Design notes
First Article
A practical wall-art note on approving the first sample print before the full run goes ahead.
The first sample print tells you what the screen never will: colour shift, black density, crop position, texture and finish.
First Article is where the job either tightens up or goes wrong. We use this note to record what must be checked on the sample print before bulk wall-art production starts, including crop, skin tones, dark areas and surface glare under the actual room lighting.
Sample print sign-off points
- Room and lighting conditions noted
- One approved sample photographed in place or on a clean viewing surface
- Artwork source and output version matched to the print file
- Client, designer or installer contact details captured correctly
Read this note alongside the relevant product page before final approval. First Article explains what to inspect on the sample itself, while the product page deals with the chosen media, size range and finish. Used together, they reduce avoidable reprints.
How first-article checks guide custom mural output
First Article covers the first sample print that is approved before the full wall art run starts. Use it to confirm colour, scale, finish, and setup before committing the whole job.
Begin with the wall, the artwork scale and the intended finish. A sample can look right under workshop lights and then shift in a Sandton boardroom, a Umhlanga apartment or a Cape Town hospitality setting with strong natural light. That is why the first approved piece matters before the full quantity is released.
Keep the first sample image with the job record. A clear photo of the approved print, plus any mark-ups on colour or trim, helps when the same mural is reordered or resized later. It also gives installers a fixed visual reference when packed panels arrive on site.
What the approved sample confirms
The sign-off should state the exact print appearance that may go into production. That includes colour balance, black depth, final scale, border treatment and whether the selected finish suits the room. One correct sample print is more useful than a long message thread with mixed comments.
Link First Article with the related substrate choice and artwork setup before extending the order. Check the wall measurement, the print file and the packed pieces one more time before dispatch. Share a photo of the space and the print finish you like, and the studio will plan the piece.
- Wall art sized to the measured installation area
- Sample approval recorded before full print run
- Approval comments kept with the job file
Checks that matter on SA sites
First Article is especially useful on multi-panel murals, branded office walls and hospitality installs where repeat output must match. Gauteng corporate interiors, KZN coastal properties and Western Cape retail sites can each show colour and finish differently once the print is on the wall. If supplied artwork, dimensions or brand rules are fixed, they should be tied to the sample review from the start.
Humidity near the coast can influence how certain media and laminates present after printing. Inland dust and strong sun through glass can change how texture, glare and dark tones are perceived during approval. Power interruptions can also affect production planning, so the checked sample becomes the visual standard for the full run.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
First sample briefing details
A practical wall-art note on approving the first sample print before the full run goes ahead.
Write the First Article note as soon as the sample is viewed and approved. Include the artwork version, print material, finish, measured output size and any comments about colour, trim or panel joins. When a buyer asks for sign-off, this gives one clear record of what was accepted before production.