Large+Format+Printing

= = =**Large Format Printing**=

Large Format Printing is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing print industries in the world.

This type of printing is loosely defined as poster size and larger. With Large Format Printing you can print up to an astounding 16 feet wide by any length in one piece. For larger images, there is the capability to seam material together to produce a graphic at virtually any size.

Large format printing, also called wide format printing, encompasses many project-types including black-and-white CAD printing, colour CAD printing, document scanning as well as all those specialty print jobs like banners, indoor and outdoor signage, wall murals and wallpaper, window and floor graphics, sandwich boards and vehicle graphics. = =

Large Format Digital Printing is a technique that produces prints directly from a computer file rather than a slide or a photograph, without going through some intermediate medium such as a film negative, colour proof or plate. The benefits of digital printing include faster turnaround times, lower production costs and the ability to lower volumes.

Design
Keep in mind these three things when designing for Large format graphic printing:

1. If you are using a photo, the resolution should be 150 DPI or more. This will keep the photo from pixelating. 2. Vector-drawn logos and graphics (non-photos) are better than raster images. 3. Consider bleeds in your design. Large Graphics are often made from multiple panels that have to line up together.

Materials
Large Format Printing produces very high definition images on a wide range of materials of different thicknesses, weights and finishes including photo paper, vinyl, film, mesh, canvas, and various textiles. Digital flatbed printers can also print directly into most flat surfaced rigid or flexible substrates including: PVC, aluminium composite material, acrylic, corrugated board, polycarbonate, polyboard and chromadek sheeting.

Printers
Continuous tone printers use photographic (silver-based) paper. The image is created by exposing the paper pixel by pixel with RGB light sources, either lasers or LEDs. Each pixel has a continuous 24 (8x3) bit RGB value. Processing is done automatically in the printer with traditional chemistry. The resulting prints look exactly like traditionally made color photographs.

Inkjet printers lay very fine droplets of ink on paper. High-end Inkjet printers are a world apart from cheap office printers, and can produce prints of remarkable quality. However, the technology is still maturing. Colors are formed by the juxtaposition of droplets of a number of primary colors.



**Advantages**
Large Format Printing has many advantages, the main ones being faster turnaround and lower production cost so it is frequently used for on-demand or short-run colour printing. It is very cost-effective on short print runs owing to the low set up costs and the fact that there are no minimum volume restrictions.

Some more advantages are that they are suitable for printing materials for interior and outdoor use, the printing can be done on many different substrates or materials, waterproof and fade resistant inks can be used and any size can be printed including large format and extra wide format.

Applications

 * Banners
 * Posters
 * Photo Enlargements
 * Mesh Banner
 * Fabric Banners
 * Window Graphics
 * Wall Murals
 * Canvas
 * Trade Show Displays
 * Backlit Boxes
 * Vehicle Graphics
 * Decals

Users

 * Party Planners
 * Engineers and the architects
 * Publishers
 * Graphic designers
 * Advertisers

**Videos**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thh5gmLTx9o&feature=player_embedded#! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kLXQKH2ZqU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxnfcagsrGI