Wide format printer (13×19, 18×24, 24×36 inch printers)

Updated: 2021-04-26

What is considered wide/large format printing?

What is large format printing? How to define a wide format printer? Many people ask this questions because they might be looking to get large format printing done, and they want to know the parameters.

First of all, the term large/wide format is very broad and can vary from person to person. However, one way to define large format printing is printing at least 12″x12″ or larger.

What is considered wide format printing?

Large format printing is a process that uses a large sheet of paper (typically 13″x19″, 18″x24″ or 24″x36″) to produce a large graphic, photograph, or print. This is different from traditional printer paper (8.5 “x11”) in that the large format paper is thicker and of much higher quality.

Some wide format printers are heavy machines, so they are sometimes also called floor printers. Wide format printers are used for printing custom posters, billboards, large banners, movie posters, and even some smaller photographic prints.

Large format printing has been around for over a century. Although the printing process is considered the same as with the standard printers, there are some differences. Large format printing was designed to reproduce artwork that businesses would use for posters, billboards, and signs. The process has changed since wide format printers were first introduced, but the basic large format printing method remains unchanged.


Fine art printing with wide-format printer

What can You do with a large format printer? Use your imagination!

If you have a large format printer, you can print whatever you want and as large as you wish. Or you can use large format printing in combination with other technologies. For example, you can take your pictures with your smartphone and print them out in a large format. You can scan your artwork in large format. You can replace your whiteboard with a large format printer.

With a wide format printer, you can print out posters, paintings, and more. You can even print out a life-size version of yourself! The question is, how can you get your hands on a printer that can do all of this?

Is it Worth Buying a Wide Format Printer?

Many photographers have begun converting from film to digital photography in recent years. This change has been a welcome one since digital photography is less expensive than its film-based counterpart, and it is much less time-consuming.

However, although many photographers have begun using digital cameras, there are still many photographers out there who have decided to stick to the old-fashioned film method. These photographers rely on large format systems, which have been around since the dawn of photography.

Large format printers are beneficial if you’re an artist and want to sell your artwork or start printing your calendars. These printers are also helpful if you’re in real estate and want to print out large photos of houses or apartments you show to clients.

In other words, LFP printers are handy if you’re a professional who is doing a lot of printing and needs to print photos that are of high quality. These printers also tend to be pretty expensive, but they can be a significant investment.

How much is a large format printer?

A large format printer that prints on paper or canvas is an excellent option if you want to print images at a high-resolution or large-scale project. You can also display the naturally large printouts in some ways. But how much is a large format printer?

If you have a new or used large format printer in mind, you may want to check what type of large format printer you wish to buy; is it a digital or an analog printer. Also, you should check what kind of inks or toners you should use and how much they cost.

The good news is that prices on large format printers have dropped dramatically over the past ten years or so. The newest models provide increasingly excellent results at prices within most photographers’ reach.

Criteria for choosing wide format printers

Wide-format printers are an excellent investment for any graphic artist or photographer who needs to quickly and professionally print large pieces of artwork. However, in the wide-format-printer market, there are many different models to choose from, with dozens of other specifications and features. Some models are branded with multiple different names to make things even more confusing.

If you plan to print your photos using a wide-format printer, you need to make sure you take the proper steps before choosing the printer. You should read reviews and compare the specifications of available printers before deciding which model is best for you.

However, even more important than that, you also need to be well-informed on the wide-format printers’ features available and decide which are the most important for you.

What will you be printing?

There is a wide range of wide-format printers. Short-run printers are used for smaller runs of banners, backdrops, and trade show graphics. They are used in many professions, including doctors, offices, realtors, and interior designers.

What is the purpose of your printing? If you want to print for the outdoor market, you can also print for the indoor market. However, you cannot use an indoor printer for outdoor purposes. For instance, if you want to print vehicle wraps, you need an outdoor printer.

There are large format printers used in the sign and billboard industry. Some businesses use wide format printers for architectural drawings.

Some businesses use printers designed to produce high-quality prints that they can use for technical/design drawings and other specialized purposes.

Wide-format printers are ideal for printing large posters, banners, and other large-sized items of professional quality. Unlike the other printers that use ink types designed only for small-sized printing, wide format printers have a unique set of inks explicitly designed for wide format printing on various materials like canvas, OHP, photo paper, etc.

BTW, printing on a large format canvas. While it is possible, it is not easy. A canvas is nothing more than a large piece of fabric that can be printed on using a regular inkjet printer or large format plotter. Unfortunately, many large format printers and plotters cannot print on canvas. You cannot do it. The reason is that the canvas print roll would have to take up the entire printer or plotter paper-feeding tray, which is simply too large to fit.

The wide-format printer features you need to consider before purchase.

Printer output speed

Large format printers enable you to print posters, advertisement boards, banners, billboards, and even household items such as placemats and photo frames. If you are in the printing business, you can use them to print your flyers, brochures, and posters. Large format printers can print in a variety of sizes. You can print them out to be as big as you want, depending on the space you have to work with.

One of the best things about large format printers is that they are faster than their desktop counterparts. However, most large format printers cannot produce large volumes quickly. This is because they have a limited number of print heads, and the paper storage and feeding are limiting factors.

Precision printing

Technical documents are used in the architecture and engineering fields to build off blueprints and schematics. Because these documents are so detailed, they must be printed with precision and clarity. The larger paper size makes plans easier to read, and laser printing technology delivers the high quality of detail these documents demand.

Paper feeding

Wide format printers are a significant investment, and print media’s ongoing costs can add up quickly. Luckily, there’s an inexpensive way to avoid wasting paper: with an automatic paper feeder for your printer. These attachments allow you to slowly and steadily feed paper into your printer, allowing you to print multiple images without wasting paper.

There are several different models available, each with its own set of pros and cons, making it hard to choose a great automatic paper feeder. If you choose the wrong kind of feeder, it can jam up your printer, waste paper, and make a mess.

Printer size and required floor space

Wide-format printers are technically production printers, but their sizes vary by brand. You can place some on a desk. Others are bigger and require heavy rolls of paper to function. There are pros and cons to each device size. For example, printers that are too big tend to be heavy. They also take up a lot of space. On the other hand, small printers can be just as annoying, as they tend to jam and break.

If you are looking to get a wider format printer, you need to consider the area where the printer will be. While it is a great idea to think of your home decor’s design, you will want to take into account how you will be processing your images and where you will store your prints.

A wide format printer prints on a large piece of paper. It is not for a small job. This printer is a large piece of equipment and takes up a lot of space.

Proper ventilation

Solvent ink creates high-quality print results, but proper ventilation is needed during printing to reduce VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Solvent-based inks evaporate quickly but need to be allowed to ventilate for a while after printing to completely “gas out” the air.

Working environment

If you plan to place the large format printer in an open space in the studio or office, consider whether the noise level will prove distracting. Is it loud? Will it disturb others?

The printer placement is vital because the noise level could become a problem. However, if the printer is placed elsewhere, away from where others are working, this issue should not arise.