# Set up a single-sided lightbox

Light only the face of a lightbox: switch off Back, Top, Bottom, Left or Right, set the Border colour, and make the border flush with Recessed Borders.

- Source URL: https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/features/17636572-set-up-a-single-sided-lightbox/
- Markdown URL: https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/features/17636572-set-up-a-single-sided-lightbox.md
- Category: Features
- Last updated: 2026-10-16

## Article

A single-sided lightbox has light on its face only. Use it for a sign on a wall or in a recess, where nobody sees the back. You switch off the sides that you do not need. On a rectangle or square, each switched-off side has the Border colour. On a circle, a switched-off Back has the Border colour. Shoppers do not choose a separate colour for it. You can also make the border flush with the frame. This article is for merchants who sell lightbox signs.

## Before you start

You need a Lightbox customiser. You set the sides and colours on each Lightbox Type. If your customiser has no Lightbox Type, add one first. Read [Lightbox Types](../../features/14428860-lightbox-types/) for more information.

## Switch off the sides that you do not need

A Lightbox Type has parts. The shape of the Lightbox Type decides the parts:

-   **Rectangle / Square:** Face, Back, Top, Bottom, Left, Right, Border and Internal Light.

-   **Circle:** Face, Back, Side, Border and Internal Light.

Face and Border are always on. You cannot switch them off.

1.  Open your Lightbox customiser in the Sign Customiser admin.

2.  In the menu on the left, find **Sign Components**. If **Sign Components** is closed, click it to open it.

3.  Click **Lightbox Types**. If a **Menu** button appears above the menu list, click it first.

4.  Click the Lightbox Type that you want to change. To make a new one, click **Add lightbox type**.

5.  For a new Lightbox Type, click a shape under **Sign Shape** (**Rectangle / Square** or **Circle**). Then enter a **Label**.

6.  In the **Sides** section, find the **Active** switch in each row.

7.  Make sure that **Back** is off. A new Lightbox Type starts with only Face and Border on.

8.  On a Rectangle / Square type, switch off **Top**, **Bottom**, **Left** or **Right** if you do not need them.

9.  Click **Save**.

A part that is off has the **Inactive** badge. A part that is on but has no materials has the **Needs setup** badge. Click that part. Then click **Add texture** to add a material.

On a Circle type, switch off **Back**. The back then has the Border colour, and the light behind the sign is off.

## Set the Border colour

On a rectangle or square, each switched-off side has the Border colour. On a circle, a switched-off Back has the Border colour. This colour decides how the unlit sides look.

1.  In the parts list, click **Border**.

2.  Click **Add texture** for each material. Add at least one material, because the admin says that an active part needs at least one material to work properly. A part with one material and no image upload gives shoppers no card. If you add two or more materials, shoppers get a Border card and can choose the Border colour. If the Border has the same materials as the Face, in the same order, shoppers get one **Front + borders** card instead. Their choice then sets both the Face and the Border.

3.  Click **Save**.

## Make the border flush (optional)

In the visualiser, the border normally extends a little from the face and back panels. **Recessed Borders** makes the border flush with the frame. The face and back then have no border overlay.

1.  Open any Lightbox Type.

2.  Click the **Border** part.

3.  Under **Recessed Borders**, tick **Recessed Borders**.

4.  Click **Save**.

This setting is for the whole customiser. It applies to each Lightbox Type, not only the one that you opened.

## What the shopper sees

-   On a rectangle or square, the visualiser shows the Border colour on each switched-off side. On a circle, it shows the Border colour on a switched-off Back. When Back is off, the light behind the sign is also off.

-   Shoppers see no colour card for a switched-off part. The first picture below shows a single-sided lightbox with cards for Face, Border and Internal Light and no card for Back.

    ![The Choose your lightbox colours step for a single-sided lightbox, with cards for Face, Border and Internal Light and no card for Back.](/help/intercom-docs/help-centre-images/76e44292290299219c5c53533b7d159c3df050e59f2c6fe7c9095c9df3a40e70.png)

-   The visualiser does not show images that a shopper uploads for a switched-off side.

-   A lightbox with Back switched on has a Back card when Back has two or more materials or lets shoppers upload an image. The second picture below shows this.

    ![The Choose your lightbox colours step for a lightbox with Back switched on, with cards for Face, Back, Border and Internal Light.](/help/intercom-docs/help-centre-images/a6763652d9717057421ce72b23a9baabd398b2144db8ca090cd0eb569307a4db.png)

## Limits

-   You cannot switch off Face or Border.

-   You cannot change the shape of a Lightbox Type after you save it. To use a different shape, make a new Lightbox Type.

-   Recessed Borders is one setting for the whole customiser.

## Related articles

-   [Lightbox Types](../../features/14428860-lightbox-types/)

-   [Lightbox mounting options](../../features/single-or-two-prong-mounting-visualisations-on-the-lightbox/)