How to Design a Backlit Display That Gets Noticed

Designing a trade show display is more than dropping a logo on a backdrop—it’s about telling a story in a split second. With backlit displays, great design can become extraordinary when paired with light. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best practices for designing graphics specifically for backlit trade show displays so your booth stands out from the crowd.

What Makes Backlit Displays Unique?

Backlit displays use LED lighting to shine through tension fabric graphics, which enhances color, sharpens contrast, and demands attention. But this added light also means your design needs to account for brightness, diffusion, and layering to avoid unintended effects like hot spots or color washout.

Key Design Considerations for Backlit Graphics

• Use High-Resolution Artwork – We recommend at least 150 DPI at full size to maintain sharpness when illuminated.
• Avoid Thin Fonts – Thin text can become unreadable with backlighting. Use bold fonts and high-contrast color pairings.
• Dark Colors Work Best – Light tends to diffuse dark colors in a more balanced way. Large areas of white can appear overly bright.
• Mind the Focal Point – Highlight your core message or logo at eye level or near the center of the design.
• Watch for Backlight Bleed – Avoid gradients that fade to white or very light colors near the edges—they can appear washed out under LEDs.

Design Templates & Artwork Help

All BriteBooth display systems come with downloadable artwork templates to make the setup process easier. Visit our Artwork Guidelines page to download templates and read file setup tips.

Need help? We offer complimentary design proofing and 3D visualizations with every order. Our in-house graphics team checks for resolution, alignment, safety margins, and print compatibility to help avoid costly reprints.

Design Do's and Don'ts for Lightbox Displays

✅ Do:

• Use short, impactful headlines
• Design with contrast in mind (dark on light or light on dark)
• Keep important text inside the “safe zone”
• Test your design in a bright room to simulate trade show lighting

🚫 Don’t:

• Use low-resolution stock photos or stretched images
• Rely heavily on gradients or subtle shading
• Place logos too close to edges (they may wrap or distort)

Best Displays to Showcase Stunning Graphics

• SEGO 9.8' x 7.4' – A perfect backdrop for bold, center-aligned artwork and large logos.
• Blaze Light Box Walls – Ideal for full-booth branding and high-resolution photography.
• Backlit Counters – Great for featuring call-to-action graphics or brand taglines at eye level.

Need Design Support?

If you're unsure how your design will look when backlit, we’re here to help. Contact us for guidance on file setup, or let our team create a mockup to preview your booth before production begins.

At BriteBooth, we’re not just here to sell you a display—we’re here to make sure it looks amazing under the lights.