Specialized Print Options: Wide Format Printers and Production Print

By: Jeff Vetter
September 9, 2015

Business owners from industries such as architecture and interior design to graphic artists and contractors are taking advantage of enhanced technology in wide format printing to produce remarkable projects. In this blog, you'll learn more about the wide format printer, including the similarities and differences between wide format printing and production print.

Typical Uses for Wide Format Printing

Wide_Format_PrintingWide format printers serve a variety of purposes depending upon the business using them and the industry it occupies. Architecture and design have long been a stronghold for wide format printing. Construction companies cannot make an architect's vision come to life when their plans are squeezed onto an 8.5x11 sheet of paper from your standard office copier. Wide format printers accurately plot CAD designs large enough so that architectural specifications are clear, concise and visible.

Every business has something to gain from wide format printing, though. Common examples of general wide format printing use include the production of company announcements, marketing material and event banners.

Benefits of Wide Format Printing

One of the greatest benefits of a wide format printer is the ability to create large clear, sharp images. Enhanced digital technology makes it possible for wide format printers to recreate high quality prints with extreme details. This also makes the device incredibly flexible. A wide format printer can handle something as simple as a block of text on a large ad banner, or something as complex as intricately designed architectural prints.

For businesses that own a wide format printer, more in-house work can be completed without the cost of contracting that work out to a print production group. In this way, many companies realize increased productivity by completing jobs in house, while also saving money.

Wide Format Printing and Production Print

These two specialized printers often complement one another. Both types of devices can complete specialized print jobs faster and more efficiently than a standard office multifunction device. One is not better than the other; it merely depends on your printing needs.

For example, a production printer is needed when you produce flyers to announce your upcoming grand opening at a new location, while your wide format printer produces the welcome banner you hang above the entrance.

Questions to Ask

When considering wide format printers and production print devices, it's important to understand your print demand. Asking these questions can help:

  • What type of print job is needed? Production print departments are accustomed to overseeing high-volume print jobs. Consider, however, the example above. A specialized job for ad banners is not the same as brochures or newsletters. Understand which jobs occur frequently in your office before you select one device over the other, or both.

  • What machine options are there? In addition to choosing a device, you'll also need to consider which model type best suits your needs. Both of these printers come in printer-only and multifunction models. The former prints only provided digital files, whether from a computer or external memory. Multifunction models have a scanner that allow images to be uploaded at the machine itself.

  • How many devices? Can one printer handle your print demand, or are multiple devices needed to keep up? Often, the combination of the features and benefits of wide format and production printers create the best balance to meet the speed, size and quality requirements of an office.

If you'd like to have one of our specialists assist in assessing your print demand and recommending the best combination of equipment to accomodate it, request a free assessment.

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Topics: Copiers & Printers