Scenic design · Graphics and materials
Scenic graphics: artwork, visible area, and finished edges
Artwork that looks right on a monitor may need changes for a scenic graphic. Before finalizing it, connect the image to the material, edge system, and area the audience will actually see. A design reference and sketch are enough to start the discussion.
Separate the visible area from the fabricated piece
Do not size artwork from the frame’s outside width alone. Ask the supplier to identify these areas on the template and mark each piece’s face and orientation.
| Area | Purpose | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Visible image | What faces the audience | Logos, text, and crops within the agreed design |
| Finished piece | The graphic with its edge treatment | Sewn edge, keder, wrap, or junction required by the system |
| Production artwork | The image with the printer’s required allowances | Scale, bleed, and areas that must remain free of critical information |
Use a template for the exact frame
ShowTex’s Single PrintFrame manual identifies specific profiles and their keder slot. The beMatrix fabrication guide separately identifies the b62 frame and special profiles. Use documentation for the selected reference to order the finished piece.
- Send the brand, model, profile variant, and a label photo. Include the previous graphic’s reference if available.
- Ask the supplier to confirm the edge drawing, strip material, fabrication details, and visible face. An edge fitting into a groove alone does not establish compatibility.
- Flag graphics crossing modules, corners, or doors. Request a template for that configuration, including joints and orientation.
- Agree on how a sample or replacement graphic will be checked before full production, and allow time to address any fit differences.
Confirm the requirements for this specific job
Guidelines differ: Moss US requests CMYK in its printing guide; the beMatrix Textile infills US v3 leaflet allows RGB and CMYK. Use the workflow confirmed by the printer for the selected material and system.
- Request format, scale, color profile or space, and handling of fonts and linked images.
- Confirm final-size resolution for the application and viewing distance; enlarging a file cannot recover missing detail.
- Use the bleed and safe area of the exact template rather than a familiar default.
- Identify version, orientation, and piece in the filename, and include an overall placement view.
Choose the fabric, lightbox, and print together
For a backlit graphic, choose the fabric, printing, and lightbox together. ShowTex documents Backlit Stretch Print 3879 as a printed fabric with a light-diffusing coating; Louisville Lamp documents SEG Fabric LED Lightbox Low Profile Single Sided as an indoor, single-face lightbox. These are references for different components. The assembly supplier needs to confirm which materials and edge finishes work with its lightbox.
- Compare the graphic lit and unlit with the house lighting that must remain on.
- Include light areas, dark areas, and brand colors in the sample, plus the camera frame if relevant.
- Confirm what the quote includes: enclosure, graphic, lighting, power supply, transportation, and installation, and who validates each item.
| Decision | Ask the supplier for |
|---|---|
| Surface | Fabric, print, and edge finish specified for backlighting |
| Space occupied | Model and cross-section of the complete assembly: overall depth, visible face, back, and service space |
| Illuminated appearance | Sample using the proposed material and light system: uniformity, visible points, joints, and color |
| Technical coordination | Lighting equipment documentation and supply requirements for the power provider |
Separate content review from the color sample
Check text, logos, orientation, and the division between pieces in the digital proof. Identify who may approve each item and record the version released for production.
If color must match other scenic surfaces, agree on a sample using the intended material and how it will be viewed. Moss recommends a printed proof when color matching is critical. Comparing different screens alone can lead to different decisions.
Proposed example: a logo crossing two pieces
Locate the joint on the overall view before production and compare moving the logo with changing the graphic split. Ask the supplier to show the finished junction. This allows a useful discussion before assuming that aligning two files will produce visual continuity.
Use matching identifiers on the plan and files
Send the overall view, files, and a record for each piece together. This lets the printer and system supplier connect the design to the material and revision intended for production.
The beMatrix Textile infills US v3 guide requests the system, exact frame dimensions, special profiles, application, and graphic location. Use that approach to collect information for the selected assembly and confirm the printer’s template and handoff process.
- Request receipt confirmation listing the files and revisions received. For a correction, send the new version, identify what it replaces, and ask which version will go into production.
- Keep material documentation with the piece record and link it to the supplier’s delivery. A design photo does not replace identification of the supplied pieces.
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Piece and location | Identifier, quantity, face, orientation, and reference to the overall view with joints. |
| Material and system | Manufacturer, article, variant, finish, and profile or frame; identify references still to be confirmed during the inquiry. |
| Dimensions and file | Visible area, finished piece, template and revision; scale, color, and allowances confirmed by the printer. |
| Version and sample | Final filename, revision, date, digital proof reference, and physical sample where applicable. |
| Delivery and decisions | Who confirms content and finish, who produces it, destination, agreed date, and questions to resolve before production. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need print-ready artwork for the first inquiry?
No. You can start with a visual reference, an available logo, or a preliminary sketch. We can use that to explore materials and scope; final artwork follows the confirmed template.
What resolution and bleed should I use?
Use the printer’s confirmed requirements for the product, scale, and application. Keep that confirmation with the file so another system’s guide is not applied.
Can a digital proof confirm the printed color?
A digital proof supports content and layout review. For color, agree on a sample using the intended material and the viewing conditions, particularly when matching other pieces.
Can I reuse a graphic from another frame?
Share both references and the existing fabrication details for supplier review. Outside width or the SEG label does not confirm fit.
Can a front-lit print be used for backlighting?
Ask the printer to confirm the material and application. Agree on a backlit sample before producing the full assembly.
How deep does the lightbox need to be?
Ask the supplier for a cross-section of the selected lightbox and configuration, including its overall depth and service space. A single profile dimension does not describe the whole assembly.
How can I avoid printing an earlier version?
Use matching piece and revision identifiers in the record, plan, and file. Ask the printer to confirm in writing which version will go into production and which previous file it replaces.