Anything wider than A3 usually leaves the sheet presses and lands on a large-format machine printing onto rolls and rigid sheets. Riyadh businesses use it for banners, exhibition backdrops, boards and vehicle graphics. This guide explains the materials, the square-metre pricing, and how to prepare artwork that stays sharp when scaled up.
The Large-Format Material Family
- Vinyl (PVC banner) — standard outdoor billboard and banner substrate.
- Backlit vinyl — for illuminated boxes and lightboxes.
- Mesh — wind-passing fence banners and hoardings.
- Sticky vinyl (PVC self-adhesive) — for windows, walls and vehicles.
- Rigid sheets — foamboard, PVC board, ACP and plexiglass.
- Fabric and canvas — backdrops and premium displays.
Printing and Pricing Per Square Metre
| Material | Typical price / m2 | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl banner 440 gsm | SAR 60-95 | Outdoor signs, farewells |
| Backlit vinyl | SAR 85-130 | Illuminated boxes |
| Mesh | SAR 70-110 | Fences, hoardings |
| Self-adhesive | SAR 65-100 | Windows, floors |
| Foamboard mounted | SAR 90-150 | Indoor displays |
Artwork for Scaled-Up Printing
Large format needs lower resolution than sheets: 100-150 DPI at final size is usually plenty for a banner viewed from metres away. A 3-metre vinyl banner built at 100 DPI is only about 12000 x 4000 pixels — easy for most design files.
Keep logos and text vector or high resolution. Building the file at one-quarter size at 400 DPI is the same as full size at 100 DPI.
Seams, Hemming and Installation
Very wide banners are printed in panels and seamed. Decide the fixing early: hemmed edges with eyelets, rope loops, or aluminium frames. Installers on site add their own call-out cost, so ask whether the printer's team installs.
Vehicle Graphics and Floor Graphics
- Vehicle wraps in 2-3 year cast vinyl.
- Window and glass films at large scale.
- 5 mm floor vinyl with anti-slip topcoat for retail.
- Wall murals printed on PVC or fabric.
Ordering a Large-Format Job
Give the exact finished size (not approximate), the material, the fixing method, and the deadline. Confirm the print resolution and whether mounting is included before approving a quote.
Have something bigger than A3?
Send dimensions and material preference — get per-square-metre pricing today.
WhatsApp usLarge format usually starts where sheet presses stop — roughly A3 size and larger. Jobs are quoted per square metre or per piece with a minimum charge covering material and setup.
Single vinyl banners produced in-house typically take 24 to 72 hours. Panel-seamed or framed work and installation add one to three days.
100 to 150 DPI at the final printed size is standard for banners viewed from distance. Higher DPI wastes nothing — but large formats never need the 300 DPI used for small sheets.
