Backlit film printing

Why a good poster file can look washed out

On paper, you see light reflected from ink. On a translucent film, light passes through the ink, so a colour that looks strong when switched off can turn thin and pale when lit. To compensate, backlit work usually carries a heavier ink load, sometimes printed in more than one layer. Duratrans is a name commonly used for this type of film, though the materials vary. Deep shadow areas need particular care, as they should stay rich instead of glowing grey. Ask us how your job will be built.

Test a strip in the real box

The light source shapes the result. Older fluorescent tubes and modern LEDs have different colour temperatures, and a box with widely spaced LEDs may show hot spots through pale areas. For that reason, printing a small strip and placing it in the actual unit is a sensible step before committing to the full graphic. Look at skin tones, brand colours and dark backgrounds, ideally at the time of day it will be seen. Details of frames and light sources sit on our backlit displays page.

Preparing artwork for film

Use a high-resolution file, because illuminated images are often viewed closer than you would expect and flaws stand out under light. Avoid pale, flat backgrounds if your box is unevenly lit, as they reveal every shadow. Note whether the film will be printed on the face or reversed, since this affects how your file is supplied and how well the ink is protected. Our artwork guide covers bleed and resolution. If you have a transparency that needs digitising, drum scanning can capture detail from film originals.

Related topics

• Lightbox graphics