Introduction
The large format printing can be defined as the printing done on the large format media or substrates that are having width more than 24 inches. There are various areas where large format printing can be used, and some of them include; Advertising banners, posters, marketing, exhibition graphics, theatrical backdrops, vehicle graphics & building wraps, and architectural plan and drawing reproductions. Big format printers may work on just about any material, such as vinyl, paper, fabric, wood and much more. They enable full sized and high quality visuals which can be used for both indoor and outdoor purposes.
Due to the current world being dominated by the sale of information literacy, the custom-made and targeted marketing are now standard. Marketing communication is well enhanced by large format printing as it is also able to reach the larger targeted public in the right perspective, in the intended message. The aspect of Large Format Prints has also advanced so much they can compete with that of Offset Print in terms of quality and the only difference is the cost benefit which goes in favor of Large Format Prints hence preferred by so many businesses and organizations.
Several of the large format printing’s uses include the following:
- Trade Show Graphics: This means that the trade fairs and exhibitions are perfect places for businesses to establish one on one contact with the customers. It is the ability to produce large format printing which makes it possible to create attractive backdrops, banners, display stands and promotional material associated with the trade show. These serve the purpose of capturing visitors’ attention and encouraging them to interact with the business representatives.
- Retail Spaces and Store Signage: Retail promotional tools such as wall decorations and murals inside the stores and appealing store frontage signs and windows with big graphics through large format printing are appealing and helps capture customer’s attention. Promotional banners and posters, as well as special holiday or individualized hang tags, help make the shopping trip more enjoyable.
- Events and Venue Décor: Poster printing is useful for making big format printed banners, backdrops, and displays that provide elegance, excitement, and sophistication to the events, summits, conferences, brand launches and more. They aid in establishing interesting atmosphere and stage as dictated by the event as it may be.
- Advertising and Sponsorship: This form of advertising includes, building wraps, bus shelter ads, board and billboard adverting, transit advertising, among others – and large format printing enables it to cover the wider population with clearer and more impactful images. Such items include brand logos, images, and slogans can be printed and laminated with high quality inks and vinyl to ensure that they are highly visible and can last for long time.
- Vehicle Wraps and Fleet Graphics: By adopting full or partial vehicle wraps that have appealing graphics, customized patterns, and effects, different brands have been able to ensure that they reach out to a larger population of people when the vehicles are on the road. Wraps assist in passing branding message in the course of making the cars more conspicuous on the road. Another rapidly emerging niche where car wraps can be used is the advertising of fleet graphics.
- Wall Murals and Décor Elements: Institution like schools, hospitals, offices, restaurants, and such other places are employing items like wall murals, wood prints, and canvas prints for interior décor in order to bring out more alive and interesting atmosphere.
- Construction Site Barriers and Signage: Large format construction site barriers with information of the same also assists in control and planning for safety measure. Other examples of large format prints include construction project advertisements, architectural and building plans and layouts on construction sites.
Advantages of Large Format Printing
- Engaging Visuals at Lower Costs: The ability to print at low cost per square feet/meter has improved greatly since the ink and printer technology has profile that they can print near to offset quality. As for the large format prints, their durability also varies and is around 5 years for outdoor signs. It equally makes it very cheap since a single organization is undertaking all these tasks.
- Increased Audience Reach: When placed appropriately, one large format advertisement can capture the attention of an average of thousands of people per day – more so, as it is more cost effective in terms of marketing expenditure.
- Outdoor Durability: Current large format prints employ durable water and UV resistant ink to ensure that the prints are not easily damaged by the elements of the environment. The substrates such as vinyl and fabrics used in the production of these products are also hard-wearing. This makes large format graphics appropriate for advertisement on bill boards and other large structures.
- Eco-friendly Printing Options: Today, a large format printer may use vegetable oil based eco-solvent inks or water based latex; the latter is known to have a lower VOC emission thus making the printing more environmentally friendly. There are even reusable substrates, which further assist in minimizing carbon footprints or if not, then they are eco-friendly.
- Choice of Custom Sizes: Often, when people want large printing of banners, posters, and displays, they can choose from various sizes, for instance, 16ft x 8ft or even 10ft x 5ft. It also enables printing of large images in segments which are then bonded/installed since they may not fit into the printer.
- Creativity and Personalization: This is because the canvas sizes for printing are large and designer gets a huge chance to use their imagination. Such aspects as the patterns, 3D effects; morphing can be used to achieve aesthetically appealing graphics which cannot be depicted on the small print size. Variable data printing is used for interaction and providing timely messages to the customers.
Therefore, as contemplated above, there are endless opportunities of using large format printing in business since it can be done indoors and outdoors depending on the type of material and finishing process used to make the print surface embody high visual impact and high resolution graphics. This is because it assists in reaching the target clients more easily than other methods of advertising, and it is cheaper as compared to other forms of advertising thus making it a vital tool in marketing. For the same reasons large formats are also environmental friendly and will continue to expand as business seek to improve their brand image and market presence.
