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By John Lidbury, Client Services Manager. With production insights from Dan Hickford, Print Consultant
Tight deadlines are part of the reality in print. From same-day retail graphics to promotional rollouts with immovable launch dates, we regularly hear the phrase “we need it yesterday.” At Wallace Print, we’ve developed a system that handles time-sensitive projects without cutting corners. We understand that getting something fast shouldn’t mean you compromise on quality.
We’ve supported projects where our team has turned around urgent jobs overnight — delivering to multiple national locations, while still hitting the colour, finish, and accuracy the brand expects. But behind every successful turnaround is a well-planned, well-communicated process.
This guide outlines how to approach tight-deadline print jobs properly. If you’re a marketing manager, agency contact, or business owner needing rapid results, this breakdown will help you make the right decisions from the start.
Urgency without clarity causes delays. We often receive print enquiries that say, “We need it by Friday,” but don’t confirm artwork dimensions, quantities, or install details. Before anything moves forward, we need specifics.
Here’s what helps us act fast:
When you provide these details upfront, we can schedule your job properly, give accurate lead times, and highlight any risks immediately. That clarity allows us to move without hesitation.
The single biggest delay we see is non-print-ready files. Files that look fine on a screen might still have problems with resolution, missing bleed, or embedded fonts. On urgent jobs, these issues don’t just delay production — they risk missing your entire campaign window.
A print-ready file should be:
If in doubt, ask our studio team to check before the file hits production. A ten-minute check early on can save a missed delivery later. And if you need further information, we have Artwork Setup, Artwork Guidelines and Artwork Requirements pages on our website.
“Some of our fastest jobs came together because clients gave us perfect artwork. One client once uploaded 80 unique posters with naming conventions, folders, and colour references — we printed and packed the entire job in under four hours.” — Dan Hickford
When timelines are tight, material choice matters more than ever. Not just for finish or feel, but for availability, drying times, and machine compatibility. We’ve worked with every substrate under the sun — and when you’re under pressure, simpler is better. For more information about the substrates we print on, visit our print materials page.
We’ll always recommend:
For example, we recently supported a fashion retailer with overnight signage changes across 40 stores. Our team suggested a semi-rigid recycled core substrate to help engage in the theme of the campaign that not only ran well, it helped save curing time avoiding packaging delays.
If you’re unsure, let us guide the selection. It could be the difference between hitting your window or missing your moment.
Printing might be the core, but it’s not the only part of the process. Lamination, die-cutting, collating, packing, and even how items are labelled for dispatch all require time. On urgent jobs, every detail downstream matters.
We often build time into production schedules for:
Installation also matters. If your graphics are going into 20 stores over the weekend, we’ll need installation access times,site contacts, and clear instructions. We handle large-scale installs weekly — but tight jobs require even tighter coordination.
Sign-off is one of the most overlooked causes of delay. We’ve seen artwork submitted with just enough time to hit the press — and then lose 24 hours chasing approval from a client on annual leave.
To avoid this:
If you know you’re printing something colour critical, we can run fast-turn proofs or small colour section samples. Just be aware — proofing eats into the timeline. If you trust our process, skip the proof and we’ll match previous campaigns or Pantones.
“Print is only as fast as any communication. We once supported a full product launch with 100+ items in under 48 hours — the reason it worked is because the client had one person managing everything and they answered every question instantly.” — John Lidbury
Need to hit a deadline without cutting corners?
We specialise in high-pressure print jobs. Whether it’s overnight POS, same-week signage, or coordinated retail rollouts, we’ve got the team, tools, and time-tested process to make it happen.
👉 Speak to our team today and let’s get your project moving.
John Lidbury leads client services at Wallace Print. He’s managed hundreds of time-sensitive projects and knows what details make or break a deadline.
His knowledge of process, material behaviour, and setup efficiency is why Wallace Print consistently delivers on short timelines.
Dan operates as a Print Consultant projecting managing from supply, to print and installation.
For more information about large format print and to discuss your next project, please contact us on 01634 724 772 or email us at sales@wallaceprint.com
Get in touch via our contact form to find out more about how Wallace Print can help you transform your print project. Our expert account managers are on hand to provide advice, quotes, and assistance – however, and wherever you need it.
Get in touch via our contact form to find out more about how Wallace Print can help you transform your print project.
