The word of signs and print can get pretty complicated. There are lots of terms specific to our industry that don’t always translate. Grand format printing sounds pretty straightforward, right? It’s big stuff. But how big is “grand”. Believe it or not, there isn’t a standard answer accepted across both the sign and print industries.
Part of the reason for this is the ever changing face of technology. New printers that can print wider stock in more compact spaces mean that more shops can afford what used to be just for the big houses before. In addition, new media or stock comes available every day making what used to be impossible to print now everyday work.
But back to the question: What is Grand Format printing? At this point in time, grand format can be anything over 8′ wide. That is to say most local sign companies can print between 54″ and 64″ wide materials on their “large format” printers. When you get to widths greater than 64″, you are generally talking about outsourcing that output to a grand format shop.
Who uses grand format? Well, more people than you think. It used to be that the billboard industry had the lock on grand format but that is slipping away with the introduction of digital billboards and the market trend for bigger, grander banners, wraps, scrims, window vinyls, etc. With the new media available, it is very common to see stadium-sized banners, whole sides or full building wraps, two and three story wall murals, huge flags, and a host of other over-sized printed product.
The boundary between large and grand format will likely continue to be blurry. The important thing to remember is that you can probably get whatever you want printed, regardless of size.
