Large format printing is not a static sector. In fact, several exciting innovations in printing technology are bringing in a new era in large format printing, increasing the applications available to small businesses while cutting costs and delivery times. Let’s look at three of the main changes and the benefits to you:
1. Faster And Smarter Printing Technology
Time and cost effectiveness have always been big factors in print decisions for SMEs. Modern advances in large format print technology are tackling these challenges head on. The latest printing presses, for instance, are capable of producing high quality printed materials on varied substrates with a far shorter turnaround time, and reduced wastage and cost, than at any other point in history. How do they do this? While the hardware used in printing is superficially the same, digital presses are now driven by automated workflow tools that streamline the design to print process and save time at every stage. Coupled with this are advanced drying/curing systems that produce large format prints more quickly without compromising durability.
Benefits to you: for SMEs, these changes mean being able to run last-minute promotions and create stylish large format prints on a smaller budget, with fewer of the delays and setbacks that used to plague the order process.
2. Sustainable/Eco-Friendly Printing Solutions
Sustainability has infiltrated every element of the large format printing sector, making sustainable large format printing more accessible than ever for small businesses. In part, the improved eco-profile of the sector comes from the wider availability of recyclable and biodegradable materials. In place of the traditional plastic substrates and films for window graphics and event displays are a wider range of innovative compostable substrates, which deliver the same quality and wow factor without the ‘thousand-year footprint’ of older substrates. Printing presses themselves are also more energy efficient these days, reducing power consumption, carbon footprint, and end costs.
Benefits to you: sustainable printing tech means that you no longer have to choose between sustainability or the prints you need to promote your business. You can now have them both, aligning your printed marketing strategy with environmentally conscious values.
3. ‘Personalisation At Scale’
‘Personalisation or customisation at scale’ is one of the biggest buzzwords in marketing for 2025, but what does it actually mean in terms of printing? Essentially, it means having greater flexibility about the information you include on individual prints, within the same print run. Even a few years ago, this wasn’t easy to do. Flexographic printing was very economical at scale, but changes were cumbersome to make due to the reliance on physical plates, which had to be recreated for each individual change. Ouch, yes – and expensive, too. Digital and hybrid printing technology has changed this, so that personalised visuals and messages can be specified for individual audiences without significantly increasing production time or costs.
Benefits to you: flexibility and affordability! There is now the opportunity to increase engagement through tailored campaigns to different sectors of your customer base, delivering a higher ROI from your large format prints by resonating with niche audiences. You also have the flexibility to make small but impactful adjustments on each print (e.g. to individual window graphics), saving you money when ordering large format prints in bulk.
Get In Touch
If you’re ready to discover the benefits of large format printing for your business this year, please contact the experts at MTA Digital today.
Image source: Canva