Where can I have large format printing done?

Large Format printing is printing using a device that uses media that is larger than standard desktop formats such as 8.5"x11", A3 and similar. Large format printers may include printers ranging from 12" wide to several yards.

Common sizes for which media is available include 24", 36", 44" & 60" widths. The media comes in both sheets and rolls with rolls most common in 50' and 100' lengths. On many of these devices smaller widths can also be printed. For example a 44" printer may also allow printing on 42", 36" 24" and even 8.5"x11" sizes of media.

Media types may be limited due to specifications of a given printer as to it's ink type and maximum material thickness, but may include photo paper stocks (gloss or matte finish as well as fine art paper types), plastic or vinyl, canvas and even rigid substrates such as metal sheets.

These devices were originally marketed to make blue prints and design plots and were in fact called "Plotters". Early models either printed a single color only or used the 4 color standard used in offset printing (CMYK). Modern versions of these devices may use a dozen or more inks and produce fade resistant archive prints suitable for gallery display or in other cases stripes to be mounted as sections of a temporary billboard or display. More ink colors generally allows a wider color gamut to be reproduced and may include several tones of grey, both gloss and matte versions of black and/or coating inks to reduce "bronzing". Most devices use either a dye based or pigment based inks. Subject matter, substrates, longevity requirements and costs dictate the better type for a given project, but for the most part devices are limited to one type or the other.

Some specialty large format printers may include cutters and outline trimmers allowing peel off free form shapes for point-of-purchase displays, fold and assemble displays and vehicle graphics.

The maximum printable width only limits the maximum size printable on the short dimension. A 36" printer can be used to output 30x40 prints for example. If that device is capable of printing to the edge of the media it may be able to out put 36"x48", 36"x60" or larger depending on the maximum length permitted by the driver software. Generally mounting materials may limit the maximum panel size as common substrates are limited to 48"x96" or in some cases 60"x120". Free hanging banners are not restricted by this limitation.

Common uses of Large Format printers today include wrap-around vehicle graphics, window displays, vertical banners, trade show backgrounds, large murals for corporate lobbies, music and sporting venues. One-off or limited run art posters and displays are practical using a large format printer. Of course these are also useful for making fine quality photographic prints of all sizes within the range for a given device.

John Lacy

proshooter.com

John Lacy is a Michigan based commercial photographer. He owns an HP 44" 12 ink large format printer.