Light notes
Substrate Check
A practical note on checking fabric, silicone edging and print finish before a frame goes to assembly.
Not every wall or stand surface suits the same fixing method. Before a frame is made, it helps to know whether the substrate is drywall, brick, timber, shopfitting panel, or shell scheme. Substrate Check explains what matters before production and installation.
Substrate Check is about the print set, not the mounting surface. We look at the fabric face for marks, confirm the silicone edging is seated and trimmed correctly, and check that the print finish will tension evenly inside the LED frame.
Fabric checks before assembly
- Fabric face checked for marks
- Silicone edging seated with no twists
- Print size matched to frame spec
- Job name matched to production file
Substrate Check relates to the point where fabric graphics are reviewed before they are packed with frame sections or sent to site.
How Substrate Check protects printed fabric for LED frames
Substrate Check deals with the printed fabric before it reaches frame assembly. That means checking the fabric face, the silicone edging, and the print finish so the graphic pulls in evenly and sits properly once the LED lightbox is lit.
Begin with the graphic itself, not the wall. Stretch fabric can behave differently under light, so we check density, edge finish, and whether the image area has enough allowance to pull cleanly into the groove. Inland dust, coastal moisture, and repeated graphic changes all influence how carefully the print needs to be handled before dispatch.
A quick photo of the finished print on the table helps when there is a reprint query later. Notes on corner finish, edge joins, or any visible banding are worth keeping with the job record. That makes future fabric swaps simpler when the same LED lightbox is used for another campaign.
What gets confirmed on the print
After this check, the job record should show the fabric type, edging condition, print orientation, and any risk found before assembly. That gives the installer and print team one reference for the LED frame, instead of separate notes that miss small but costly defects. For retail and expo work, a checked graphic is easier to tension evenly and read correctly under light.
Match Substrate Check with the relevant install note before courier handover. Do one last review of the fabric, corners, and silicone edging after packing, especially for replacement skins travelling to malls or expo venues. On the contact form, describe where on the graphic the concern shows.
- Graphic prepared for even tensioning
- Print finish reviewed under workshop light
- Job notes kept with production record
Workshop conditions that affect fabric
Handling matters as much as printing. Fabric for retail lightboxes can pick up dirt during packing, while expo graphics often face tighter transport cycles and more frequent refits. When a client is reusing existing frames, the bead size and the previous tension pattern should be compared before a new skin is signed off.
In Durban and other coastal areas, moisture in the air can show up in storage and handling, so packed graphics need a careful look before fitting. Around Johannesburg and inland routes, dust settles quickly on fabric and aluminium, which makes clean inspection under LEDs more important. Load-shedding also changes when a lit print can be judged properly for banding, colour shift, and edge shadow.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
Checks noted against each graphic
A practical note on checking fabric, silicone edging and print finish before a frame goes to assembly.
Record any concern while the fabric is still on the inspection table. Pair the note with the print file reference, frame size, and job paperwork so production and installation are looking at the same detail.