How to print project documentation

Basically, every design firm occasionally deals with the situation where it is necessary to print a larger quantity of project documentation. What is the best way to solve this? Should you print on your own device, or should you outsource it? How to prepare data and color to keep costs as low as possible? How does the largest provider of printing services for the design sector, Copy General, perceive this?

What is already an absolute standard today

Nowadays, the myths about expensive color printing of drawings are no longer valid. Designers are no longer forced to print, trim, and assemble color drawings themselves to save costs. If architects spend their time printing instead of designing, it is an incredibly costly affair today.
Is it now normal to print all construction documentation in color? Isn’t it wasteful?
At Copy General, they began to perceive the changing trend about 4 years ago. At that time, at least 70% of all drawings were printed in black and white; however, many design studios wanted their projects printed in color. Some of this was also influenced by legislation. This was the impetus for change. The complete replacement of technology allowed for a completely new perspective on printing project documentation. Today, the share of black and white printing is up to 10% of the total annual volume of over 650 thousand m². Many structural engineers and even larger engineering companies have also switched to color printing of drawing documentation.

Now, let's return to the question above. The answer is YES, color prints are now standard, and thanks to new options, it also means financial savings.

Modern HP PageWide XL technology is 4x faster than original laser technology, equipped with online folding machines for drawings and special software for data processing. This ensures that your projects will always be processed on time and correctly. Moreover, thanks to color, the quality is better than in the past. These machines are also much more environmentally friendly compared to old laser machines, both in terms of consumables and energy consumption.

For example, at Copy General, they add a special application to the prints that connects you online with print centers. You have absolute control over your projects and costs, and all you need is practically just a phone connected to the web.