A fabric lightbox is a printed fabric graphic stretched over an aluminium frame and lit from inside with LEDs. They suit everything from a single café menu board to a full shopping-centre feature wall. This guide covers how they work, what they cost, which type to choose and what to check before you buy.
OneFrame makes fabric lightboxes in Auckland and supplies businesses of every size across New Zealand. If you need a standard size quickly, our Off the Shelf™ range is made in 10 production days. If your project needs a custom size, lighting system or fire documentation, we build that too.
OneFrame fabric lightboxes range from small signs up to 3200mm × 50m seamless, in frame depths from 7mm slimline edge-lit to 140mm deep backlit. Lighting comes in fixed white, tunable white (2700K–6500K) or RGBW, all compatible with DALI, DMX and Casambi control. Frames can be wall-mounted, suspended, freestanding, recessed, built into joinery or double-sided.
Graphics are dye-sublimated polyester Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG) that change without tools, and many fabrics use recycled yarn. Our mainstream fabrics are BRANZ-tested to the NZ Building Code, and our LEDs are UL Solutions-certified with Meanwell and LTECH drivers. Off the Shelf™ sizes are made in 10 production days, and custom builds typically take 3–4 weeks. We deliver nationwide, and internationally on request.
A fabric lightbox is an illuminated display made of a printed fabric face tensioned into an aluminium frame, with LED lighting inside. The fabric has a thin silicone bead sewn around its edge, called a Silicone Edge Graphic (SEG). The bead pushes into a channel in the frame and pulls the fabric flat and tight.
The graphic is dye-sublimation printed, which bonds the ink into the fabric for sharp, colour-fast images. There are no visible screws, joins or bezels, so the finished lightbox looks like glowing artwork rather than a traditional sign.
Fabric lightboxes have largely replaced backlit film, acrylic-faced light boxes and rigid printed panels. The main reasons are practical:
Price depends mainly on size and lighting. A small, single-sided, wall-mounted lightbox in fixed white is the most affordable option. Large, double-sided or colour-changing builds cost more.
The six things that move the price:
Ways to keep the cost down
For a quick price, send us your size, location and how you want it lit. We quote within two working days.
Choose backlit for large or image-heavy graphics; choose edge-lit when the frame needs to sit close to the wall.
Backlit lightboxes have LEDs across the back panel, behind the fabric. They need a frame 80–140mm deep, work at any size and are the right choice above 2200mm wide. Choose backlit for feature walls, detailed imagery and large retail graphics.
Edge-lit lightboxes have LEDs around the perimeter, with a diffuser spreading the light across the face. Frames are just 7–30mm deep and work best up to about 2200mm wide. Choose edge-lit for corridors, lift lobbies, cafés, reception areas and slimline signage.
Both use the same SEG fabric system, so a graphic printed for one can be reused on the other if the hardware is changed later.
Most buyers need a single-sided wall-mounted lightbox; the other formats solve specific placement problems.
Single-sided wall-mounted lightboxes are the most common format. They can be backlit or edge-lit, fixed flush or on standoffs, and suit shop signage, reception walls and shopfront windows.
Slimline lightboxes are edge-lit and just 7–30mm deep. They suit corridors, lifts, cafés and medical rooms, where a sign can't project far from the wall.
Double-sided lightboxes carry a graphic on both faces. They are used in shopping centre walkways, hanging retail signs and media walls.
Freestanding lightboxes support themselves on a weighted or anchored base. They work well in car showrooms, hospitality venues and pop-up retail.
Suspended lightboxes hang from the ceiling, single or double-sided. Their light construction keeps ceiling loads low in retail, hospitality and transport hubs.
Recessed lightboxes are set into a wall or ceiling so the face sits flush with the surface. They give a frameless look in high-end retail, hospitality and corporate interiors.
Curved and shaped lightboxes follow an arc, column or custom outline. Our organa™ system takes this further into fully three-dimensional lit forms.
Standard rectangular sizes are available in the Off the Shelf™ range. Any other dimension can be custom-built.
Fixed white suits most lightboxes; tunable white and RGBW are for spaces where the light needs to change.
Fixed white uses one colour temperature, specified anywhere from 2700K (warm) to 6500K (daylight). It is the brightest, simplest and lowest-cost option, and right for most lightboxes.
Tunable white is a single fitting that shifts across 2700K–6500K. Choose it when the light should change with the time of day or the use of the space, such as offices, hospitality and premium retail.
RGBW adds full programmable colour to white light. It suits brand colours, hospitality scenes, seasonal campaigns and our animate™ system, where colour becomes part of the graphic.
Tunable white and RGBW connect to DALI, DMX or Casambi, so the lightbox can run on the same control system as the building's other lighting.
Lighting design matters more with fabric than with acrylic. Generic LED strip placed behind fabric often shows hot spots and uneven patches. OneFrame designs its LED modules in-house specifically for fabric diffusion to avoid this.
If your lightbox is going into a commercial, public or multi-tenancy building, ask for fire and electrical certification before you buy.
Fire: the NZ Building Code
Fabric used as a wall or ceiling lining in these buildings must meet NZ Building Code fire requirements (the C/AS series) for surface spread of flame and smoke production. Shopping centre landlords, hospitals, schools and hospitality fit-outs usually ask for proof.
OneFrame's mainstream fabric range has been independently tested by BRANZ (Building Research Association of New Zealand) and certified as compliant. We supply the test certificates for landlord sign-off, producer statements, fire engineer review or insurers. We are currently the only fabric lightbox manufacturer in New Zealand able to do this across our standard range.
All integrated lighting is tested and certified by UL Solutions, and our Meanwell and LTECH drivers carry their own UL certification. This supports insurance compliance and commercial procurement, and it's why we can warranty the lighting system.
For a small lightbox in your own shop or office, you may not need the paperwork. It's still worth knowing the materials meet the standard.
Fabric lightboxes work anywhere a business wants a sign or image to stand out, from one small menu board to a full feature wall.
Examples of our work range from single wall signs to large installations, including an exhibition lightbox for Callaghan Innovation, a retail installation at Mitre 10 Silverdale, illuminated ceiling shapes for Tauranga City Council, and an illuminated fabric ceiling at Auckland Radiology Oncology.
Yes, more so than rigid printed signage, because you replace only the fabric when the message changes.
OneFrame designs its own aluminium profile and extrudes it in New Zealand from recycled material. We are the only NZ manufacturer doing this; most fabric lightboxes sold here are assembled from imported parts. Local extrusion means lower embodied carbon and no reliance on overseas shipping.
Who makes fabric lightboxes in New Zealand? OneFrame manufactures fabric lightboxes in Auckland and is New Zealand's largest maker. It is the only NZ company that designs its own aluminium profile and extrudes it locally from recycled material. Most other fabric lightboxes sold here are assembled from imported components.
What does SEG stand for? SEG stands for Silicone Edge Graphic: the silicone bead sewn around a printed fabric graphic. It slots into a channel in the aluminium frame to hold the fabric flat and tight. SEG is the industry-standard tensioning method for fabric displays.
How much does a fabric lightbox cost? Cost depends on size, lighting type, single or double-sided construction, mounting and fabric. A standard-size, single-sided, wall-mounted lightbox in fixed white is the most affordable option. Send your dimensions for a quote within two working days.
How quickly can I get a fabric lightbox? Off the Shelf™ standard sizes are made in 10 production days. Custom builds typically take 3–4 weeks from approved artwork to dispatch from Auckland.
Can I buy a small fabric lightbox? Yes. There is no minimum size or order quantity. Small wall-mounted and slimline lightboxes are common for cafés, reception areas and shop counters.
What's the difference between backlit and edge-lit? Backlit lightboxes have LEDs across the back, give very even light at any size and are 80–140mm deep. Edge-lit lightboxes have LEDs around the edge, are 7–30mm deep and work best up to about 2200mm wide.
What is the largest seamless fabric lightbox available? OneFrame can make a seamless single-piece fabric lightbox up to 3200mm × 50,000mm with its lucent™ system. Larger areas can be joined while keeping an even lit face.
Can fabric lightboxes use tunable white or RGBW lighting? Yes. OneFrame offers fixed white at any colour temperature, tunable white from 2700K to 6500K, and full RGBW colour. All three work with DALI, DMX and Casambi.
Are fabric lightbox graphics easy to change? Yes. The SEG fabric unclips from the frame and a new graphic fits in a few minutes, with no tools or installer needed. The frame and lighting stay in place.
Are fabric lightboxes fire rated for the NZ Building Code? OneFrame's mainstream fabric range is BRANZ-tested and certified as compliant with the NZ Building Code. Most other fabric lightboxes sold in New Zealand are not independently certified.
How long do the LEDs last? Quality LED lighting is rated for 50,000 hours or more. OneFrame uses UL-certified LEDs with Meanwell or LTECH drivers and warranties its lighting.
Can fabric lightboxes go outdoors? Standard lightboxes are for indoor use. OneFrame can engineer weather-rated options for sheltered spots such as covered shopfronts, atriums and transport canopies.
Do fabric lightboxes need building consent? Standalone lightboxes generally don't. Where they're built into ceilings, large wall systems or fire-rated linings, a producer statement or fire engineer review may be needed. OneFrame supplies BRANZ and UL documentation to support this.
Are fabric lightboxes recyclable? Yes. The aluminium frames are fully recyclable and many fabrics use recycled polyester. OneFrame's Second Thread™ Back-2-Base program takes them back at end of life.
Whether you need one sign for your shop or a full fit-out, there are three easy ways to start:
Or call +64 9 309 7775 to talk it through.
OneFrame is an Auckland-based manufacturer of fabric lightboxes (lucent™ and Off the Shelf™), acoustic fabric systems (resonate™), large-format fabric ceilings and walls (CLIPSO®), programmable fabric lighting (animate™) and custom fabric work. We ship nationwide and internationally. We are members of 1% for the Planet, the Sustainable Business Network, the NZ Green Building Council, Buy New Zealand Made, the Retail Interiors Association, the NZ Institute of Architects and the Acoustical Society of New Zealand.
OneFrame is a New Zealand based speciality manufacturer delivering sustainable solutions both locally and across international waters. Our team has a dedicated focus on influencing and educating architects, specifiers, designers and those that share our passion for a more sustainable tomorrow through innovative delivery.
We are constantly being challenged by our clients and driven to transform their bold ideas into amazing realities. Innovation is our passion, it's part of our DNA and we are constantly striving to positively influence the industry by what we deliver to market.
