questions to ask your wide format digital printer

The advertising industry is under a lot of pressure to handle the rapidly changing preferences of consumers. The industry transformations are resulting in brands having to work harder on visual communications in order to retain and attract customers. Wide (or large) format graphics play a vital role in companies’ promotional tactics to achieve advantage over their competitors. So when choosing a print services provider, you need to choose wisely. The wide format digital print industry boasts a variety of products from point of sale and backlit fabrics to billboards and large posters. And with state-of-the-art equipment; quality of print and speed of production should be a given from all providers.

So if quality and speed are assumed, what else do you need to know from your printer?

How dependable are they?

Promises to your clients or colleagues will be based on your printer’s delivery guarantees and if they fail it can be a costly and awkward experience for you. A printer should prove their dependability from the very first contact.

What are they specialists in?

Printers differentiate themselves in many ways; from focusing on certain sectors to variable data print to innovative production software. Work out what’s more important to your brand and source a printer based on those values.

What ideas do they have?

If you are working on a new or bespoke project, bring your printer into the job early. By doing this, you will have the opportunity to see new products, ideas and printing processes.

How quickly can they turn a job round?

Digital print providers have a clear advantage over traditional printers anyway when it comes to speed, but the point here is that a decent printer will do everything they can to produce your job to your deadline. And if they can’t, they should be honest enough disclose that information as soon as possible.

What choices can they offer?

Ask your printer about the best options for your budget. You might already have an idea about what you want but they can advise you on paper stock, finishing, most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly options.

How environmentally friendly are they?

Being green and sustainable is becoming more important each year for any company but probably more so for the printing industry. Ask your printer about their environmental policy and accreditations.

How much will it cost you?

Unsurprisingly, the right printer isn’t always the one with the lowest prices. Values such as dependability, turnaround time and ease of doing business should also be a significant factor when budgeting for print work.

Can you get regular updates?

Communication is the key here; you should feel comfortable to check in with your printer on a regular basis. If there’s a problem, they should get in touch immediately but if you’re responsible for the project then it’s always good to get a regular update.

Can you go and see the printing facilities?

A tour round the factory-floor can give you a great feel for a print provider’s offerings and speaking to different members of the team can give you a sense of their knowledge and expertise.

Wide format digital printing specialists

At Cestrian we’re confident that we can provide answers to all your questions including your biggest question; ‘what can you do for me’? Challenge us with your questions and see how we can make your promotional activities stand out from the crowd.