large format printing : Wide Format Business Success Requires a Mixed Bag of Tools
One of the earliest adopters of wide format printing was Fred Dietsch of Media Works, Inc. of Jacksonville, FL. In 1986, Dietsch started his company doing graphic design and presentation services for local companies and built
his reputation on attention to detail and tremendous customer service. Nearly ten years ago he brought in one of the first ColorSpan (www.colorspan.com), Eden Prairie, MN, DisplayMaker Professional 36" printers so that he could offer his clients additional products and services that no one else could. As the technology advanced, Media Works was growing right along with it. With their focus on quality output, they purchased the first eight color printers introduced by ColorSpan in 1996. They now run three of those same 62" printers around the clock. They have a full graphic design department able to produce stunning presentation pieces, trade show and event themes,as well as multi-media and Web design. The company also can handle professional photography, high resolution drum and flatbed scanning as well as complete production of finished graphic products mounted and laminated for a wide variety of purposes. Media Works has a devoted customer base in most of the major corporations in the area and is able to maintain premium pricing because customers know they will always get consistently high quality and total service. Dietsch would "Rather throw away garbage cans full of bad prints than let one go out to a customer." And this is a critical distinction.
Factors to Consider
Wide format printing is viewed by some to be only slightly more complicated than desktop printing it is a terribly complicated technical morass to be feared. The truth, of course, lies somewhere in between. Wide format printers are much more complicated than desktop printers, even though the basic technology concept
is very similar. Digital files are converted to microscopic ink droplets on media. The complications come in the plumbing and software necessary to deliver large quantities of ink onto a very large surface. With the efficiency and reliability of wide format printers finally reaching affordable levels, a relatively novice user can begin printing for under $5,000. But this doesn't take into account other necessary success factors. Many customers desire output on various types of media, which requires inventory. Only a small portion of customers want prints on plain paper as posters. Most want fully finished products like banners, which are hemmed and grommeted, laminated prints on rigid boards, backlit light boxes, contour-cut decals, framed fine art canvases, specially made lenticular (3-D and/or motion images) displays, and much more.
By Kenneth Sandlin
his reputation on attention to detail and tremendous customer service. Nearly ten years ago he brought in one of the first ColorSpan (www.colorspan.com), Eden Prairie, MN, DisplayMaker Professional 36" printers so that he could offer his clients additional products and services that no one else could. As the technology advanced, Media Works was growing right along with it. With their focus on quality output, they purchased the first eight color printers introduced by ColorSpan in 1996. They now run three of those same 62" printers around the clock. They have a full graphic design department able to produce stunning presentation pieces, trade show and event themes,as well as multi-media and Web design. The company also can handle professional photography, high resolution drum and flatbed scanning as well as complete production of finished graphic products mounted and laminated for a wide variety of purposes. Media Works has a devoted customer base in most of the major corporations in the area and is able to maintain premium pricing because customers know they will always get consistently high quality and total service. Dietsch would "Rather throw away garbage cans full of bad prints than let one go out to a customer." And this is a critical distinction.
Factors to Consider
Wide format printing is viewed by some to be only slightly more complicated than desktop printing it is a terribly complicated technical morass to be feared. The truth, of course, lies somewhere in between. Wide format printers are much more complicated than desktop printers, even though the basic technology concept
is very similar. Digital files are converted to microscopic ink droplets on media. The complications come in the plumbing and software necessary to deliver large quantities of ink onto a very large surface. With the efficiency and reliability of wide format printers finally reaching affordable levels, a relatively novice user can begin printing for under $5,000. But this doesn't take into account other necessary success factors. Many customers desire output on various types of media, which requires inventory. Only a small portion of customers want prints on plain paper as posters. Most want fully finished products like banners, which are hemmed and grommeted, laminated prints on rigid boards, backlit light boxes, contour-cut decals, framed fine art canvases, specially made lenticular (3-D and/or motion images) displays, and much more.
By Kenneth Sandlin
