More than three-quarters of French consumers said the main reason they entered a retail store was the large-scale outdoor print display. The sign or banner at the entrance captured their attention, so they went in. It seems that the majority of businesses rely on this method, as many use large-scale printing in their retail stores, both inside and outside. Large and small organizations promote their new merchandise with colorful displays. Professional sports teams hang banner ads inside and outside their stadiums to showcase their players or to highlight a promotional day. The possibilities are wide-ranging.
Large-scale printing refers to the process of printing, usually on non-paper advertising media such as vinyl, canvas or acrylic (to name a few). Yes, regular printing presses can produce large format projects on paper, but the goal is to break it down into something smaller, such as a magazine or direct mail piece that is eventually cut, trimmed and folded. Large-scale printing starts large and usually stays that way. So this printing process requires special production equipment to accommodate the larger format. Large format printing is also sometimes referred to as large scale printing. This includes projects such as in-store displays, indoor/outdoor horizontal or vertical banners, promotional signage, window and wall posters, and billboards.
But this unique printing process is not limited to large banner installations. Here's how you can use large-scale printing to help your business stand out.
Simplify your design
Your large-scale print project starts with its design, so there are a few things you need to know. If you're familiar with the graphic acronym KISS ("Keep it simple and short"), you know it's best not to be complicated. But why do less when large-scale printing seems to allow you to include more? It's all about the message.
Most people will only see your ad, billboard or large format display in passing, so you need to keep the total word count to a minimum. You only have a short time to get their attention and get your message across. It's a far cry from having the full attention of someone looking at your print ad.
Generally speaking, large-scale outdoor printing should include:
- An image or graphics with plenty of room around them.
- A title and subtitle to get your message across in as few words as possible.
- The company logo.
- Contact information such as website URL and/or phone number.
This information will vary from piece to piece and will depend on the type of large format print you are working on. But it's a good place to start. Simplicity keeps your message clear and quickly builds interest in your product or service. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Embrace this concept and you'll be well on your way to a successful poster-based marketing strategy.
Include eye-catching images or graphics
It goes without saying that a stunning image will help your viewers notice you, but you have to look at the details. Beautiful images and graphics capture attention no matter where you see them. Just make sure you get the highest image resolution possible. After all, the more you increase the size of the image, the more you'll notice a decrease in quality.
When it comes to large-scale printing, use vector images if possible. Vectors are a little different from .JPG and bitmap files because they are not composed of pixels. Instead, they are defined by mathematical equations, so no matter how large the image is, it will still look crisp and clear in the final product. Vectors also tend to have relatively smaller file sizes, which saves time when uploading, downloading, and even printing.
How to choose colors
Color plays a bigger role in your buying decisions than you might think. In fact, customers typically make a judgment about a product within 90 seconds of interacting with it. Most of these decisions are based on color. That's why we turn to color psychology for answers. This approach looks at how decisions are made and how behavior is affected by color. Color can have an impact on how your sign is perceived by your customers. Certain hues can affect your appetite, your emotions and your purchase choices. Color can even affect the taste of food or enhance the effectiveness of placebos.
For example, red represents urgency and encourages your appetite. Blue, on the other hand, refers to calm and peace. Green brings feelings of health and nature. Black evokes feelings of power and stability.
With all this in mind, you should also choose a background color that distinguishes the text and graphics. This will make it easy for your audience to read your message. Also, use a simple color palette. Two or three center colors are more than enough. Of course, if you are creating something that consumers will have the opportunity to read, you can get more complex if you wish.
CMYK - RGB
When it comes to large-scale advertising poster printing, CMYK is the preferred choice. This is because printers use CMYK and you will get a more accurate representation when printing your project on a large scale.
Choose a readable font
The first thing to consider when choosing a billboard font is to make sure it is readable. You may be enticed by a script or decorative font, but keep in mind that consumers may be looking at it from a distance. It should be easy to read above all else. Sans serif fonts are generally the best. Serif fonts, on the other hand, can be especially difficult for people with dyslexia to read. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Be careful with large spaces between letters. This makes it harder to see where one word ends and another begins.
- Instead, watch for fonts with letters too close together. This makes it hard for people to read each letter.
- Fonts that are too bold often look crowded in their space.
- Thin fonts don't stand out from the background very well.
Choose the best large format printing company
If you really want to make a statement and attract and impress potential customers, only the best custom large format poster printing will do. Over 50% of consumers said they were less likely to enter a store with a poor quality sign. Don't let that make the difference for your business. Once consumers are inside your store, you can impress them with a variety of point-of-purchase advertising opportunities, all strategically placed to put you on the fast track to increased sales and customer retention.
Good printers provide high quality large format printing on the best printing equipment. In addition, some may offer a brand management solution for your business. This allows you to control and manage all your printing needs in one convenient, cloud-based location.
A good printer will create a solution that fits your brand so you can impress your customers, maintain brand consistency, and ultimately sell more of your product.
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