Backlit prints for shop windows
Your window has two audiences: shoppers at midday and people walking past after dark. A backlit print can serve both, if you plan for the harder of the two.
Daylight is the hard part.
Night is easy for a lit graphic. In a dark street, almost any lightbox will draw the eye. At noon it is competing with the sun, and on a south-facing street the light inside the box can seem to disappear. Glass adds its own reflections of the buildings and traffic opposite. So plan the window for its brightest hours and let the evening look after itself.
A simple check: go and stand outside the shop at midday and again at dusk, and take a photo from where people walk. Note what is reflected and how far the glass sits from the pavement.
Mistakes that show from the street
- Forgetting that the print is seen unlit. If the lights fail or are on a timer, a backlit film can look pale and flat. Time the lights to come on before dusk and keep them on in dull weather.
- Using a standard poster file. Artwork for lit film usually needs denser colour. Our backlit film page explains why.
- Measuring the outer frame. The print size and the visible area are different things. Measure both, and keep text well inside the visible part.
- Putting the box too close to the glass. A lit panel set hard against a window can trap heat, and the glare can bounce back. Check with your lightbox supplier.
- Filling the window. Too many lit panels start to feel like a screen wall. One large image usually beats four small ones, and people need to see into the shop too.
Permission
Illuminated displays can need consent, and listed buildings, conservation areas and shopping centres often have their own restrictions. Check with your local planning authority and your landlord before you buy a box.
Sizing it for the window
Our guide to print sizes for a shop window helps you judge scale from the pavement. Measure the shop door too, because a large box has to get through it. If you are still deciding whether light is worth it at all, read lightbox or printed sign.
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| A2 | £26 |
| A1 | £39 |
| A0 | £65 |
| 30in x 20in | £33 |
| 40in x 30in | £59 |
| 60in x 40in | £99 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
Prices cover the printed film. Tell us about your existing box when you enquire.
Light that carries past the glass.
Your questions.
Do you supply the lightbox as well?
Ask us. Tell us the size and where it will go, and we will confirm what we can provide. We can print film for a box you already own.
Will the sun fade a backlit print in a window?
Any print in strong sunlight will fade in time. How quickly depends on the direction of the window and the materials, so plan to refresh window graphics.
Can I change the print for each season?
Yes, that is one of the strengths of a lit box. Keep the same print size and a template so that each new design is a quick order.