Introduction
The benefits for the customer are substantial. In general, the unit cost of a digitally printed page is around the same as an equivalent page that has been produced conventionally. This is because the cost of plates and make-ready is eliminated for short-run work. Since there are no significant economies of scale, this cost saving applies equally to short and long-run work, meaning that with digital printing, it is possible to obtain small quantities of printed material at a reasonable price.
High-speed continuous feed digital presses are now delivering competitive costs for higher volume POD work. Overall, printing digitally usually costs less than producing an equivalent job conventionally, even more so when the additional costs of warehousing and waste from overproduction are taken into account. However, perhaps the most significant saving is the time and money that can be saved by only printing what is really needed (just in time), thereby eliminating the need for minimum required quantities and the risk of obsolescence. This can be of great value for marketing materials and technical documents, which often require frequent updates.
Over the last 12 months, there have been dramatic changes in the digital printing marketplace. The changes have been driven by the arrival of new technologies which have rewritten the rules. These new technologies have created opportunities to save costs, improve quality, and increase productivity. The ultimate promise of digital printing is no longer a distant dream. In the next few years, off-press imaging and imposition, and Print On Demand (POD), should deliver short-run color printing, numbering into the thousands or even tens of thousands – runs that until now have been the exclusive domain of offset printing.
Benefits of Large Format Printing
The Advertising Edge
Large format is the fastest growing sector of the digital print market. Advertisers have a love affair with putting their message in large because it gets noticed. The new breed of flatbed and roll-fed UV curable ink machines opens up a vast array of new media for printing on, which produce near-permanent durable image quality, i.e. you can print on anything.
Applications are limited only by your imagination. Within the next 2-3 years, you are likely to see large format UV printed images on the sides of buildings, as the resolution continues to improve and the print sizes exceed traditional billboards. Large format graphics are used in:
- Transit Shelters
- Retail Posters
- Retail Store Fronts and Point of Purchase Displays
- Trade Show Booths and Graphics
- Vehicle Graphics
- Window Advertising
- Outdoor Banners, Building Wraps, and Scaffolding Signage
- Stadium & Arena Graphics
- Poster Campaigns
- Floor Graphics
Types of Large Format Printing Services
Giant billboards. The highest impact advertisement being able to be seen from long distances on highways or in cities. These billboards significantly promote a product or brand with excessive exposure. Typically, the size for each section of a billboard is 10 x 20 feet, 10 x 40 feet, or 14 x 48 feet. Printing is done on a special billboard vinyl material. Due to the large size and low viewing distance of spectators to the printing, a minimum resolution of 72 dpi is essential. This allows extremely low-cost sign making/billboard advertisements. High-level photography probably is not as vital to the marketing goals of the campaign.
Long term posters for indoor/outdoor advertising. As the name suggests, these are long term often to last at least a year and can endure outdoor weather conditions. Print is done on vinyl for increased durability. The cost of these posters is significantly higher compared to the short term and generally also have a larger impact. For example, product information next to a bus stop, branding on the walls of shoplots, etc.
Short term or medium term posters for indoor advertising. Typically, these posters are for high impact, promotional events for the short term and usually are not kept for more than a couple of months. Posters can be mounted on a foam board, fastened to stands, or hung on the walls. The most common material is paper, allowing low-cost print advertising with a quick turnaround time.
Large format digital printing has developed rapidly in the past few years. Due to the rapid development, there are several new methods that cater to the various requirements of businesses. The kind of printing method to be used depends on the purpose and size of the road, clothing or billboard advertisement. These are the various methods:
Choosing the Right Large Format Printing Provider
What are some things that make your company stand out from other printing providers?
Have you done business with a company similar to ours? Their response will help you understand how well they know your industry and its unique document needs. Providers with experience in your industry will better understand what type of large format documents you require.
What stage of market development is the company/provider at? Listen for responses that indicate they have done their homework concerning market timing. Each stage of market development (early, mid, mature, declining) has different document distribution needs. You want a provider who understands your current and future printed document needs.
Here are some questions to ask your potential large format printing provider. The answers will help you evaluate their qualifications and match them with your stage of market maturity.
Tips for Successful Large Format Printing Projects
Make an impact with photographs. Photographs add realism to your advertising banner. A person viewing your banner will often stop to look at pictures. That’s an extra few seconds of their attention you’ve acquired. Using photographs can greatly increase the effectiveness of your color banner. High-resolution digital photographs are the best choice for image placement. Ensure that your photograph is relevant to your message. A picture really does tell a thousand words.
Stick with one message in your banner. Although it may be tempting to cover your banner with a variety of messages, it’s important to prioritize. Whether for branding, educational, or promotional messages, it’s best to convey one strong message than many weak ones. If your message is part of a long-term sales strategy, it is also possible to reuse the PVC banner, provided the message stays relevant.
Utilize the ability of your large format printer to create banners which are larger than life. Maximize the impact and visibility of your color banners. It’s the same principle used in supersizing everyday items. Some things simply grab more attention when they are bigger. In the case of color banners, it’s about making a statement. Vinyl is a perfect medium for advertising banners. Print advertisements on to vinyl material are able to reach out to a large number of people because of greater mobility. These can be used for promoting products in events, trade shows, and other public gatherings.
