Large format printing

Large format printer and poster tubes in front of yellow wall

Large-Format Printing at the DDS

Large-format printing is available to all members of the Tufts community, by appointment with the Digital Design Studio (DDS) in Tisch Library. The DDS is an educational space for critically engaging with media, which includes being able to print posters and other student design projects. Our service is oriented towards academic conference posters and other large-format printing projects for students, and our printer is suitable for posters, signage, photographs, and similar projects.

Please note that our service has specific abilities and limitations, as we are an academic resource and not a print shop.

What file types should I use?

We can only print PDF, JPG, TIFF, and PNG files. 

We cannot print PowerPoint files (.pptx, .ppt). Please export your project as one of the above file types. 

What size can I print?

You can print any custom size you might need, with one caveat: our printer is 44 inches wide, so one side of your print must be 44 inches or shorter.

All prints are on 44 inch wide paper; patrons may need to trim some excess white space after printing.

For reference, typical conference posters are 48 inches by 36 inches. Reach out to us with question about setting the size correctly when designing your file, or making sure your image will not look pixelated when printed at a large size.

What material can I print on?

We offer two paper types, Epson doubleweight matte paper (no shine) and Epson premium luster paper (some shine). Our paper is about as thick as cardstock.

Can I print copies of a flyer or handout?

Printing many copies of flyers, handouts, and posters will be cheaper and more feasible elsewhere (and you'll probably want a laserjet printer, not inkjet).

Can I print double-sided? Can I print a magazine?

We cannot print double-sided (books, magazines, pamphlets, and the like). But we're happy to help you with the design of these items!

I'd like to print several things. Do I have to arrange them all in one file?

Our print management software will optimize space and minimize cost when printing multiple files—you do not need to consolidate multiple files into a single document. Our print management software can also easily resize files (note: scaling up images may result in pixelated prints).

Where else can I print if this service doesn't meet my needs?

For community members with needs for which our service was not designed, we suggest alternate services: 

  • Tufts Print Copy Services can accept online orders for a wide range of printing needs, from brochures and business cards to large-format prints, and can send them to you via campus mail.
  • The Digital Fabrication Studio at the SMFA has fine art printers that can print on a wider variety of papers up to 60 inches.
  • There are also local non-Tufts vendors that may be able to meet your needs.

Printing appointments are available any time the DDS service desk is staffed. To view  availability and to book an appointment visit this link.

Printing is $3.00 per square foot for either paper type. Printing include a free poster tube, if desired.

You can calculate the cost of poster printing in our new model using our handy calculator.

 

If you are paying for yourself:

If a department/course/lab is paying for your prints:

  • Please confirm if your department/lab would like you to pay with a personal credit card and submit for reimbursement, if they have a departmental credit card they would like you to use, or if they want to pay using Tufts' Interdepartmental Requisition (IDR) system.
  • If your department or course already sent an Interdepartmental Requisition (IDR) to us via email at tischdds@tufts.edu, please include the IDR request number when you make your appointment. The IDR request number will look something like KBURNH010824211200.
  • If your department has confirmed with you that they will pay for your print but has not set up an IDR with us for your print, we can work with your department to fill out the IDR. When you make your print appointment, you'll need to provide the email address of someone from the department who can authorize the payment. We'll email them to coordinate.
  • Note that if you plan to pay by IDR, but we have not sorted out the IDR with your department, you may not be able to print during your appointment.

If you are an administrator looking to set up an IDR for payment for your department:

  • To cover the costs of printing, you can send an Interdepartmental Requisition (IDR) to us via email at tischdds@tufts.edu. For the IDR we'll need an address, account number, and authorizing signature; after all print appointments have been made or the semester has passed, we'll sign the IDR and send it to TSS for processing, CCing the requesting department's contact for their records.
  • The same IDR can be used for multiple appointments, e.g. multiple students in a course or conference attendees, and can even be left active with us for the whole semester. While not required, you can include a list of people whose prints will be paid for with the IDR, or specify how much time we should leave the IDR open for before submitting it to TSS.
  • It can be helpful for us if you advise the people making print appointments covered by the IDR to include the IDR number or the IDR authorizer's name and email.