Signs & Large Format Print
The whole process in one table
| Stage | What happens | How long it usually takes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Brief | the client describes what, where, what size and by when | one email or phone call |
| 2. Initial quote | a price range and a proposed solution | quickly for standard products; for non-standard ones once details are clarified |
| 3. Survey | dimensions, surface, power, access | one visit; for simple jobs photos are enough |
| 4. Design and visualisation | the artwork, a mock-up on a photo of the building | from one day to several, depending on changes |
| 5. Technical design | structure, fixings, LED layout | in parallel with the graphic design |
| 6. Formalities | the building manager's consent, permissions from the authority if required | depends on the authority and the building owners |
| 7. Approval | the client approves the design and quote – the lead time starts from here | as long as the decision takes |
| 8. Production | printing, routing, bending, LED assembly, light test | approx. 3 working days for simple items, up to 14 days for large ones |
| 9. Transport and installation | crew travel, installation, connection | usually a few hours to one day on site |
| 10. Handover and service | check, photos, invoice, then inspections | on the day of installation |
For a banner or stickers, stages 3, 5 and 6 usually drop out, and stage 9 is replaced by courier delivery. A large rollout for a retail chain, on the other hand, adds surveys of many locations, kitting and an installation schedule.
Brief and quote – where it all starts
A good brief does not need to be long. Five pieces of information are enough: what (shop sign, banner, window graphics), where (a photo of the location), what size (even approximate), by when (a specific date) and whether there is a design (a file, just a logo, nothing). With that we can give a sensible price range and propose a solution. A template for such an enquiry is in our guide how to order signage and print.
At this stage the most common question is 'roughly how much will it cost?'. For products priced per m² the answer is quick. For illuminated signage we give a starting price, e.g. a single-sided light box from approx. €320 net/m², and the exact figure after the survey and technical design, because only then do we know how it will be fixed and how much work there will be on site.
Survey, design and formalities
On a survey we check things that do not show in a phone photo: the type of facade and insulation, possible fixing points, the route of the power cable, space for a lift. A site survey and inventory costs approx. €85 net, and that amount comes back off the production price if the order goes ahead.
Then the design. The designer prepares the sign to scale, and for shop signs often also a visualisation on a photo of the building (approx. €75 net) – that makes it easy to judge whether the letters should be 30 or 50 cm. In parallel the technical design is produced: what the body is made of, how the LED modules are laid out, where the power supply sits, which anchors hold the sign to the wall. Studio prices are on the graphic design and DTP page.
Formalities are worth starting in parallel with the design. On a building with several owners you need the managing agent's consent, some towns have local design rules for signage, and conservation areas require approval. The details are always checked with the local authority; does a shop sign need permission gives a general outline.
- 01Brief
Description, sizes, site photos and deadline — a few sentences are enough.
- 02Design and quote
Our designers prepare artwork or a visualisation and you get a price.
- 03Approval
You approve the design; for brand colours we provide a proof.
- 04Production
35+ machines in our own plant in Poland: 3.2 m UV print, CNC, laser, 3D, sewing.
- 05Installation or delivery
Own crews and vehicles across Europe, partner network, couriers worldwide.
Approval and production
Production starts after the design is approved, not after the enquiry is sent. That matters when counting lead times: if a design waits a week for a decision, the whole project moves back a week.
Before approving, check three things: phone numbers and addresses (typos happen there most often), dimensions against the installation space, and colours. When the brand colour is especially important, order a test print on the final material – an A3 sample costs approx. €13 net, more on the samples and proofs page.
On the shop floor several things happen at once: the UV printer prints the face, the router cuts the letters or an aperture in the dibond, the acrylic goes for bending, and the LED modules and power supply are fitted in the workshop. Every light box is switched on and checked before it leaves. Standard lead time is approx. 3 working days for print and simple items, and up to 14 days for large projects with illuminated signage. 24-hour express is possible for print, because UV inks need no drying – it costs on average approx. 40% more, and lead times are covered in more detail in how long production takes.
Installation and what comes after
Installation is carried out by our own trained crews. They travel across Poland and Europe, and we also work with partner installers in the EU. Travel is charged at approx. €1 net per km both ways, a two-person crew at approx. €42 net per crew-hour, and where work at height is needed, an 18 m cherry picker with operator from approx. €230 net per day.
After installation we check the sign together with the client – for illuminated signage after dusk, or at least with the lights off inside the premises. We take photos, and for chain rollouts we compile them into a site-by-site report.
The work does not end there. Light box faces fade over time, power supplies wear out, the offer changes. Replacing a light box face starts at approx. €80 net/m², and a service inspection of illuminated signage at approx. €60 net.