Before digital printing advanced in the late 1980s and early 1990s, businesses had few options for large-scale visuals. Hand-painted murals were expensive, inconsistent and hard to reproduce across multiple locations. Printed signage was limited in both size and quality. When digital printing technology caught up, it became possible to output massive, high-resolution images quickly and at large sizes. That shift opened the door for retail stores, sports venues, healthcare facilities and offices to use printed visuals in ways that weren’t possible before. Large format printing services now give brands the ability to turn walls, windows and floors into powerful branded surfaces and do it repeatedly, wherever they operate.
What Is Large Format Printing?
Large format printing is the process of printing large graphics on equipment larger than most common commercial printers. These printers output images on a wide range of materials, from vinyl and fabric to film, paper and rigid substrates. The end result is large format prints that can cover a few square feet or several hundred. A large format dye sublimation printer, for example, uses heat to permanently transfer ink into fabric fibers, producing photo-quality graphics at large sizes that won’t crack, fade or peel. Whether you’re outfitting a single retail store or rolling out signage across dozens of locations, large format printing lets you scale your brand visuals to fit any space.
Large format printing is used in many industries, including retail, hospitality, sports and more.
Types of Large Format Printing
Large format printing covers a wide range of materials and applications. Large format vinyl printing is used for wall murals, window graphics, floor decals, outdoor signage and more. Vinyl adheres to most surfaces, including rough brick and concrete, and holds up in both indoor and outdoor environments. SEG fabric printing (short for silicone edge graphics) uses a large format dye sublimation printer to produce high-quality fabric prints. A thin silicone bead is sewn around the edge of each print and presses into a grooved aluminum frame, creating a smooth, frameless display. SEG fabric is a top choice for retail sign printing because graphics swap out in seconds with no tools or special skills required. Rigid substrates, acrylic, metal and specialty films, such as dichroic color-shifting window film, are also found in the large format printing category.
Examples of Large Format Print Projects
Protective Stadium — Birmingham, AL
40 VISUALS produced a 154-foot large format vinyl wrap for the south entrance ramp of Protective Stadium. The mural was split into 38 sections and heat-applied directly to rough brick so the vinyl conforms to the surface texture and looks painted on. A crew of five spent seven days completing the install, which also extended to the stadium’s concourse columns.
Pack Animals — San Ramon, CA
Two 20-foot-wide by 8-foot-tall SEG fabric wall murals were produced for the Pack Animals co-working space at City Center Bishop Ranch in California. The large format prints were produced on eco-friendly CleanRTex™ fabric using dye sublimation, with color-matched swatches to align the artwork with the client’s existing branding.
Ernstberger Orthodontics — Southern Indiana
A 59-foot panoramic wall covering mural was installed across the open treatment room of Ernstberger Orthodontics. Produced in 15 panels using DreamScape Matte Type II vinyl, the forest scene creates a calming atmosphere for patients and completely changes the feel of the space.
Cartier — New York, NY
Three SEG backlit fabric graphics were produced for Cartier’s Carat & Co. retail location in Queens. Printed on woven backlit fabric using dye sublimation, the seasonal imagery in dark blue, red and gold was installed into recessed wall-mounted lightboxes to match Cartier’s high-end retail environment.
Color-Shifting Window Film on Room Dividers
For a corporate break room, large format printing services were used to cover both sides of acrylic room dividers. One side received an ultra-clear cling with tree artwork. The other was covered in ColourShift ASLAN SE 70 Nebula, a dichroic film that shifts color based on viewing angle and lighting conditions, adding visual depth and privacy to the space at the same time.
Put Large Format Printing to Work for Your Brand
Large format printing gives your brand the ability to use surfaces that most businesses overlook. From a 154-foot stadium wall to the windows of a corporate break room, the materials available today make it possible to print on almost anything. Whether you need SEG fabric printing for a retail display or large format vinyl printing for an outdoor mural, 40 VISUALS has the large format printing services to bring your project to life. Contact us today to get started.
