Large format printing is an effective way to create visibility for your company. Most consumers are visually driven and whether a company is trying to increase brand recognition or increase sales, large format printing may be the answer. Using a commercial printing company allows organizations to take advantage of their expertise that gives them the opportunity to have unique cost effective advertising opportunities. Highlighted below are some of things that can be accomplished with large-format printing, the benefits of doing so, and what should be considered when planning your large format printing projects.
Large format printing capabilities:
Banners
Signage
Posters
Wall graphics
Building wraps
Window graphics
Vehicle wraps
Back lit signs
Point-of-Purchase displays
Tradeshow graphics
Flags
Benefits of large format printing:
Makes a statement- One of the great things about large format is its size and flexibility that has the ability to make a statement. Whether it’s a building wrap, window graphics, or point of purchase displays, large format print is hard to miss.
Cost effective- Companies are constantly trying to figure the best way to reach customers. Often times they take on various strategies that can be expensive. For example when taking on direct mail campaigns, companies have to include the cost of printing the marketing materials, buying a mailing a list, and paying for postage and other expenses. By using large format printing services, companies have the ability to reach a large audience by doing things, such as wrapping a vehicle, which can turn out to be just as effective as other methods and much less expensive.
Things to consider when planning your large format printing with a commercial printing company:
File resolution- It’s important to send your files in a high resolution in order to ensure that the image is a sharp image when blown up.
Indoor vs. Outdoor- A banner or poster that is going outdoors requires extra consideration. When going outside you have to take in several external factors including the sun, rain, and wind. UV inks, laminates as well as heavier hanging devices may be required.
Durability/lifespan of the material- How long are you expecting the print to last? This needs to be conveyed in the initial conversation. The material used and the way it is produced can vary greatly. Typically, the longer you need it to last, the more expensive it will be.
Cost- Make sure you ask exactly how your printing company will produce your project. Often times some sort of laminate or other finishing will need to be put on. When producing large format print such as banner printing, there are many finishing options including sewing the edges, taping the edges, and using Velcro. Be clear with what you are looking for.
Turnaround time- When doing last minute projects be sure to ask what the turnaround time is. When needing it the next day, some of your options may be limited.
Tips on what to look for when choosing a commercial printing company with large format printing services:
Quality- Does the printing company that you are using for your large format printing have a reputation for top quality? Consumers will look at your large format printing and associate your business with it. It’s important to have a professional high quality look.
Equipment- A commercial printing company needs to have printers that can meet customer’s diverse needs when it comes to size, quality, substrates, and flexibility. Ask the printing company what kind of equipment they have and how they would run your particular project.
Flexibility- Commercial printing companies should be able to offer flexibility by offering a variety of substrates including: gatorboard, vinyl, coroplast, styrene, fabric and much more. The more options available, the more ways a customer can play around with creativity and cost.
Experience- Choose a commercial printing company that has enough experience to be able to give you recommendations that can balance cost and quality as well as provide solutions or alternatives to some of your unique projects that go outside the standard realm of large format printing.
Value added services- Does the printing company that you use have other services that you can take advantage of such as print on demand? Value added services is sometimes overlooked but can be extremely beneficial and can provide convenience and faster turnaround times.
When considering how to develop the most effective large format printing for your company, consider the cost, the method of production, the flexibility that your printing company has to work with. Contact Cerqa today to learn more about our large format printing capabilities.
