Shell Scheme Graphics and Package Booth Upgrades
What a Package Booth Provides — and What It Does Not
Most shell scheme packages include the structural shell frame (aluminium octanorm or equivalent), a power supply (one or two sockets at standard allocation), a fascia sign with your company name in the organiser's standard font and basic floor covering. What is not included: any branded graphics, any furniture beyond possibly a table and two chairs, any lighting beyond a standard ceiling fitting, and any modification to the shell frame structure itself.
What Can Be Changed
Within the shell frame: panel graphics — printed sheets or fabric applied to the octanorm panels — cover the white background with your brand. The fascia can be overlaid with a printed replacement panel bearing your own typography and colour. Additional freestanding furniture replaces the standard table. Portable display lighting clips to the frame. A flooring overlay — interlocking exhibition tiles or carpet — covers the standard floor covering.
None of these require organiser approval beyond the standard booth submission, and all are removed at dismantling without damage to the shell structure. They are additions to a fixed system, not modifications of it.
What Cannot Be Changed
The structural shell frame cannot be altered or removed. The overall booth dimensions are fixed by the organiser's floor plan. The electrical circuit runs to the socket positions provided — additional circuits require a separate electrical order from the organiser's official electrical contractor. The shell partition height is fixed — panels cannot extend above the shell height without organiser approval, which most shows do not grant to maintain aisle consistency.
Panel Graphics — the Primary Upgrade
Printed panels are the most effective single upgrade for a shell scheme booth. Fitting method depends on the shell panel type: velcro-backed print sheets (direct adhesion to the panel surface), dye-sublimated fabric over a lightweight secondary clip-in frame, or adhesive vinyl applied directly to the panel and removed cleanly at dismantling. Each method has different lead times, visual results and cost. Adhesive vinyl is the fastest; dye-sub fabric produces the most premium result.
Panel dimensions vary by organiser and shell system. Artwork must match the specific dimensions of the allocated booth's panels — not a generic 'standard' size. Always confirm panel dimensions with the organiser before commissioning artwork.
Fascia, Furniture and Lighting
The organiser's fascia sign is the first thing a visitor reads at aisle level. Replacing it — or overlaying it with a printed panel in your brand typography and colour — creates visual consistency from the approach. It is typically the single lowest-cost, highest-impact upgrade available for a shell scheme booth.
Standard shell scheme furniture is functional rather than presentational. A counter at the front of the booth, two stools and one display shelf change the operational impression more than any graphic addition. Additional clip-on LED strip lighting above the back panel improves graphic legibility under hall lighting where the standard ceiling fitting leaves the surface in partial shadow.
Shell Scheme Upgrade Options
| Upgrade | What It Changes | Lead Time | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel graphics — adhesive vinyl | White panels to branded background | 5–7 working days | Low |
| Panel graphics — dye-sub fabric | White panels to premium fabric display | 7–10 working days | Low |
| Fascia print overlay | Default font to branded fascia at aisle level | 3–5 working days | Very low |
| Counter (freestanding) | Default table to a presentation counter | 10–14 working days | Low |
| Flooring overlay (interlocking tiles) | Standard carpet to a branded or premium floor | 5–7 working days | Low |
| Additional LED clip-on lighting | Standard fitting to focused display lighting | Off-the-shelf | Very low |
The Honest Limit of Shell Scheme Upgrades
Shell scheme graphics cannot replicate a custom stand
At a show where competitors have custom-built island stands, a well-upgraded shell scheme will still read as a package booth from the aisle. Shell scheme upgrades move a booth from the 'default' category into the 'deliberate' category — not into the 'invested' category. If that distinction matters for your show objective, rental or a small custom build is the appropriate next step.
Panel fit depends on the organiser's shell system
Shell frame panel dimensions vary between organisers and between shows at the same organiser. Artwork produced to a 'standard' panel size that doesn't match the actual allocation produces graphics with visible gaps or overlaps at the frame edges. Confirming the exact panel dimensions with the organiser before artwork goes to production prevents the most common shell scheme graphics failure.
Geometric limits are fixed
No upgrade changes the geometry, height or overall proportion of the shell scheme booth. Exhibitors whose stand requirement includes a specific configuration, height or structural element need a different format — rental, modular or custom — rather than an upgrade to the package allocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can Pixelmate Exhibition Co., Ltd. produce graphics for any organiser's shell scheme dimensions?
- Yes, provided the exact panel dimensions are confirmed before production. We require either the organiser's official panel dimension specification or a direct measurement from the shell system at the trade show.
- What format do you need for artwork files?
- Print-ready PDF or AI at 1:1 scale with 3 mm bleed, CMYK colour profile for rigid or vinyl substrates. For dye-sublimation fabric panels, RGB colour profile at 100 dpi at final print size. Supply your files and we will advise on any format adjustment needed before production.
- Is there a minimum order for shell scheme graphics?
- No. Single fascia panels, individual wall panels and small furniture packages are all handled without minimum order requirements.
- Can you upgrade the flooring inside a shell scheme booth?
- Yes. Interlocking exhibition floor tiles or carpet overlay can be fitted over the standard shell scheme floor covering without organiser approval in most cases. Confirm with the organiser if in doubt — some shows restrict flooring additions.
- How far in advance do I need to order shell scheme graphics?
- Allow ten working days minimum from confirmed brief and artwork to delivery for panel graphics. Fascia overlays can often be turned around in five working days. For shows with very short lead times, contact us with the dates — we will confirm what is achievable.
Pixelmate Exhibition Co., Ltd. produces shell scheme panel graphics, fascia overlays, counters and flooring for exhibitors at Bangkok trade shows. The same Bangkok workshop that builds full custom stands handles package booth upgrades — turnaround times reflect the actual print and production time. If you have a shell scheme allocation to upgrade, send the show name, organiser panel dimensions and your brand brief. We return a proposal and artwork specification within one working day.
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Send us your show name, floor space and brief — we return a fixed, itemised quotation and initial 3D concept within one working day, at no charge and no obligation.