How to Order Large Format Printing: A Step-by-Step Guide
This large format print guide covers file setup, material selection, quoting, proofing, and delivery. Written for Australian businesses who need to get print right the first time.
Whether you’re an event coordinator managing conference signage, a marketing coordinator running a national campaign rollout, an office manager ordering reception displays, or an executive assistant handling a one-off poster and signage printing order, this step-by-step printing order process gets you there without the back-and-forth.
What is large format printing and when do you need it?
Large format printing covers any print wider than 60cm. It’s the format used for banner printing, poster printing, wall graphics, site hoardings, retail displays, event signage, and conference signage. Any print that needs to be seen from a distance and hold up in a real environment.
Use large format printing when:
- Your brand needs visibility at a shopfront, construction site, or event space
- You need custom signage solutions for a trade show, conference, or product launch
- You’re placing a poster and signage printing order for an internal or external campaign
- A standard printer can’t produce the size you need
Kwik Kopy is a professional print shop and large scale printing service across Australia, with 90+ locations handling everything from a single custom large format printing order to coordinated multi-site campaign rollouts.
Step by step: how to order large format printing
Use this step-by-step printing order process to get your job from brief to delivery without delays.
Step 1: Define what you need
Start with four questions: What is the sign for? Where will it be displayed? How long does it need to last? What size do you need? These determine material, finish, file setup, and price.
Step 2: Choose your material and finish
If you’re unsure whether vinyl, fabric, or corflute suits your project, your local Kwik Kopy team can advise based on where and how the signage will be used. That consultative approach is what a professional print shop ordering guide should actually deliver.
- Vinyl: Outdoor banner printing, window graphics, and wall graphics. UV-stable and weather-resistant.
- Fabric: Trade show backdrops, media walls, and event signage. Lightweight and packable.
- Corflute: Temporary outdoor signs and A-frame signs. Affordable for short-term use.
- Acrylic: Reception signage and boardroom displays. Premium, permanent, polished.
- Foamcore: Indoor presentation boards and point-of-sale displays. Cost-effective for short-term indoor use.
Step 3: Prepare your artwork file
This is where most custom large format printing orders run into problems. Get this right before you submit.
- File format: PDF (PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 preferred), AI with fonts outlined, or high-resolution TIFF
- Colour mode: CMYK always. RGB produces unpredictable colour shifts when printed.
- Resolution: 100 to 150 DPI at final print size
- Bleed: minimum 5mm on all four sides
- Safe zone: all critical content at least 5mm inside the trim line
- Fonts: outlined or embedded, never linked
Don’t have artwork? Our graphic design team builds print-ready files from scratch.
Step 4: Request a quote and understand pricing
To order large format prints online or through your local centre, have these details ready:
- Final print dimensions
- Quantity
- Material and finish preference
- Deadline
- Whether artwork is print-ready
Pricing factors that affect your quote: size, material type, finish, quantity, design complexity, and turnaround time. Urgent jobs are available at most centres. Submit a quote here to learn how to request large format print quotes quickly.
Step 5: Proof and approve
We send a proof before production starts. Check spelling, dimensions, colour, and bleed. Once you approve, production begins. Changes after approval delay your job.
Step 6: Production and delivery
Many standard jobs are ready the next business day. Complex or high-volume orders take longer. Collect from your nearest centre or arrange delivery. For multi-site jobs, Kwik Kopy coordinates production and delivery across multiple locations through our national network.
Common mistakes to avoid when ordering large format printing
These are the errors that cause delays, reprints, and unnecessary cost.
- Supplying RGB files: Always convert to CMYK before saving. Automatic RGB conversion by the printer rarely produces accurate colours.
- Low-resolution images: Web images scaled to large format produce pixelated results. Source high-resolution originals.
- Missing bleed: Artwork without 5mm bleed gets a white border after cutting. Add it from the start of your design process.
- Wrong dimensions: Always confirm final print size with your centre before building the file.
- Late approval: Leaving the proof review until the last minute removes your buffer if changes are needed.
How to choose a reliable large format printing provider
Look for a provider who:
- Has local centres with face-to-face support
- Handles complex, multi-format, and multi-location jobs
- Has in-house design capability if your artwork isn’t ready
- Sends proofs before production
- Has a track record with businesses in your industry
Kwik Kopy is your one-stop shop for design, large format printing, signage, and delivery across Australia.
Quick checklist before you place your order
- Artwork in PDF, AI, or high-resolution TIFF format
- Colour mode set to CMYK
- Resolution 100 to 150 DPI at final print size
- 5mm bleed on all four sides
- Fonts outlined or embedded
- Final dimensions confirmed
- Material and finish selected for your environment
- Deadline communicated at time of enquiry
- Proof reviewed and approved before production
Frequently asked questions
Q.1: What file format should I use for large format printing?
PDF is preferred, specifically PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4. AI files with outlined fonts and high-resolution TIFF or JPG files are also accepted.
Q.2: How long does a large format print order take?
Many standard jobs are ready the next business day. Contact your nearest Kwik Kopy centre with your deadline and they’ll confirm what’s achievable.
Q.3: How do I request a large format print quote?
Submit a quote request online or contact your nearest centre. Have your size, quantity, material, and deadline ready.
Q.4: Can I order large format prints online?
Yes. Request a quote or buy direct through the Kwik Kopy online store. For complex jobs, speaking to your local centre first is the better option.
Q.5: What resolution do I need?
100 to 150 DPI at final print size. Your local team will flag any file issues before production starts.
Q.6: What affects the price of large format printing?
Size, material type, finish, quantity, complexity, and turnaround time all affect pricing. Contact your local centre for an accurate quote.
Q.7: Can Kwik Kopy help with design if I don’t have artwork?
Yes. Our graphic design team handles everything from concept to a finished print-ready file.
Need banner printing, poster printing, wall graphics, event signage, or a multi-location rollout? Talk to your local Kwik Kopy team today and get expert guidance from concept to completion.
