Novacolor, Inc.

What Novacolor, Inc. does

Novacolor, Inc. is a privately held, St. Louis, Missouri-based large-format digital printing service provider that has operated from the same location for over 30 years (founded 1984 per firmographic records; one source states 1994). The company specializes in short-run, high-quality custom graphic solutions delivered to customers across the United States, with work visible in museums, retail environments, corporate offices, educational institutions, fine art galleries, and trade show venues. Headcount is approximately 6 employees described as highly skilled craftsmen, technicians, and designers, and the company operates as a direct-to-consumer service business with no intermediaries or distribution partners.

The company's core technology stack combines four integrated in-house production capabilities: chromogenic continuous-tone photographic printing up to 48" x 120" with both reflective and backlit output; UV curable CMYK+White inkjet printing using piezo print heads with variable dot pattern for near-photographic quality on substrates up to 2" thick (acrylic, metal, wood, wallpaper, canvas, adhesive vinyl, Gatorfoam) and direct-to-substrate sizes up to 96" x 120"; digital die-cutting powered by ESKO iCut software combined with CNC routing for materials up to 4" thick; and finishing services including hot/cold lamination, acrylic mounting with flame polishing, canvas stretching, and custom framing. Sub-product extensions include events graphics, environmental graphics, dimensional printing, and short-run custom corrugated packaging.

Revenue is generated entirely through one-time, project-based contracts priced via direct quote, with no recurring or subscription component, no publicly disclosed price list, and no public marketing or advertising footprint beyond the company website. GTM motion is direct sales via phone (314-652-3800) and website contact form, supported by a portfolio of named enterprise case studies (Amazon, The Weather Channel, Federal-Mogul, Hunter Engineering, Scott Air Force Base, HJR, LaMatera). There are no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, patents, certifications, social media profiles, or senior management bios in the available data.

Name

Novacolor, Inc.

Legal name

NovaColor, Inc.

Website

https://novacolor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Novacolor is a privately held, St. Louis-based large-format digital printing service provider with 6 employees, delivering short-run custom graphic solutions — photographic, inkjet, finishing, and die-cutting — to US museums, retailers, corporates, educational institutions, fine art galleries, and trade shows.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Large Format Digital Printing Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays) (MPAJALAD)

Keywords

• Large format printing
• Custom graphic solutions
• Digital inkjet printing
• Photographic printing services
• Digital die cutting

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Graphic Solutions and Printing Services: One-time project-based printing services including photographic prints, inkjet printing, finishing, die-cutting, and packaging. Revenue generated per job/project with no recurring subscription component.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

NovaColor is a large format digital printing service provider specializing in short run, high quality custom graphic solutions. The company delivers four integrated core services: Photographic Printing (chromogenic continuous tone prints), Digital Inkjet Printing (UV curable on multiple substrates), Finishing Services (lamination, mounting, framing), and Digital Die-Cutting (ESKO iCut and CNC routing). Output ranges from small signs to large murals serving museums, retail, corporate, educational, fine art, and trade show customers across the United States.

Product overview

Novacolor is a large format digital printing service provider offering a unified suite of four core services: Photographic Printing (chromogenic continuous tone prints up to 48" x 120"), Digital Inkjet Printing (UV curable CMYK+White printing up to 96" x 120" on various substrates), Finishing Services (lamination, mounting, and custom framing), and Digital Die-Cutting (ESKO iCut-powered cutting with CNC routing capabilities). These services are offered as integrated capabilities supporting customers across Museums, Retail, Corporate, Educational, Fine Art Galleries, and Trade Show environments. The company also provides specialized sub-products including Events Graphics, Environmental Graphics, Dimensional Printing, and Custom Packaging, enabling end-to-end custom graphic solutions from design through finished product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Photographic Printing

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AlphaGraphics: AlphaGraphics is a commercial printing and marketing services franchise offering digital printing, large format, signage, and direct mail. It competes with NovaColor across corporate, retail, and education verticals but operates a broader, more standardized service catalog.
• FASTSIGNS: FASTSIGNS is a large US and Canadian franchise network producing custom signs, graphics, and visual communications for retail, corporate, and event customers. Its broad portfolio overlaps with NovaColor's signage and dimensional display work but at much larger scale and with standardized offerings.
• 4over: 4over is a wholesale trade printing platform offering commercial printing, large format, signage, and packaging to resellers and businesses. It overlaps with NovaColor's printing, finishing, and short-run corrugated packaging capabilities but operates at significantly higher volume and through a trade-only model.
• Vistaprint (Cimpress): Vistaprint, part of Cimpress, is a large online printing and marketing services platform serving small businesses with signage, banners, business cards, and promotional products. It overlaps with NovaColor's custom printing and signage offerings but competes primarily on price, scale, and e-commerce convenience.
• FedEx Office: FedEx Office operates a national chain of print and shipping centers offering commercial printing, large format banners, signage, and finishing services. It competes with NovaColor in the broader commercial and event signage market but as a high-volume, retail-oriented incumbent rather than a specialty custom producer.

Direct peers

• SpeedPro Imaging: SpeedPro Imaging is a US franchise network specializing in large format printing, vehicle wraps, signage, and custom graphics for businesses. It is the most direct comparable to NovaColor's large format digital inkjet and die-cutting services for corporate, retail, and event clients.
• PrintingForLess: PrintingForLess is a US commercial printing company specializing in high-quality custom printing, large format, and specialty print products for businesses and designers. It directly parallels NovaColor's custom, short-run, high-quality production focus.
• Big Image Group: Big Image Group is a European-based specialist in very large format digital printing, fabric structures, and 3D brand environments for retail, events, and museums. It is highly comparable to NovaColor's environmental graphics, dimensional displays, and museum-grade custom printing work.
• Signs Now: Signs Now is a signage and visual communications franchise producing custom signs, banners, vehicle graphics, and displays. It is a direct competitor to NovaColor in the signage and event graphics segment, though it primarily operates through franchise locations rather than integrated in-house finishing.
• Signs.com: Signs.com is an online custom signage and large-format graphics provider offering custom signs, banners, decals, and trade show displays. It overlaps directly with NovaColor's UV inkjet, die-cut vinyl, and dimensional signage offerings, though it competes primarily through an e-commerce model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novacolor-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Novacolor, Inc.