Wide format printing is a printing process used for posters, banners, signs, wall and window graphics, decals, displays, and other custom projects. Also referred to as large format printing, it allows us to produce pieces beyond standard press sheet sizes or on materials that would not typically run through traditional offset or digital presses.
At Wooster Color Point, we use wide format printing for everything from oversized banners and business signage to cardboard displays, custom cartons, and smaller specialty decals. The flexibility of the equipment allows us to work with different sizes, materials, and applications based on how the finished piece will be used.
How Large Can Wide Format Printing Go?
Wide format printing allows us to produce posters larger than 13x19 inches, the maximum sheet size of our digital press, and well beyond standard press sheet sizes. Instead of starting with a predetermined paper size, we can use the intended location or use of the finished piece to help determine its dimensions.
The finished project also does not always have to be limited to the dimensions of one printed panel. For larger applications, we can produce multiple panels that are designed to work together as one finished graphic or display. That gives businesses more flexibility to use the available space rather than designing around a standard print size.
What Materials Can Wide Format Printers Handle?
The material depends on what you are creating and how the finished piece will be used. At Wooster Color Point, we have both roll-to-roll and rigid wide format printing equipment, allowing us to work with flexible materials as well as solid substrates.
Paper
Paper is an economical option for large posters, promotional graphics, and other indoor applications.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a flexible material used for standard and oversized banners, custom wallpaper, signs, wraps, and other large graphics. It can work for both indoor and outdoor applications depending on the project.
Corrugated and PVC Plastic
Corrugated plastic is lightweight and rigid, making it useful for business signage, event graphics, directional signs, promotional pieces, and displays.
Solid PVC plastic is another option for printed signs and displays that need a rigid, smooth surface.
Cardboard
Printed cardboard can be used to create larger promotional pieces, product displays, stands, and other dimensional projects where the printed piece needs structure.
Printable and Cut Metal
Printable metal materials can be used for custom signs, displays, and other specialty projects. These materials can be printed and cut into shapes based on the needs of the finished piece.
Select Laminated Wood
Certain laminated wood materials can also be used for specialty wide format printing. The material must have a compatible coating, so not every wood or laminated surface is suitable for direct printing.
The right choice is not just about what can go through the printer. We also consider where the finished piece will be used, how it needs to function, and how long it needs to last.
Can Wide Format Printing Be Cut Into Custom Shapes?
Yes. Depending on the material and project, wide format pieces can be cut into custom shapes rather than being limited to a standard square or rectangle. Multiple custom-cut pieces can also be designed to connect or work together as a larger finished display.
For the Levitt AMP Wooster Music Series, we produced a group of custom-cut pieces that combined to create one interactive event display. The finished project included an oversized microphone, guitar, and other music-themed elements that gave visitors a place to stop and take photos.
Can You Print Custom Signs and Displays for My Business?
Yes. Wooster Color Point produces indoor and outdoor signage and custom printed displays for businesses and organizations throughout Northeast Ohio. We produce the printed pieces but do not provide sign installation.
Wide format can be used for projects such as:
Business and directional signs
Window and promotional posters
Vinyl banners
Wall and window graphics
Event signage
Corrugated and solid PVC plastic signs
Cardboard stands and displays
Multi-panel graphics
Custom-shaped pieces
Static clings and removable decals
Custom cartons and promotional displays
Can Wide Format Printing Be Part of a Larger Print Campaign?
Absolutely. Wide format is often only one part of a larger commercial print project. For E&H Ace Hardware's summer sale across 31 Ohio stores, we produced 3x6-foot vinyl banners, A-frame signs, and window posters along with flyers, postcards, and store instruction sheets.
Those pieces required wide format latex, wide format UV, digital, and offset printing. Our team then kit packed and distributed the materials for each location. Read our E&H Ace Hardware retail print campaign case study to see how we coordinated the different sizes, printing processes, color management, kitting, and delivery for the 31-store campaign.
Can Wide Format Printing Be Used for Short-Term Campaigns and Custom Projects?
Wide format printing can also be useful when a business wants to test an idea, introduce a new product, or create a display for a limited-time promotion.
A business might use a short-run display to test a new product or marketing message before committing to a larger campaign. Wooster Color Point can also help prototype custom packaging, cartons, and retail displays, including working from an existing sample to explore a new design or application.
Removable window graphics and decals offer another flexible option. Businesses can update graphics for seasonal promotions, holidays, or special events without making permanent changes to the display surface.
Static clings can also be used for temporary messaging. For the county fair, Wooster Color Point produced static clings featuring educational information and FAQs about livestock, including beef cattle and sheep. The graphics gave visitors another way to engage with the information throughout the event.
These applications make wide format printing useful for both ongoing business needs and projects that may only be displayed for a short period.
Where Can I Get Wide Format Printing in Northeast Ohio?
Wooster Color Point provides wide format and large format printing services from Wooster, Ohio, for businesses and organizations throughout Northeast Ohio. Wooster Color Point's current large-format capabilities include posters, banners, indoor and outdoor displays, wayfinding signage, window graphics, custom wallpaper, branded wraps, and other specialty projects.
You do not need to determine the exact size or material before contacting us. Tell us what you are creating, where it will be used, and what the finished piece needs to accomplish. Our team can help determine the size, material, and production approach that makes sense for the project.
Contact Wooster Color Point to talk with Heather Henthorne about your wide format printing project.
