore Signs
- Die-Cut Graphics
- Trade Show Graphics
- H-Stake Yard Signs
- Maps
- Plexiglass Wall Mounted Signs
- Frames and Frameless Systems
- Indoor Wall Signage
- Window Graphics
- Floor Graphics
- Transit Shelter Poster Ads
- Vehicle Wraps
- Building Wraps
- Magnetic Signage
- Outdoor Building Signage
The materials that can be used for printing vary as well. Called substrates, you can print on rigid materials that you feed into the machine, like metal or acrylic. You can also print on materials that come on a roll like vinyl or paper. The type of substrate used depends on the needs of your project, such as where it will be displayed and for how long, and what the wide-format printer can accommodate with large-format printing technology.
Four common substrate types include:
- Paper: This budget-conscious and versatile material is easy to use but not durable, making it a popular choice for indoor projects. There are many different paper substrates ranging from paper sheets to cardboard to foam core.
- Vinyl: For many outdoor projects, vinyl is the go-to substrate. It uses a variety of finishes and serves as a versatile material that can work for many different types of projects.
- Fabrics: We are excited about the ways we can use fabric to print trades show booth graphics and other display graphics. These materials create a vibrant and unique look that stands out from the competition, particularly when backlit with LED technology.
- Assorted Rigid Materials: When it comes to printing on rigid materials, today’s wide-format printing technology can be far more flexible. Acrylics, Glass, Metallic Dibond, and even wood are a few of the materials available for wide-format display graphics.
Per experts in the sign industry at Signresearch.org, there are some exciting trends for digitally printed large-format printing display graphics. In the indoor space, you see more brand environments, characterized by unique interior branded accents printed on vinyl and other materials and incorporated into the design of the area. From embedded fiberglass graphics to custom wallpaper and furniture coverings, the interior environment can reflect the brand message.
The outdoor uses of large-format printing display graphics have exciting changes also. The utilization of vinyl has enjoyed both innovations to add new visual effects and competition to drive down prices. Moreover, the architectural design incorporates large-scale graphics in glass facades and other complementary ways.
Also, the technology for embedded graphics and dye sublimation on fabric has enjoyed a growth in popularity for tradeshow booth graphics and other events as well as building wraps. There are also many innovations in sign technology, moving from wood to laminates or powder-coated graphics on metal used in trade shows and other free-standing applications.
Large-format printing display graphics have numerous ways to enhance your brand messaging efforts or brand environment. The technology, enhanced by software and other technological tools, is evolving rapidly and can make a wide array of display graphics, from pop up graphics to trade show booth displays and more. Competition is also making large format printing display graphics more creative, beautiful, and affordable than ever before.
The question now is what could large format printing display graphics do for your brand?
To schedule your free consultation with Westamerica Communications today, contact us, give us a call at (949)462-3600, or visit us at MyWestamerica.com.
To see more examples of our work, click here to see our project gallery.
Westamerica Communications is the new spirit of communications with creative solutions for every form of media, from web strategies to traditional concepts to print and mail options, and more. Follow us on Facebook.
Sources:
Webster, Nigel. “What is Large Format Printing?” www.presson.co.uk. 28 February 2019. Web. 13 March 2020. https://www.presson.co.uk/what-is-large-format-printing/.
Berger, Craig M. “Digital Print Trends and Technologies in the Sign and Graphics Industry.” www.signresearch.org. Web. 13 March 2020. https://www.signresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/Digital-Print-TT-In-the-Sign-and-Graphics-Industry_SRF.pdf.
Dineen, Tim. “The Characteristics of wide format printing.” Graphicsartsmag.com. 9 June 2017. Web. 13 March 2020. https://graphicartsmag.com/articles/2017/06/characteristics-wide-format-printing/.