Document printing
Brochures, leaflets, catalogues, cards, flyers and stationery, in short or long runs. The printer advises on paper, format, finishing and binding.
Business services
Printing and signage: printed matter, signs and livery
Documents, posters, signs, vinyl graphics, panels or vehicle livery: describe your project once and compare proposals from printers and sign makers.
- Free, account created only when you publish
- Verified businesses (company number checked)
- Drawings visible to members only
Professional printing and signage cover two neighbouring worlds. On one side, printed materials: business cards, brochures, catalogues, stationery, posters, banners and large format. On the other, everything that guides, identifies and enhances a place: signs, panels, vinyl graphics, totems, interior signage and vehicle livery.
Needs vary with the project: opening a shop, refitting premises, a change of visual identity, attending a trade show, bringing a public-access building into compliance, or launching a product. One supplier can do everything, or you can give the printing to a printer and the sign to a specialist manufacturer.
This page helps you prepare a quote request that can be compared like for like: services, materials, price factors, information to attach and points to watch on permits. The more precise your files, dimensions and installation conditions, the more reliable the proposals. For an event or trade show, see also the page on corporate events and catering.
Common services
Posters and large format
Posters, banners, rigid panels and large visuals for indoor or outdoor use. The material is chosen according to how long it will be displayed and its exposure to the weather.
Signs
Flat or projecting signs, cut-out letters, illuminated light boxes: the manufacturer designs, makes and fits. Permit and fixing constraints are settled before the order.
Vinyl graphics and window displays
Shop-window vinyls, decorative or frosted films, lettering and cut-out graphics. Careful fitting guarantees a crisp result and clean removal.
Interior signage
Door plates, directional panels, mandatory notices, numbering and floor identification. The supplier harmonises everything with your brand guidelines.
Exterior signage and totems
Totems, welcome signs, car park and site signage. These structures need robust manufacture and fixing suited to the ground and the wind.
Vehicle livery
Lettering, partial or full wraps for vans, lorries or service vehicles. The supplier prepares the artwork, adapts the layout to the vehicle and carries out the fitting.
Promotional items and trade show materials
Personalised giveaways, pull-up banners, counters, roll-ups and flags for your trade shows and events. The supplier provides manufacture and personalisation.
Materials and substrates
Paper and board: coated, uncoated, recycled, with finishesBanners, stretch fabrics and mesh for outdoor useRigid panels: foam PVC, composite, aluminium, acrylicAdhesive films, cut vinyls and window filmsDimensional cut-out letters, light boxes and illuminated signsFabrics for banners, flags and pennantsTrade show supports: roll-ups, counters, display standsCustomisable promotional itemsVehicle wraps: films suited to curved surfaces
Common occasions
- Opening or refitting a shop or restaurant
- Change of logo or visual identity
- Signage for an office building or an industrial site
- Window dressing for a seasonal campaign
- Livery for a fleet of service vehicles
- Materials for a trade show, congress or event
- Sales documents and catalogues ahead of a campaign
- Displays for a local authority, an association or an institution
What affects the price
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1
Quantity and format
For printed matter, the print run and format determine the unit price: the first copies carry the make-ready costs. For signs and panels, dimensions count for more than quantity.
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2
Substrate and materials
Paper, banner, film, aluminium or dimensional letters differ in cost and lifespan. Outdoor use calls for weather-resistant materials.
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3
Finishing and converting
Lamination, varnish, binding, cutting, drilling or lighting add manufacturing steps. Specify them to avoid gaps between quotes.
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4
Design and file preparation
If your files are print-ready, the supplier saves time. If they have to design or retouch the artwork, design is a separate cost line.
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5
Fitting, access and travel
Fitting height, cherry picker, scaffolding, surface to strip or prepare, number of sites: installation can cost more than manufacture.
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6
Lead time and delivery
Urgent work takes priority in production. The number of delivery points and the handling of large formats also affect the quote.
Tips for a successful request
Post a request- State the nature of the project, the exact dimensions, the quantities and the number of items or sites involved.
- Say where the item will be placed (indoors, outdoors, shop window, vehicle) and for how long, as the choice of material depends on it.
- Attach your files or your brand guidelines, or say that you expect the design to be done; specify the file format available.
- For a sign, give the address, the frontage, the fitting height, the power supply and whether a permit application needs to be handled.
- Say whether you expect manufacture only or full installation, including removal of the old sign if necessary.
- Set the delivery or installation date you want and ask for a proof or mock-up before production starts.
Preparing your files and approving before production
The quality of printed matter starts with the file. The printer generally expects a high-resolution file in the right format, with fonts embedded or outlined, bleed and safety margins. Colours shown on screen can differ from the printed result: ask for a proof, especially if your brand colour is strict.
For a sign or vinyl graphic, an installation plan or a simulation on a photo of the frontage avoids errors of proportion. Take measurements on site rather than from plans, and point out anything in the way: guttering, awning, lighting, curved glazing.
| Stage | Points to approve |
|---|---|
| Brief | Materials, dimensions, quantities, place of use, desired date |
| Files | Format, resolution, bleed, fonts, brand colours |
| Proof | Proof or mock-up, proofreading of texts and contact details |
| Production | Manufacturing lead time, quality control, packaging |
| Delivery or installation | Access, tools, making good, acceptance with a visual check |
Signs, advertising and livery: formalities to plan ahead
A sign is not a mere accessory: its installation is regulated. As a general rule in France, fitting a sign requires prior authorisation from the local authority, and a local advertising bylaw (règlement local de publicité) may set rules on size, location, lighting and appearance. In a building under joint ownership or a shopping centre, the co-ownership rules or the landlord may also impose conditions. Check with the town hall before ordering, and state in your request who prepares the application.
Vehicle livery is mainly a matter of the contract with the supplier: compliance with the approved artwork, film quality, bubble-free fitting and a guarantee of durability. If the vehicle is rented or on a lease, check what the contract allows.
For interior signage, certain notices are mandatory in workplaces or public-access buildings: evacuation, safety instructions, no smoking. See the page on fire safety for marking exits and emergency equipment, and ask your safety manager for advice.
Comparing quotes and choosing your supplier
Two printing quotes are only comparable if the material, format, quantity, finishing and delivery are identical. Compare line by line rather than the total, and check what is included: design, file retouching, proof, packaging, transport, installation, removal of the old sign.
- References: ask for work close to your project, particularly for work at height or outdoor installation.
- Insurance: for installation at height or at your premises, ask for the professional liability insurance certificate. Meaflow checks companies’ SIRET numbers (French company registration), not their insurance or permits.
- Lead times and reprints: what happens in the event of a defect or error? Who bears the cost of reprinting?
- Responsible approach: certified papers, recyclable materials, take-back of old signs, if these points matter to you.
To formalise your request, our specification generator can serve as a template, and the page on textiles will help if you are looking for personalised clothing or linen.
Related expertise
Events & catering
Seminars, trade shows and stands, catering, equipment hire, sound systems
Photo & video
Product and premises photos, corporate video, drone footage
Fire safety
Extinguishers, fire alarms, smoke extraction, emergency lighting, training
Textiles & garment making
Industrial sewing, tarpaulins, covers, marking
Frequently asked questions
A question not answered here? Visit the help centre or write to us.
What information should I provide to get a comparable printing quote?
State the type of item, the format, the quantity, the paper or material, the finishing, the number of versions and the delivery date you want. Attach your files or say whether you expect the design to be done. The more precise these details, the easier the quotes you receive will be to compare line by line.
Do I need a permit to install a sign?
As a general rule in France, installing a sign requires prior authorisation from the local authority, and a local advertising bylaw may govern its size, location and lighting. In a jointly owned building or shopping centre, other rules may apply. Check with the town hall before ordering and state in your request who prepares the application.
What is the difference between a sign, signage and window graphics?
A sign identifies the business from the public highway. Signage guides and informs visitors, indoors and outdoors. Window graphics are the adhesives applied to shop windows or glazed partitions. One supplier often does all three, but the rules and materials differ.
Can I have several vehicles marked with the same artwork?
Yes, this is common for fleets of service vehicles. State the number and model of each vehicle, as the layout is adapted to the bodywork. The supplier proposes artwork, you approve it, then installation is scheduled at one or more sites to suit your organisation.
Do I have to supply print-ready files?
Not necessarily. You can supply ready files, or ask the supplier to prepare them or to create the artwork from your brand guidelines. State this in your request, as design and file retouching are a separate price item.
Does Meaflow check printers’ and sign makers’ insurance and permits?
No. Meaflow checks the SIRET number of registered companies, but does not verify their insurance, permits or qualifications. For installation at height or on your site, ask the supplier for its professional liability insurance certificate and its references before signing.
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