7 Tips on How To Choose the Right Backlit Trade Show Display

Design is very common. Not only are backlit booth displays popular in the trade show industry, but they can also be found in retail stores and in offices. You work hard to ensure your company has excellent graphics and a backlit display will give your brand the boost it needs to stand out in many different ways. Whether you’re looking for a portable backlit display to light up your pop up display, searching for a way to make the most out of a blank wall at your store, or looking for a backlit display tower to make your custom display pop, these 7 tips will help you choose the best backlit trade show display for your business!

7 Tips on How To Choose the Right Backlit Trade Show Display

1. Refrain from Using White as Your Primary Color

We often see backlit displays at trade shows that are mostly white, and while we do understand the assumption that white is a great choice in terms of brightness — it simply is not! If you add backlighting to a mostly white design, your booth will miss out on the enticing appearance that darker and more vibrant colors create. If your brand’s visual identity requires a white design, we recommend going with a fabric back wall.

Always choose darker, vibrant colors to make your backlit display a true attraction, and as an added bonus, darker graphics don’t get dirty as easily as white graphics.

2. Use Compelling Graphics and Limit Text

Your backlit booth display won’t do much for the overall appearance of your booth if the entire box is covered in text. Images illuminated with a backlit display will make a stronger visual impact. If you do require a substantial amount of text within your trade show booth or in-store display, it is best to save it for sintra panels. Visitors won’t notice a big difference between reading backlit/non-backlit text, so always focus on images when designing for light boxes or backlit displays.

3. Test Before, Don’t Wait

Make sure you test all of your lights in your backlit trade show display. It is easy to forget to test the lights because they are contained in the backlit display. Also, pack a spare with you in case one goes out before the show. Testing the backlit display before the show can give you good practice if you are assembling it yourself at the show. Putting up the fabric allows you to double check for any typos, dirty spots, or any other possible errors.

4. Use One Vendor, Not Many

When you are price shopping or one vendor has one item you need but not the other, it is easy to pick different parts of your backlit booth display from different companies. Whether you like the backwall from one company and the counter from another, try to stick to only one vendor. Many times vendors have different printers and even if you are using the same Pantone color, one color can look different printed on two different printers. If you stick to one vendor you will be a lot happier with the quality of colors on your backlit trade show display.

5. Use Strip Lights and Limit Using Ladder Lights

In the industry strip lights are often referred to as “edge lit”, and ladder lights are also known as “backlit”. It’s important to limit the use of ladder (backlit) lighting because you can end up with hot spots, which are areas of greater brightness. These hot spots are more likely to show when you have ladder lights in a backwall style backlit display. However, if you are using a backlit display with a thicker width such as a tower, ladder lights are still a viable option. When you have a backlit display as your backwall in your exhibit try to use strip lights instead of ladder lights to reduce the number of hotspots in your backlit trade show display.

6. Reduce Shadowing

The thinner the frame on your backlit booth display, the greater your chances are of seeing shadows. Another way that you can reduce shadowing is by using a thicker width for the frame. The width of the backlit display varies between vendors, but the standard width is around 5 to 8 inches. Mounting shelves and/or monitors to your backlit display can be attractive additions to your display, but if placed incorrectly, they can cast unwanted shadows. Always keep lighting and shadowing in mind during the design process!

7. Always use High RES Images, Never Low RES Images

Most exhibit houses will only ask for high-resolution images when collecting your art files. Sometimes it isn’t always possible to get high-resolution images, especially if it is a specific photo that you want to use. However, using these images will make a huge difference when they are on such a large scale on the trade show floor. Choosing a different image if you can’t find a high res version of your top choice is better than compromising visual quality. Don’t give your potential customers a reason not to do business with you. Your backlit trade show display should be an extension of your company and brand, so don’t take any shortcuts!

Want to purchase a backlit trade show display for your next event or explore our custom light box designs for inspiration? Feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to answer your questions.