24x36 Sandwich Board Artwork: How Much of the Insert Will Actually Be Visible

A 24x36 sandwich board insert does not necessarily show all 24x36 inches once it is installed. The frame may cover the panel edges, so the visible area is the frame’s front opening, not the insert’s full size. Measure that opening to find out exactly how much of your artwork people will see.

As a simple layout starting point, keep essential text, logos, prices, arrows, and QR codes at least 1 inch inside every edge. On a 24x36 inch panel, that creates a 22x34 inch content area. It is a planning margin, not a promise that every frame will expose all of it. If your frame covers more than 1 inch anywhere, move the content farther inward.

At Legit Fast Printing, we recommend measuring both the panel space and the visible opening before you finalize artwork. Our custom 24x36 A-frame insert is a one-sided print on 4mm rigid coroplast. It is the printed insert only, so you can use an existing sandwich board rather than ordering another frame.

Insert size and visible area are different measurements

The insert size is the width and height of the printed panel. The visible area is the part you can see through the front of the frame after installation. A retaining edge, channel, clip, or other part of the frame can hide artwork near the perimeter.

There is no single visible-area measurement for every frame that accepts a 24x36 insert. Two frames can hold panels of the same size and expose different amounts of print. The opening is the measurement that answers the question for your particular sandwich board.

• Panel fit: Will a 24x36 inch panel fit into the space that holds the insert?
• Front opening: How much of that panel remains in view when it is installed?
• Artwork safe area: Where can important information sit without being covered by the frame?

For a portrait-oriented 24x36 design, subtract the covered width on the left and right from 24 inches. Subtract the covered height at the top and bottom from 36 inches. The result is the visible rectangle. The covered edges may not be equal, so measure each side rather than assuming a perfectly centered opening.

A practical example of the calculation

Imagine a frame that holds a 24x36 panel and covers half an inch on each of its four edges. Its visible opening would be 23x35 inches. A headline placed right at the panel’s edge could disappear, even though the file itself printed correctly.

Now imagine a different frame that holds the same insert but covers more at the bottom. That frame needs a different layout, particularly if the bottom of your design contains a website, date, or arrow. The numbers in the first example describe only that imagined frame. Measure yours before treating any margin as final.

How to measure what your sandwich board will actually show

Start with the frame itself, preferably with an existing insert in place. If you have a panel that already fits, it helps you separate the panel size from the portion the frame exposes. Our sandwich board measuring guide covers the fit check in more detail.

1. Measure the existing insert. Take it out if you can do so without forcing the frame. Measure its width and height. Do not use the overall outside dimensions of the stand as the panel size.
2. Check the panel space. If there is no insert, measure the space where the panel sits. Check the frame’s instructions if you have them. A front opening tells you what is visible, but it does not by itself tell you what size panel fits.
3. Measure the visible opening. Measure the clear width from the inner edge of the left frame border to the inner edge of the right border. Measure the clear height from the inner top edge to the inner bottom edge.
4. Look for uneven coverage. Check the top, bottom, and corners for parts of the frame that extend farther over the artwork. Note anything that would cover a word, logo, or code.
5. Check thickness. The Legit Fast Printing insert is 4mm rigid coroplast. Confirm that your frame can hold a panel of that thickness, as well as the correct width and height.
6. Sketch the opening over your artwork. Draw a rectangle showing what the frame exposes. Anything essential should fit comfortably inside it.

If you are unsure whether you measured the stand, the panel, or the opening, stop before ordering. Those dimensions answer different questions. The frame size versus insert size guide can help you sort them out.

How to build the artwork around the visible opening

Think of the design as three areas. First is the full panel, which is the physical piece you order. Second is the visible opening, which the audience can see. Third is a smaller content area inside that opening, where the message has room to breathe.

Let backgrounds run to the panel edges

A solid color, pattern, or background image can continue to the edge of the 24x36 panel. If the frame hides part of it, the design can still appear continuous. Do not use the frame’s visible opening as the point where your background suddenly stops.

If your artwork needs print bleed, confirm the file setup before exporting. Bleed concerns how artwork extends beyond a finished cut. It is not the same thing as a safe area, and adding bleed will not rescue text hidden behind a frame.

Keep essential information inside the opening

For an initial layout, place important elements at least 1 inch inward from each panel edge. Then compare that layout with your measured opening. Move the information farther in wherever the frame covers more. Leave a little visual space between the frame border and the message rather than letting letters sit against it.

• Keep the full headline visible, including its first and last letters.
• Give logos and directional arrows room away from corners.
• Keep the entire QR code clear of the frame, including its blank border.
• Check the bottom carefully if it holds an address, time, or call to action.
• Make sure a photograph’s important subject will not be cut off by the border.

The safe area protects content from the frame. It also makes the sign easier to read. A message squeezed against the edge can feel crowded even when no letters are physically hidden.

Make the message fit the way people will see it

A sandwich board beside an entrance has a different job from a yard sign beside a road. A person walking toward a storefront may have time to read an offer and a short detail. Someone passing a driveway needs the main instruction quickly. Decide what the viewer must notice first, then make everything else support it.

We suggest a simple order: headline, useful detail, next step. For example, imagine a school using a board for an event entrance. The headline could say “EVENT CHECK-IN,” a smaller line could name the entrance, and an arrow could show the direction. If the arrow sits near the panel edge, a frame lip could hide the part that makes it useful.

Bold type, contrasting colors, and short wording work well for custom printed signage. Save long explanations for a handout, website, or staff member. If the sign needs to work from farther away, remove secondary text before shrinking the headline.

Choosing the right sign for the location

The size printed on a product page is only part of the decision. Choose the sign by where it will stand, how people approach it, and whether you already have a display frame.

Use an insert when you already have a compatible A-frame

A replacement insert makes sense for a storefront offer, open house, registration desk, or changing event message when your existing frame still works. Confirm that it accepts the 24x36 panel and 4mm material before ordering. The Legit Fast Printing 24x36 insert is printed on one side; the frame and hardware are not included.

A sandwich board may show a panel to people approaching from each direction, but a one-sided insert supplies artwork for one face. If you need a printed message on both faces of a two-panel frame, plan for two inserts. Check whether the two directions need identical wording or different arrows before preparing the files.

Use a yard sign where a ground-mounted message makes more sense

A custom yard sign is often the better fit when the message belongs on a lawn, near a driveway, or along an outdoor route rather than in a sidewalk frame. Yard signs can help direct visitors to an event, advertise a local service, or identify a property. As with an A-frame insert, choose the size and placement based on who needs to read it.

Corrugated plastic is a lightweight, weather-resistant material used for outdoor signs. The display method still matters: a panel designed for a sandwich board is not automatically a complete yard sign setup. Decide where the sign will go before choosing the product.

If you are comparing a roadside display with a sidewalk display, our yard sign size guide helps frame the size decision. Do not let a larger panel tempt you into adding more words than the location allows people to read.

How many inserts should you order?

Count display faces and message versions, not just frames. A single one-sided insert covers one face. A sandwich board used from both approach directions may call for two. If you have several boards at different entrances, count the faces at each location before choosing a pack quantity.

• One message, one viewing direction: Start with one insert for the face people will approach.
• One frame, two viewing directions: Plan for two one-sided inserts if you want print on both faces.
• Several entrances: Count the faces that need a sign at each entrance, then check whether arrows or wording must change by location.
• Changing offers: List the versions you actually expect to use. Avoid ordering extra designs merely because the frame can hold them.

Before ordering multiple copies, confirm that every frame accepts the same panel dimensions and thickness. Frames that look similar from a distance may expose different portions of the artwork. If they do, use the most restrictive measured opening when deciding where shared text will sit.

Best practices before submitting your file

A final review should check the physical fit, the visible content, and the information people will act on. This is especially important for an event date or promotion that cannot be reused if it is wrong.

• Check the frame first. Confirm panel width, panel height, visible opening, and 4mm thickness compatibility.
• Preview the frame over the artwork. A digital 24x36 canvas alone does not show what the frame will hide.
• Read only the largest line. If it does not communicate the main point, revise the hierarchy.
• Check directional details. An arrow that points correctly on one face may need a different layout on the other.
• Proof every action item. Read the phone number, URL, price, date, time, and address separately from the rest of the design.
• Use a sharp source file. Low-resolution artwork can look soft when printed at 24x36 inches. Upload the highest-resolution version of your logo and graphics available.
• Review each version. If two inserts use different messages, proof both files rather than assuming a shared layout makes them identical.

Legit Fast Printing asks customers to spell-check their designs and upload high-resolution artwork. If you have a message but need help turning it into a digital sign design, you can email support@legitfastprinting.com after ordering for free design assistance.

Frequently asked questions

Is the entire 24x36 sandwich board insert visible?

Not necessarily. The frame can cover parts of the printed panel. Measure its front opening to learn the actual visible width and height for your frame.

What safe area should I use for 24x36 artwork?

A 1 inch inset on every side gives you a 22x34 inch starting area for essential content. Check it against the frame’s measured opening. If the frame covers more, increase the inset where needed.

Is the visible opening the size of the insert I should order?

No. The visible opening tells you what people can see. The insert size tells you what panel fits into the frame. Measure both, or measure an existing insert that fits and then measure how much of it remains visible.

What happens if my logo or QR code is near the edge?

The frame may cover part of it. Move the complete logo or code inside the visible opening, with enough space around it to keep it clear of the frame.

Will a 24x36 insert fit any sandwich board called a 24x36 frame?

Do not rely on the name alone. Confirm the panel dimensions the frame accepts and check its thickness allowance. The outside dimensions of a stand, its front opening, and the insert it holds are different measurements.

Is a 24x36 A-frame insert the same as a custom yard sign?

They can use similar outdoor sign material, but they serve different displays. An A-frame insert fits a compatible sandwich board; a yard sign is chosen for ground-level placement. Pick the format that matches the location and how people will approach it.

How many inserts do I need for a two-sided sandwich board?

For two printed faces, plan for two one-sided inserts. Confirm that your frame holds a separate panel on each side, and decide whether both faces need the same message.

Does the insert include the frame?

No. Our custom 24x36 A-frame product is the printed insert only. The sandwich board frame and hardware are not included.

Make the frame part of your artwork review

The most useful number is not simply 24x36. It is the opening your audience will actually see after installation. Measure the fit, measure the opening, then build a short, readable message inside it. When you are ready to update an existing compatible frame, order a custom 24x36 insert from Legit Fast Printing with artwork designed for that visible space.