Museum exhibition graphics

Text that works at low light levels

Sensitive objects often mean dim galleries, and that changes how print behaves. Matt finishes avoid glare from spotlights, and dark text on a light ground generally reads more easily than the reverse when lighting is low. Keep labels at a height that suits both wheelchair users and standing adults, and follow your museum's access standards for type size and contrast. Rigid panels from our mounting and laminating service stay flat, while large introductory text can go directly on walls as vinyl.

Working from archive material

Exhibitions often rely on old photographs, maps and transparencies that were never intended to appear two metres wide. Originals on film can be digitised through drum scanning, which suits fine detail, though handling requirements for fragile items should be agreed with your collections team first. Clear rights and credit lines before artwork is finished, since permissions can take longer than production. Decide whether to retain scratches and foxing as part of the object's history, or to retouch them. It is a curatorial decision and worth recording.

Near objects, on the road and after closing

Some materials and adhesives can release vapours that are unsuitable inside sealed cases, so ask your conservator to approve anything going near collections, and tell us their requirements. For touring shows, exhibition displays need to be designed around crates, repeated handling and venues with different wall sizes, which often favours modular panels over site-specific wall vinyl. Plan for updates too. Replacing one panel after a factual correction is far easier if every panel exists as a separate file.

Related topics

• Product launch graphics
• Shell scheme graphics