Stained Paper Panels

Patrick Fore from Journey Church in Norman, Oklahoma combined his passion for Illustrator and Photoshop with some stage design savvy to create these cool panels.

He used Epson Backlit Paper (3’x100′ roll) through his wide format printer to create the paper patterns, then attached them to black wooden frames.

He created 5 frames that were 36″x90″ and 6 frames that were 24″x36″ made from 1 1/2 inch studs. He then scattered them around the stage and backlit them with LED lights.

Download the zipped design files for the paper panels here.

Adapting Stained Paper Panels for Your Stage

The appeal of this design is the contrast between black frames and luminous printed patterns. Backlighting makes the paper read more like a glowing window than a conventional printed sign. Patrick’s original panel sizes give the arrangement both tall focal points and smaller accents. The ideas below are adaptation suggestions for your team, not additional details about Journey Church’s original construction.

Start with a scaled drawing of your platform. Mark the speaking position, instruments, screens, and walking routes before placing the panels. Try grouping taller frames toward the sides with smaller rectangles filling selected gaps. Leave some dark space between shapes so each frame remains readable. Check the arrangement from the rear seats and side seating rather than judging it only from the center aisle.

Test the Print Before Producing Every Panel

The original build used a three-foot-wide roll of Epson Backlit Paper and a wide format printer. If your team does not have access to that equipment, ask a local print provider about a compatible backlit medium and a small test print. Bring a representative section of the artwork, including dark outlines and both pale and saturated colors. A sample gives you a more useful comparison than selecting material from an unlit swatch alone.

View that sample inside a temporary frame with the actual LED fixture you intend to use. Compare white light with colored light: a strong colored wash can change the apparent colors in the printed artwork. Move the fixture and adjust its output while checking for bright spots, visible shadows, and light spilling beyond the edges. Keep any spacing within the fixture manufacturer’s clearance requirements; the photographs are not a specification for enclosing a light.

Before ordering a complete set of prints, confirm the visible opening of each frame and how much material the attachment method requires. Keep the pattern’s important details away from covered edges. Label each print and its matching frame on the reverse so volunteers do not have to guess during installation. Protect the paper while moving and storing the panels, and test the proposed attachment method on an offcut before committing a finished print.

Build your estimate around printing, framing, finish, suitable supports, lighting, and transport rather than the paper price alone. Reusing existing fixtures may help, but test their coverage before assuming they can illuminate the largest panels evenly. Have your facility team review the suitability of paper scenery, its placement, and the complete support arrangement. Keep exits and equipment access clear, and do not treat a decorative frame as an approved rigging point.

Pro Tips for Backlit Paper Panels

Choose a readable pattern: View a reduced mockup at a distance. Strong outlines and larger shapes are easier to recognize than intricate details that disappear from the back row.

Keep lighting adjustable: Control the panel lighting separately from the lighting on faces. Save a quieter speaking look as well as a brighter music look so the scenery supports each moment.

Check the camera image: Review the brightest panel through your actual video feed. Reduce output if the print loses its colored detail or becomes a distracting white rectangle.

Document the reset: Photograph panel positions, label the lighting connections, and record the preferred cues. A simple layout sheet makes volunteer setup more consistent and helps protect the printed surfaces.

Related Designs

• White Stage – Compare a unified white scenic palette with fabric-covered elements.
• Jesus, Light it Up – Explore another illuminated backdrop using Coroplast and textured columns.
• Shine – Compare wooden window frames, frosted plastic, and front-and-back lighting.
• Offset – See how fabric-covered wooden flats create separated visual panels.
• Hyper Techno Dots – Explore a different approach to repeated shapes and glowing scenic surfaces.