Resources
Media Guide
A practical media guide for preparing fabric lightbox artwork, sizing, and print files for South African jobs.
How Media Guide prevents artwork and print issues
Media Guide explains how to prepare artwork for LED Lightbox fabric graphics before print. It covers sizing, file setup, bleed, and the details needed so the finished skin fits the frame correctly and lights evenly on site.
The Media Guide lists the frame style, finished visual size, viewing distance, and where the power feed enters the display. For South African print jobs, include whether the skin is for an in-store lightbox, a window unit, or a hanging frame at an expo venue. Notes about inland dust, coastal humidity, backup power use, and delivery to Johannesburg, Durban, or Cape Town help the artwork file match site conditions.
Measure the existing frame or the empty installation area before artwork is set up. Note corner details, cable exits, and any trims or bulkheads that may hide part of the graphic. If an older fabric skin fitted badly, mention where it sagged, creased, or printed too dark when illuminated.
Artwork details that matter
Reducing print errors starts with correct artwork before fabric goes onto the press. File scale, bleed, safe areas and resolution all affect how the finished skin tensions in the silicone edge groove. For retail refits and expo graphics, accurate artwork setup is more useful than several draft versions built on guesswork.
Use the Media Guide together with frame dimensions, reference photos, and any notes from previous print runs. Before sending material through the contact form, check that logos, backgrounds, and key pricing or campaign text sit clear of corners, zips, and stitched edges. If colour has been a problem before, mention the store lighting, fabric type, and whether the last graphic looked washed out or overly saturated when lit.
- Frame size matched to print file
- Bleed and safe area marked clearly
- Photos attached with artwork references
Checks for South African print jobs
Mall access times, courier handover points, and expo build schedules can affect when fabric graphics must be printed and packed. If the job is moving through OR Tambo cargo, a regional centre, or a shopping centre receiving bay, include those handling details with the artwork brief. Large skins for hanging frames also need the final packed size considered before dispatch.
Coastal sites can expose printed fabric to more moisture during transport and storage, while Highveld dust may show up quickly on bright backlit graphics. Power interruptions also matter because colour and density are best checked with the lightbox fully illuminated. Where possible, note if the display uses cool white LEDs, warm retail lighting, or mixed ambient light from the shopfront.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
What to send with artwork
Send the Media Guide with reference photos, print deadlines, and details of any artwork, sizing, colour, or fabric problems already encountered. Use a clear subject line.
Send the guide with the final dimensions, scale of supplied artwork, and any brand rules that affect logo size, margins, or background colour. Add print deadlines, fabric concerns, and comments on previous fit issues so the new skin can be prepared against the correct frame. If the job includes a ceiling-suspended unit, include hanging height and the intended viewing sides.