Could somebody help with backlighting posters?

[scarface]

Hello all! I'm a student designer from the UK.http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/DesktopModules/dotNetBB/emoticons/ibf-iamstupid.gif

For my final year I am working on posters which will displayed in a local bar. The bar is quite trendy and fairly dark inside so I had planned to illuminate my designs by backlighting.
Has anybody used this technique before?

What bulbs are best? At first I tried ultrabrite LEDS but they aren't bright enough. Also considering the work will be mounted in frames, which material should the designs be printed on? Is paper/card OK or does it have to be a transparent material?

Basically I have never used anything like this before and any information would be greatly appreciated!

[uncle carbunkle]

where will you be printing it? how will you be mounting it?

as a designer, i'd be calling your printers and asking them how it'll be produced. think about it - those backlit images on bus shelters must get printed somewhere, right? what do they use?

as an ex-waitress - watch anything that punters will a) damage, and b) hit their heads on.

[scarface]

Well in answer to your questions, the poster will be housed in a frame which doubles as a display case (to accomodate the backlighting).


I have checked the bus shelter ads, they are printed on glossy poster paper and lit using strip lights. My poster will be significantly smaller than these but smaller versions of these lights may be my best option.


I have high quality printers in my house as I live with a photographer who works increasingly with digital. Therefore I would like to like to avoid using a printer for pricey one-off jobs since I am short on cash. I will use them as a last resort if a special processis needed, which is why I was asking whether paper/card can be used.


Yeah a barman friend of mine offered similar advice about safety. The posters will be wall mounted in several positions where accidental bumps and breakages will be virtually impossible. As for malicious damage, this is not likely in this particular bar- it's very upper class.

[PrintDriver]

You want to be buying prefab lightboxes. I can't remember the name of the companies in the UK offhand (there is at least one that offers sexy slimline models). Most come with shatter resistant lexan lenses. Most use flourescent tubing, either regular or thinline. Some are edge lit, some are backlit. Both work ok. Google Lightbox. Some sign stores will sell em too but why pay double markup.

For an image, you want to find a printer that can print to any number of backlitable film materials ('duratrans' is a rather generic common name here for them though it a particular kind of film as well). You can use paper as long as it doesn't have a texture when lit, or a watermark. Cardstock is out of the question. Lambda or Lightjet offer the highest photographic quality but many of the inkjets are up there too. You can slipsheet or have them mounted to a lexan lens cut to fit the box. Overlam is recommended so the prints don't stick to the lens when slipsheeting.

REMEMBER to get the lens dimension when doing your layout, not just the visible opening. You design with the visible opening in mind but bleed out to the lens dimension to avoid light blowthru on the edges. Also makes the graphic easier to mount into the box.

PD is a grande format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

Post Edited (PD) : 3/1/2005 5:55:21 PM GMT

[PrintDriver]

Took a moment to remember the name. Katana lightboxes:
www.ultraslimlightbox.co.uk/about.html (http://www.ultraslimlightbox.co.uk/about.html)

PD is a grande format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[uncle carbunkle]

ooooo! those are sexy. they use them in the bathrooms of restaurants with money. ;)

::Don't call me Foreman, for I am your Boss::

[scarface]

Thanks i'll go check that stuff out:)

[1984]

Check out this stuff by 3M, i'm sure it's hellaexpensive but it's so cool. Basically paper that lights up when you put some electricity to it.

http://tinyurl.com/5e9da

if that url doesn't work, thry searching > 3m light fibre <

you say potato...I say F@#& you!

[D-Frag]

there is alot of typing here and I dont want to read it all, I just wanted to give you a quick heads up so your finished piece doesn't look bad.

if you have any blacks in your design, they must be a solid build, such as: C - 45 M - 45 Y - 45 K - 100 or close to that. if you don't build your blacks that way, they will be green when backlit.

http://www.pillargraphicdesign.com/dfrag/DFRAGSIG_flat.jpg

*CAUTION* Do not attempt to view while under the influence of drugs or alcohol

digitalcamwhore (http://digitalcamwhore.deviantart.com/gallery/)

[PrintDriver]

'84 that stuff is fiber optics at that link. While it can be used to illuminate light boxes it is damn expensive and frigging hot. The light source for those things costs more than a light box.

I think you are thinking of one of the electroluminecent sheet products out there. I can't find the name of the one we checked out (as always, if I find it in this pile of crap on my desk, I'll post it) but all electroluminecent stuff is dimmer than the ultra LED's. Much dimmer.

As for D-frag's rich black, ask the print vendor you will be using for his rich black formula. Many but not all will change vector art for you, as for images, there is usually an ICC profile applied that will deepen the colors so they don't wash out when lit. There are many products on the market out there too that look just as good unlit as lit. They are called 'daylight duratrans' or similar. More expensive than the regular stuff - sometimes.

Good luck with all that. Could get more expensive than you had planned. Large backlits aren't cheap.

PD is a grande format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

Post Edited (PD) : 3/1/2005 11:31:35 PM GMT

[1984]

Ahhh, totally right PD. I just remember a friend of mine who's dad works for 3M and she had a sheet of it. it seemd pretty cool.
i did a search and this came up, a place in the UK so maybe this will help you scarface.
www.heroelec.co.uk/lamps.htm (http://www.heroelec.co.uk/lamps.htm)

Blah Blah. Pitter Patter.

[imagemaker]

Clearr Corporation and DSA Phototech were two companies that specialized in making exhibit quality light boxes for portable and permanent installation.

Anyone can do it, but you are probably better off buying a unit. Fire liability, wiring, water proofing, ballasts, accessibility- all covered under someone else's insurance. When I worked for a trade show display company, we started out making our own, and switched to buying pre-made.

Between Off White, Cool White and Daylight and 5k, we always used the 5000kelvins. We printed (photographic darkroom/processor) color corrected for that light. Color and pattern of the inside of the box will make a difference in illumination.

I strongly suggest you visit a portable/modular display dealer and/or a custom exhibit builder and look around.

A lot of people will print on translucent or backlit media. Find someplace that specializes in it. Someplace that does it daily, not once a week. Not just someplace that says they do. Ask where you can see samples they've printed. The technicians at a photolab will probably give you a better print than the operator at InstantSign down the street, even though they both may use the same media and machine.

Shop vendors the way your customers shop you.

--Ciao for Niao--

Ethan

[PrintDriver]

The guy's in England or I too would have recommended Clearr Corp.
Great company. Excellent product.

I also agree with you on the quality of a lab over an instantsign. The difference between a lambda duratrans and a really fine UV pigment inkjet trans can be minimal or miles depending on the tech. Especially watch for inkjet printhead banding if you go to an instantsign. And insist on the slowest print speed (higher 'ink resolution' of 600dpi or 1200dpi) print. A Lambda or a Lightjet has no 'printhead'. On Fuji Crystal Archive a lambda will last longer than the inkjet. But both will last longer than your client wants to look at them.

PD is a grande format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing