SEG Fabric Light Boxes vs. Snap Frame Duratrans Light Boxes

Light boxes illuminate printed graphics from behind, accentuating and magnifying every color detail within the image.
To achieve the most dramatic results, the graphic must be printed on a special media that is intended for backlit applications. Also, the light box needs to evenly distribute the right amount of light behind the image. The two media types that are most commonly used in light boxes today are backlit fabric that is finished with a sewn gasket around the edge (SEG), and Duratrans transparency film. These popular backlit media require two distinctly different light boxes to display them.

What are light boxes used for?

SEG and Duratrans light boxes can be used for product advertisements, displays, or to create an atmosphere in your store or office. Poster frame light boxes are great for movie theaters and galleries. Bright LED lights illuminate high-definition prints bringing vibrant, colorful images to life in an eye-catching way.

What is a light box frame?

A light box frame contains the LED lights that illuminate your image. Light box frames also hold and support the printed graphic. Each type of frame has its own benefits. Snap front light boxes make changing the graphic easy. All you do is pop open your light box snap frame, replace the graphic, and snap the frame closed again. 40 VISUALS has a number of different LED light boxes for sale in different sizes and colors. We can even create custom light box frames to fit your exact needs.

What do you call a light box?

There are a few different types of light boxes. One distinction is SEG fabric vs snap frame Duratrans. SEG, or Silicone Edge Graphics, provide a sleek and modern frameless look. To see what SEG Lightboxes look like check out our blog post featuring SEG Light boxes at Hudsonville Ice Cream.

The other type of light box is a snap frame Duratrans light box. For this type of light box, Duratrans transparency film is placed into a snap open lightbox frame and illuminated by LED lights. When comparing SEG light boxes vs. snap frame light boxes the major differences are the materials used and the ways the materials are attached. SEG light boxes are printed on fabric. The silicone edge around the image is slotted into a track on the light box frame. Snap frame light boxes are printed on translucent polyester film and are held in place by the snap frame.

What is the best brand of light boxes?

40 VISUALS produces high-quality hardware and printed graphics. We offer professional signage installation nationwide to make sure your graphic is installed efficiently and correctly. Below is a comparison between two of the most popular light box styles and media that are offered by 40 VISUALS. The Frameless Fabric Light Box and Snap Frame Film Light Box both use an LED light source, but offer different unique advantages. Your needs will determine which light box and media that is best for you.

Ultra Thin LED Panel Light Box

Ultra thin LED Light box duratrans film bright signage comparison. The Ultra Thin LED Panel packs a lot of light for such a slim profile. At a mere 1″ thick, the Ultra Thin LED Panel is the thinnest snap frame light box on the market. The front loading snap frame system makes it easy to install new graphics. In larger sizes, 3 ft X 5 ft and up, it becomes more difficult to quickly change graphics, so we recommend staying below this size for this style light box.

Snap Frame System

Each of the four sides of the heavy-duty aluminum frame snap open so graphics are easy to remove and replace. Once the frame snaps shut, the graphic is held securely in the place. The frame is available in five standard finishes and can also be powder coated to match any color.

Ultra Thin Design

LED light panels have made major advancements over the last several years resulting in thinner light box designs. At less than 1″ deep, the Ultra Thin LED Light Box isn’t bulky and practically lies flat on the wall.

Backlit LED Panel

Using a revolutionary new light diffusion method, the Ultra Thin LED Light Box allows the bright LED light to evenly disperse across the surface of the light box. The lights are diffused through tiny holes on the acrylic panel, which provides the most uniform corner to corner lighting, while eliminating hot spots.

Frameless SEG Fabric Light Box

Frameless Fabric LED Light Boxes use Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG) and perimeter LED lighting to display backlit imagery, with a modern frameless look. The fabric graphic is inserted into the light box using a thin silicone strip that is sewn around the edge of the graphic, and fits neatly into a small channel around the perimeter of the aluminum frame extrusion. The result is a drum tight fabric graphic that is lit evenly from behind.

Frameless Appearance

SEG frames do not snap open like the Ultra Thin Light Box. Instead, the graphic is installed by inserting the silicone strip sewn on the edge of the graphic into a small channel around the perimeter of the light box. With this method, the graphic stretches all the way to the edge of the frame extrusion resulting in a “frameless or edgeless” appearance. This new graphic display trend is being used by retailers like H&M, Macy’s, Johnston and Murphy, Aldo and Nike to name a few.

Customizable

Each light box can be fabricated at nearly any size to either be wall-mounted, suspended from the ceiling, or be a free-standing option. Depending on the application, fabric light boxes can also come in single or double-sided. On top of all that, the extrusions can come standard in either silver or black, and if needed can be custom powder coated.

Size Economy

Frameless Fabric Light Boxes are more economical for larger size light boxes for a number of reasons.  Fabric can be folded, therefore easier to ship and store. Also, Frameless Light Boxes do not need a rigid diffusion panel like the Ultra Thin Light Box, so they are shipped unassembled requiring smaller boxes for shipment.

Duratran Transparency Versus SEG Framing System