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What You Need to Know About Large Format Printing

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You may have spent hours online creating custom wallpaper for an accent wall, but have you considered how that wallpaper was created? How about the large banner you had printed for an event? These projects wouldn’t be possible without large format printing techniques.

Large format printing is defined as printing on materials anywhere from about two to 15 feet in size. We sat down with Infomax’s John McGill, solutions engineer, to hear about some of the trends in the large format printing industry.

Customization

Banners and signs have traditionally been popular large format printing projects. They’ve long been used for everything from business advertising to personal display pieces. However, consumers are wanting more customization than ever. Customers can design their own wallpaper through online programs, which are then printed on a large format system. Artwork is also popular with sticky-sided vinyl portraits and pictures printed on canvas on the rise. The desire for more custom jobs means printers must be more versatile, transitioning from one job to the next.

Material

Growing in popularity is printed window perforated film. The medium is being used more and more as a creative means for advertising or informative signs. Floor graphics — printed on material with one adhesive side — are increasingly being used in the same way.  Currently, printing on fabrics is a bit of a fad. However, John warned that the material can often be finnicky.

Ink

Ultraviolet ink will soon reign supreme in the large format printing industry. Previously, eco-solvent inks were used, which could be messy and required a certain amount of time for the ink to cure — or outgas — before the printed material could safely be handled without smudging. Most recently, latex inks were used. However, the advent of UV ink is saving printers time and money. When a printer uses this type of ink, a UV light passes over the just-printed section, instantly drying the surface. Additionally, about 35 to 50 percent less UV ink is needed to cover a printing job than is required for eco-solvent or latex ink.

Efficient equipment

Many companies that provide large format printing are working with Infomax to secure technologically advanced systems for the best value, such as the Canon-brand Colorado printer. Clients know this machine is built with quality and value in mind. It also saves printers time with its automated creep and crawl correction. Unlike other printers that could set the project lopsided, newer large format printers, such as the Colorado, will automatically correct the material if it starts to go out of alignment.

Streamline the Workflows of Your Production Printing

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Modern production printing is no longer relegated to specialized print shops; in fact, many companies are finding it efficient and economical to bring production printing in house. With fast, high-quality, often high-volume capabilities, production printing can transform how you use print materials for your business. But did you also know that you have options that can streamline production printing workflows and make your team even more efficient?

Some of your options are literally right in front of you, such as the finishing options available on today’s printers. For example, a printer can not only fill in templates and print personalized materials, but also fold, stuff, and label mailings. When your equipment manages this work automatically, the amount of time needed for each step (and time between steps) is dramatically reduced. Building finishing options like this into your workflow also provides a high level of quality control that minimizes mistakes and errors. With automated decision making and improved interconnection, your staff can have fewer touchpoints for any given print process.

Infomax offers solutions from both EFI and ConnectPlus that streamline production printing workflows. ConnectPlus, for example, is a comprehensive package that keeps your office systems up-to-date and working together as seamlessly and efficiently as possible. Desktop computers, networks, and imaging systems are all optimized with ConnectPlus’ hands-off installation. EFI, meanwhile, offers the Fiery Workflow Suite, a solution that coordinates printing and production systems. From job submission to prepress, processing to color management and variable data printing, EFI streamlines workflows and speeds the timeline between job creation and complete, printed materials.

Production printing can be a powerful business tool, made even more powerful when systems are designed for maximum efficiency. By leveraging computing and equipment power to create high-quality materials, minimize mistakes, and provide quick turnaround times, workflow tools keep your company nimble and responsive. Contact Infomax Office Systems to put workflow tools like EFI and ConnectPlus to work for you.

Production Printing Workflow Tools You Need Right Now

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Let’s face it: your production printing operation could use a little help. Many print shops however, are slow to upgrade their printing environment out of preference for the status quo. We get it, the task of implementing new workflow tools can seem daunting. But, rest assured that workflow tools can make all the difference when it comes to your business’s efficiency.

By optimizing your professional print environment with workflow software, you can maximize the effectiveness of  your existing equipment. A workflow management system will help tasks get completed faster and more efficiently. This way, you can save time and money, and you can ultimately get back to growing your business.

Here are some workflow tools that could drastically improve your printing operation.

  • Job submissions. By creating a simplified system for job submissions, tasks can be completed in record time. Furthermore, as the process of job submissions is made easier, customer satisfaction will skyrocket.
  • Pre-press. By streamlining and automating print jobs, you can reduce the amount of waste used throughout your print shop. Furthermore, it ensures the integrity of each individual job prior to going to print.
  • Color management: With color management, you can ensure that you will have consistent color on every job. Whether you are using the same color today or next month, the colors will remain uniform.
  • Makeready. With just a few clicks, you can easily adjust particular jobs. By integrating Integrate labor-intensive document preparation activities under one visual interface, you can shorten job preparation and complete more jobs in less time.
  • Processing. Make sure your server is capable of fast turnaround, intuitive use, and consistent high-quality output. Digital front ends (DFEs) control the printing operations across multiple devices and printing environments, ultimately resulting in faster turnaround times for graphic-intensive jobs, as well as personalized jobs.

To learn more about production printing workflow tools, contact Infomax today. We will show you how to take your printing environment to the next level.

High Quality Meets High Volume

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In-house production printing might seem like a drastic move to make, but many companies actually benefit greatly by upgrading their printing equipment. Expanding your print capabilities with advanced production printers can result in saving money, higher-quality imaging, and faster results for your company. Although many companies choose to outsource their printing needs, in-house production printing offers many valuable benefits as your printing needs grow.

If your company has high-volume printing needs, or if your company often needs professional-grade materials printed on sharp deadlines, in-house production printing could be the answer.

Here are some of the many benefits of in-house production printing.

  • Saving money: The upfront costs of establishing an in-house production printing environment can undoubtedly cause trepidation. However, if your business’s printing needs have reached critical mass, then in-house production printing will ultimately save you money. And keep in mind that leasing production printing equipment is often a feasible and savvy way to upgrade your equipment while saving cash flow at the same time.
  • Security: Just because your business environment prints high-volume quantities, does not mean you want the information on those documents shared with just anyone. Avoiding outsourcing by utilizing in-house production printing ensures that you can control the flow of information, and you no longer need to fear those dangerous data breaches.
  • Customization: It’s time to free your business from the constraints of the print shop. Their markups, quantity requirements, and other stringent rules are a thing of the past with in-house production printing. Now, you can print what you want, how you want it.
  • Convenience: If you need it now, you need it now. Outsourcing your production printing means that you are at the whims of an outside company—a company with their own best interests in mind. With in-house production printing, you can print whatever you need immediately, or time your production printing in a way that maximizes workflow.

To learn more about in-house production printing, and to determine if your business could benefit from it, contact Infomax today.