6 Questions to Ask When Considering Bringing Wide Format Printing In-House

Wide format printing looks different for every organization. Your priorities will guide whether bringing it in-house is the right decision.

For many businesses, wide format output plays a quiet but critical role. Floor plans, signage, posters, technical drawings, presentations, and branded visuals all fall into this category. Some organizations outsource these jobs entirely. Others manage them internally, often with varying levels of efficiency and control.

If you are evaluating whether to bring wide format printing in-house, the decision is not just about hardware. It is about workflows, expectations, timing, and how work actually gets done. The six questions below are designed to help you assess that decision clearly and realistically.

Why Organizations Consider Bringing Wide Format Printing In-House

Before diving into the questions, it helps to understand why this conversation comes up in the first place.

Organizations often revisit wide format production when:

• Turnaround times start affecting schedules

• Outsourcing costs become harder to justify

• Quality or consistency issues arise

• Teams need more control over last-minute changes

Bringing wide format printing in-house can solve some of these challenges, but only when it aligns with actual needs. The following questions help clarify whether that alignment exists.

Questions to Help Evaluate Your Wide Format Needs

Wide format printing decisions are most effective when they are grounded in real workflows and priorities. These questions are designed to help you assess how wide format output is used today and whether bringing production in-house makes sense for your organization.

1. Which projects in my organization rely on wide format output today?

The first step is identifying where wide format output already plays a role.

This does not require that you currently print in-house. Many organizations rely on wide format output through external vendors, reprographic services, or third-party print shops. The key is understanding which projects depend on it.

Examples often include:

• Architectural or engineering drawings

• Construction documents or site plans

• Event signage or wayfinding

• Marketing displays or large-format graphics

• Training or presentation materials

If wide format output supports multiple recurring projects, it may be worth evaluating whether those needs could be handled internally.

2. What sizes and materials do my projects typically require?

Wide format printing is not one-size-fits-all.

Projects can vary widely in both size and substrate. Some organizations primarily print technical drawings on bond paper. Others need graphics on photo paper, vinyl, canvas, or specialty materials.

Understanding what you print today helps avoid over- or under-investing in a solution. It also clarifies whether flexibility is important. Organizations that support a mix of departments or project types often benefit from broader media support, while more focused use cases may not require it.

This question is less about specifications and more about patterns. Knowing what you regularly produce makes it easier to determine what capabilities actually matter.

3. How much control do I need over quality and consistency?

Quality expectations vary depending on the application.

For some organizations, wide format output must meet strict standards for line accuracy, scale, or color consistency. In other cases, visual impact or brand alignment is the priority.

When wide format work is outsourced, quality can vary depending on vendor processes, equipment, and timing. Bringing production in-house often increases control, but it also introduces responsibility.

This question helps you decide whether control is a requirement or simply a preference. If reprints, inconsistencies, or delays are causing friction, that is a strong signal that quality and consistency matter more than convenience alone.

4. How often do turnaround times impact my schedules or deadlines?

Turnaround time is one of the most common reasons organizations reconsider their approach to wide format printing.

Outsourced production works well when timelines are predictable. It becomes challenging when projects change quickly or require same-day output. Delays of even a few hours can impact meetings, installations, or client deliverables.

By asking how often turnaround times create issues, you can separate occasional inconvenience from recurring disruption. If wide format delays regularly affect schedules, on-demand access may provide meaningful value.

This is especially relevant for teams working under tight deadlines or managing multiple stakeholders.

5. Who needs access to wide format printing to do their job effectively?

Wide format printing is rarely used by only one person.

In many organizations, access spans departments such as design, facilities, operations, marketing, or project management. Understanding who needs access, and how often, helps shape both placement and workflow.

This question also highlights collaboration. If multiple teams rely on wide format output, centralized access can improve efficiency. If access is limited to a single role, a different approach may make sense.

Thinking in terms of people, not devices, ensures the solution supports real-world use.

6. What would change if wide format production were handled internally?

This final question ties everything together.

Rather than focusing on equipment, it asks you to consider outcomes. Bringing wide format printing in-house can change how work flows, how quickly decisions are executed, and how teams respond to last-minute needs.

Potential changes might include:

• Faster turnaround for urgent projects

• Greater visibility into costs and usage

• Fewer dependencies on external vendors

• Improved consistency across materials

It can also introduce new considerations, such as space, support, and process ownership. Weighing these tradeoffs helps ensure the decision is intentional rather than reactive.

Making the Decision with Confidence

Bringing wide format printing in-house is not the right move for every organization. For some, outsourcing remains the most efficient option. For others, internal production unlocks speed, control, and flexibility that external services cannot match.

The goal is not to reach a predetermined answer, but to reach a clear one.

By working through these six questions, you can evaluate your needs based on actual projects, expectations, and constraints. That clarity makes it easier to determine whether in-house wide format printing supports your organization today and as it grows.

LDI Connect works with organizations to evaluate current workflows, output requirements, and turnaround expectations to determine whether in-house wide format production is the right fit. With decades of experience supporting print environments of all sizes, the team helps organizations make informed, practical decisions around wide format printing.