Large format printing entails specially designed printers that can handle banner and sign printing, display printing and other forms of very big printouts. Offering print widths of more than 54 inches, these specialty printers allow corporations to produce large, impactful graphic images instantly. Conventional signage and banners, which have formed the largest part of large format print jobs, have been the most popular; however, new developments and advances in technology have greatly developed large format printing.
Vehicle Wraps
Vehicle wrapping has been rated amongst the most common large format print solutions. One of the best ways that businesses can leverage on full vehicle wraps is to use them to turn delivery trucks, cargo vans and trailers into mobile advertisement billboards for products, services or brands. Vehicle wraps are extremely effective as they generate highly illuminated, high quality images with clear details and bright colors to draw attention of commuters as the vehicles ply through busy routes. Vehicle specific wraps conform across the various curved vehicle forms while also providing protection to the exterior against various forms of wear due to exposure to environmental factors over very long durations.
Fine Art Reproduction
The technological developments in the printheads of the large format printers make it possible to create paintings, and even photographs in the first instance, with the highest accuracy. These vivid, full-bodied color outputs have become as artists, photographers and other creative professionals are using these as ground for creating restricted edition fine art reproductions that collectors and galleries can purchase. Pigmented inks, artist canvas types and patented color calibrations outlined above blend to produce accurate reproductions that are nearly indistinguishable from the genuine article at first glance.
Textile Printing
The advancement in industries, especially the versatility of digital textile printing has provided a number of opportunities for the apparel designers and garment manufacturers. DTG printing especially favors unestablished start-ups and SMEs to explore novelty in fabrics, consumerization of garments, and just-in-time production. Depending on the chosen application and in combination with pre-treatments where necessary, large format textiles printers can directly print on t-shirts, jackets, bags and over forty different types of fabrics. New designers are able to sell creations of short production cycles, which can contain fully individualized clothing without the purchase of large stocks initially.
Architectural Printing
Business analysts are noting that large format technical document printers are becoming popular in architecture and construction industries. Large format printers can quickly reproduce working, topographical plans, architectural layouts and blueprints with fine features and scales for daily project work and approvals. It also enables designers to present proposed space with building realism for organizational or client evaluation and approval through large format architectural renderings and models. These detailed image aid in the agreement of the project scope while at the same time increasing the rate of the total designing.
Murals & Wall Art
For those who offer UV ink or latex printers, they are able to serve clients in interior décor to create artwork such as murals, wall art, and wall decals on vinyl, synthetic leather, canvas, acrylic, and wallpaper. These oversized prints certainly bring a beautiful and vibrant feel to lobbies, hallway, conference and office knowledge-sharing areas. Galleries and restaurants pick wall art in compliance with branding standards or building designs, whereas customers incorporate wall murals and coverings according to personal choices.
Event Graphics
Different format printers are used by event organizers to produce large permanent or temporary banners and billboards for conferences, events, and festivals. Retractable banners are also known as roll up banners, they are easily portable and collapsible, widely used for trade shows and corporate meetings. Foam aluminum composite panels are also used as backdrops behind the stages, or as curtain like walls in some rooms. Larger format floor graphic such as anti-fatigue mats with logo or slogan stamped on them stand out as popular features. With regard to print finishing, print producers incorporate additional value-added assembly features such as hemming, grommets and lamination that changes printed graphics to readily usable event parts.
In summary, ongoing improvements to the speed, quality, printing mechanisms and the compatibility with substrates enable large format printers to produce aesthetically striking graphics for various business and artistic uses. With advancements in ink chemistries, colour management, material sciences and digital pre and post press, oversize photorealistic printing will not be limited to sign and banner segments but will find its way into added segments such as packaging to Industrial design.