Is business printing dead? Not at all. Every North Carolina industry, even the tech world, needs printing capabilities. Technology has probably increased the need for print documents as people have to digest a vast amount of information daily. Printed copies help separate critical priorities from the blur of emails, notes, texts, and digital fog that come thick and fast. In addition to standard printers, there is a need for wide format or large format printers. Whether it’s building design blueprints, engineering specs for a prototype, or landscaping layouts from a construction project, large format print is a must in multiple industries today regardless of how digitized the world has become.

What Are Wide Format Printers?

Generally speaking, a wide format printer produces computer-generated documents and images on a much larger printer than a standard scale. The largest can create documents 15 feet in size and are not to be confused with newspaper printing machines or similar. Instead, large format printers rely on inkjet image production specifically designed to work with fast-drying requirements and specific paper types. The most common output from such printers tends to be posters, banners, signs, and similar with a large font scale being applied.

In some cases, large format printers are designed to work with materials other than regular paper. Some have been designed to feed and work with roll feed paper stock, and others with plastic or vinyl. Some specialized machines can even print on glass surfaces.

What Advantages Do Wide Format Printers Have to Offer?

The precision of large format printers is one of their greatest benefits for North Carolina companies. These machines can produce highly accurate and detailed images to scale on large documents and products without losing quality or blurring. By successfully converting a small image to a much bigger size, they allow designers to create banners or posters as big as a wall or car.

Additionally, large format printing lets you obtain a one-off image or product instead of paying for the cost of a minimum run with traditional printing resources, which produces a lot of waste.

Should Your Business Bring One In-House?

The first argument against an in-house approach is usually that outsourcing printing is always cheaper. This is, in fact, not always true. Companies face this cost question all the time as to whether they should own or lease equipment. Large format printing is no different. And, if one were to ask a lot of cost-based experts alone, the answer would be almost unanimous on continuing to order and outsource as much as possible. However, this approach frequently only focuses on an immediate need versus long-term reliance. And many North Carolina companies find that they are spending a lot of money and time chasing after quality work from a third party when their people are starting to become internal experts on how to print large formats.

The answer to the question of outsourcing or acquiring in-house large printers depends on a combination of frequency of use, cost, quality need, and long-term integration within the company’s goals (i.e., will the use of the printer resource increase over time because of its availability?). Businesses that find themselves needing large format printing weekly and even daily are prime candidates for acquiring an in-house printer. At a certain point, the cost of outsourced work simply becomes too expensive.

The second argument often made is that the digital world has taken over, and print is an old-fashioned relic that has no currency today. In reality, print continues to be in demand and is growing. Trying to put up a big poster of an image on a digital screen is both expensive and complicated. Simply hanging a banner takes a few minutes, and the cost is minimal in comparison.

If you’re actively considering an in-house large format printing for your Greensboro, Charlotte, or Winston-Salem business, then it’s time to talk to an expert on wide format printers. Our sales specialists work in multiple industries and are highly familiar with what businesses need. Contact our team today and we’ll be happy to go over specific possibilities that best match your business needs and demands.