we design, print and apply
Digital Print for Signs, Vehicles & Surfaces
Digital print is how we get full-colour graphics onto signs.
Photos, gradients, detailed artwork are things that simply can’t be cut from vinyl. We print onto flexible vinyl media or directly onto rigid panels, then apply or install the finished product. Our team handles the whole job, from sorting your files through to the finished sign on the wall.
Part of the Signbiz New Zealand Network of 11 Branches Nationwide
Digital Print is Part of Almost Every Sign We Make
A production process, not just a product
Most signs involve digital print in some way. When you see a vehicle wrap with a photographic background, a hoarding covered in brand imagery, or a window graphic with a colour gradient, that is digital print at work.
We use it when a job needs photographs, gradients, fine detail, or complex multi-colour artwork. Cut vinyl cannot do those things. Digital print can.
We run flatbed printers, which print directly onto rigid panels, and roll-to-roll printers, which print onto flexible vinyl that gets applied to signs, vehicles, windows and walls. Which one we use depends on the material and the job.
Digital Print Gallery
Gallery of Completed Work by our teams across the country
Key Features and Benefits of Digital Signage
Why digital print is the right call
Full Colour
Photos, gradients, fine detail, complex logos. Digital print handles all of it with no restriction on colours or complexity.
Outdoors
We laminate outdoor prints to protect against UV and general wear. Flatbed UV prints cure hard and scratch-resistant.
Cost Effective
There is no extra cost for complexity. A detailed photographic print costs the same to run as a two-colour one.
Any Surface
Rigid panels, vinyl, glass, fabric, vehicles, walls. If we can print on it or apply vinyl to it, digital print can go there.
Design for Digital Print
What to know before sending us files:
Vector vs Raster
All artwork falls into one of two types.
Vector artwork is made up of lines and shapes defined mathematically. It scales to any size without any loss of quality. Logos and text should always be vector files, typically .ai, .eps or .pdf from Illustrator.
Raster images are made up of pixels. Photographs are the most common example. The quality depends on the resolution at the size it will be printed. A low-resolution image stretched to sign size will print blurry. Always check the resolution of a photograph before committing to it.
Stock Images
Check the maximum print size at your required DPI before purchasing. Stock sites show pixel dimensions. Divide by your target DPI to get the maximum usable size in inches. Buying a larger file is almost always worth it.
File Formats We Prefer
.ai or .eps for vector artwork, .pdf for layouts, .psd or .tiff for high-resolution raster files, .png for logos with transparency. We can work with .jpg but prefer uncompressed formats for print work.
Resolution and Viewing Distance
The further away people will be viewing a sign, the lower the resolution needs to be. A motorway billboard can be printed at much lower DPI than a sign someone reads from half a metre away.
See the viewing distance/Image resolution guide below which will give you an idea of what settings to use when creating your design
Our Digital Print Methods
The right process for the right job
Roll-to-Roll Printing
Ink is printed onto self-adhesive vinyl, which is then trimmed and applied to a panel, wall, window or vehicle. We use eco-solvent and latex inks on our roll machines depending on the media and the job.
Outdoor roll-printed vinyl gets a UV laminate for durability. This is the method we use for vehicle graphics, window graphics, wall wraps, hoardings and most panel signage.
UV Flatbed Printing
Our flatbed printers print directly onto rigid materials including ACM (aluminium composite), foam PVC, acrylic, timber and glass. No vinyl layer needed. The ink cures instantly under a UV light that follows the print head, so the finished panel comes off the machine ready to install.
No drying time, no laminating required. We can also lay down a white ink base coat, which gives strong colour on dark or clear substrates.
Latex Printing
Latex inks use water as a carrier rather than solvent. Very low odour, which makes them a good choice for indoor jobs. Non-flammable and compatible with a wide range of media including canvas, backlit film and paper stocks.
We use latex on both roll machines and hybrid flatbed printers.
Eco-Solvent Printing
Eco-solvent inks use a mild, biodegradable solvent. Strong colour on standard signage vinyl, well suited to outdoor jobs, and low odour compared to traditional solvent inks.
Viewing Distance / Image Resolution Guide
| Viewing Distance | Minimum Dpi |
|---|---|
| 0.6m | 300 Dpi |
| 1m | 180 Dpi |
| 1.5m | 120 Dpi |
| 2m | 90 Dpi |
| 3m | 60 Dpi |
| 5m | 30 Dpi |
| 10m | 20 Dpi |
Where Digital Print Gets Used
Digi-print shows up in more places than you might expect
Vehicle Wraps & Graphics
Full wraps, part wraps, door graphics on cars, utes, vans, trucks, trailers and boats. The photographic backgrounds and detailed designs you see on vehicles are all digital print.
Hoardings & Site Signage
Large outdoor panels for construction sites, retail developments and events. Printed onto durable vinyl and applied to hoarding frames or panels.
Window Frosting & graphics
Printed onto perforated vinyl, frosted vinyl or clear film. Used for shop windows, office partitions and vehicle rear windows.
Wall Murals
Full-wall or feature-wall graphics for retail, offices, hospitality and schools. Printed to custom sizes and applied to painted walls.
Panel & Board Signage
Pylon sign faces, fascia panels, A-frames, pull-up banners and exhibition displays. Anywhere a substrate needs full-colour graphics.
Roller Doors & Other Surfaces
We print and apply to roller doors, corrugated surfaces and other architectural elements. The media and method get adjusted to suit the surface.
Why Choose Signbiz?
What sets us apart.
In addition to premium signage, and great service, Signbiz is pleased to offer its ‘Workmanship Guarantee’ to give customers additional confidence in every project delivered.
As the saying goes, You get what you pay for.
What Sets Us Apart?
As the saying goes: “You get what you pay for”.
In addition to premium signage, and great service, Signbiz is pleased to offer its ‘Workmanship Guarantee’ to give customers additional confidence in every project delivered.
After Care Service
Signbiz offers an After-Care Service for completed projects.
Warranties & Insurances
We use premium products with excellent lifespans and warranties.
Quality Assurance
Products leaving our workshop undergo rigorous quality checks.
Machinery & Tech
We use advanced manufacturing, application, and installation technology.
Health and Safety
A Certified Site Safe company with a dedicated Safety Officer.
Staff Qualification
Staff hold highly skilled qualifications and additional, internal training is provided.
