It's now over 500 years since German goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg invented the first printing press, enabling the mass-production of literature and other texts through the medium of print.

Indeed, such was the influence of Gutenberg's design, that in 1997 it was voted the most important creation of the last 1000 years by Time-Life magazine, which is no mean feat, considering the wealth of other contraptions and devices that have contributed to the technological revolution.

As with any invention, however, although the same basic concept has remained the same over the years, the methods and technology used to achieve the outcomes have changed greatly. In an age where everything from telephones to televisions are becoming digitalised, the world of printing, too, is moving into the digital realm, and for good reason.

Firstly, there is the issue of time and money. With digital print, what once took days can now be achieved in hours, and there are no traditional printing plate charges to pay for, which is of particular benefit for short-runs in large format digital printing. With large format digital printing, it is common for organisations to do shorter print-runs than they would maybe do with, say, an A4-sized flyer.

Roller banners, for example, are commonly used by companies at information stalls at events or to greet visitors in reception areas. They are a very effective, eye-catching means of gaining exposure, as people can see instantly who the company is and what they stand for. Many organisations will need no more than a few of these banners and will benefit greatly from the reduced cost of large format digital printing.

Furthermore, digital printing in general provides the customer with far greater versatility over traditional printing methods. It's not uncommon for companies' needs to change over time; whilst a print-run of only a few might be fine at first, there may be a need for more at a later date. ‘On-demand' digital printing also allows the customer to ‘test' the market place and then adjust the company message at a later date, without costing the earth to do so.

Large format digital printing is also suitable for more ambitious marketing or branding projects. Mesh PVC banners, for example, are proven to be an effective means of advertising and can be used to adorn scaffoldings and building wraps, and can also be displayed in public buildings such as concert and exhibition halls.

So, although the basic premise of producing literature and other texts ‘en-masse' has largely remained the same since Gutenberg's revolutionary 15th century invention, the methods have changed significantly over the years. The digital revolution has led to improved versatility and speed and also reduced costs, making large format digital printing more feasible than ever before. It would seem that bigger is, indeed, better.

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