Wide-format Output--The Bigger Picture

"First, wide format offers printers a stronger bond with their clients and suppliers, such as ad agencies, for example. It allows the commercial printer to service them in-house, rather than sending them down the street to an outside servicer," Champeau states.

Second, he continues, wide-format printing provides an alternative revenue stream that fits into a commercial printer's existing workflow. It must be understood that the initial startup cost for wide-format printing can be substantial, but labor—in terms of availability or special skills—probably is already available in-house.