Whether it's a 3 metre backdrop, a run of site hoardings or a set of shop window graphics, large format printing is an investment. Ask the right questions early and you avoid reprints, wasted budget and graphics that look great on screen but disappoint on the wall.
Here are the seven we'd ask before quoting anything. Answer them and your print will work harder, last the right amount of time and look like it belongs.
Key takeaways
- Give every print a job before you design it.
- Design for the person reading it, at the distance they'll read it from.
- Where it lives and how long it lasts decide the material.
- Keep it on brand, measure the space and plan for next time.
- Price comes last, and it's far easier to get right once the rest is clear.
1 What is this print trying to do?
Every graphic needs a job. Is it there to sell, to guide people, to build your brand, to make an event feel special or to keep a site safe? Pick one main goal.
- Grab attention and drive sales, like a shop window promotion.
- Help people find their way, like wayfinding signage.
- Build awareness, like a branded site hoarding.
- Create a moment, like a photo backdrop or a printed dance floor.
If you can't say what success looks like, you can't tell whether the print delivered it.
2 Who will be seeing it, and from where?
Your audience shapes the design. A hoarding read from across a busy road needs a few huge words and strong contrast. A seating plan read from a step away can carry names, table numbers and detail.
Think about who is looking, how fast they're moving and how far away they are. That decides your text size, your colours and how much you can realistically say.
Pro tip Print a section of your design at full size, or zoom your screen to match it, then step back. If you can't read it, nobody else will.
3 Where will it live?
Environment changes everything. Before choosing a material, ask:
- Indoors or outdoors?
- On glass, a smooth wall, a textured wall, a floor or a fence?
- In direct sunlight, rain or wind?
- Somewhere with heavy footfall or lots of hands touching it?
Outdoors you might be looking at PVC or mesh banners, ACM signs or Correx boards. On glass, window graphics. Underfoot, floor graphics with the right laminate. Tell us where it's going and we'll match the material.
Real jobs: printed hoarding panels along the YOTELPAD Stratford site, and the FOUR OH birthday backdrop with giant cut letters.
4 How long does it need to last?
A one night event and five years of office branding should not be built the same way. A weekend backdrop can be light and quick to fit. A permanent sign needs tougher materials and fixings that last.
Matching the lifespan to the spec stops you overspending on a one off or underspending on something that has to survive years. We dig into this in temporary event graphics vs permanent signage.
5 Does it fit the rest of your brand?
A graphic shouldn't stand alone. Does it match your website, your shopfront, your uniforms and your current campaign? Consistency builds trust.
- Use your real brand colours, and remember screens and ink behave differently. If your file is RGB we can convert it to CMYK, but there is a possibility of colour change. Here's why CMYK and RGB differ.
- Send your logo as a vector so it stays sharp at any size. Our guide to vector files explains how.
- Stick to your brand fonts and tone of voice.
6 Is the space ready?
Great print can still look wrong in an unprepared space. Check these before you sign off the order:
- Measurements. Measure the actual space, not the plans. Note frames, sockets, handles and anything that must stay clear.
- Surface. Is it clean, dry and smooth enough for the graphic you have in mind?
- Lighting. Glare, shadows and backlighting all change how colours look.
- Access and timing. When can the space be fitted, and is anything else happening on site that day?
- Deadline. Our standard turnaround is 7 to 10 working days, with express and super express options when the date is close.
Great projects don't happen by accident. They're planned.
7 Are you thinking beyond today?
The smartest print meets today's need and leaves room for tomorrow. Ask yourself:
- Could the design be extended to more sites, windows or panels later?
- Will it still fit your brand after your next campaign?
- Can parts be swapped or reprinted without starting again? Reusable frames with changeable graphics are a good example.
A little forward planning now can save real time and money later.
The before you print cheat sheet
Keep this handy for your next project, or forward it to whoever is briefing the job.
| Question | Why it matters | What it decides |
|---|---|---|
| What is it for? | Sets the message and the measure of success | Headline, layout, call to action |
| Who will see it? | Distance and speed change what people can read | Text size, contrast, how much you say |
| Where will it live? | Weather, light and surfaces wear print differently | Material, laminate, fixings |
| How long must it last? | A weekend and five years need different builds | Temporary or permanent spec |
| Does it fit the brand? | Consistency builds trust | Colours, fonts, logo files |
| Is the space ready? | Measurements and surfaces make or break the fit | Sizes, install plan, timing |
| What about next year? | Reuse and updates save money later | Modular panels, swappable graphics |
Great print starts with great questions
Large format printing isn't just about good looking graphics. It's about print that does its job, in its space, for as long as you need it. That's why our large format printing in London starts with a conversation about your goals, your audience and your space before we recommend a material. Bring us your answers, or bring us the questions, and we'll work through them together.
