The file can be perfect and still be wrong to print
Dye sublimation onto coated aluminium gives strong colour, sharp detail and a hard-wearing finish, but the printing process does not change copyright. If you did not take the photograph yourself, or if you do not hold written permission to reproduce it, the job can be blocked or delayed. That applies whether the panel is for a home in Sandton, a gallery wall in Cape Town, a reception area in Durban, or a corporate space in Pretoria.
We ask clients to confirm rights before we move into file checks, colour preparation or test panels. It protects you from disputes and it saves time later on if a reprint is needed. Customers must own the image or have the right to use it for the exact purpose requested, including display, sale, gifts, marketing use or exhibition. A picture on social media is not automatically free to print, even if it has been shared widely.
Start with ownership, licensing and written permission
Before placing an order, confirm who created the image and what permission is attached to it. If a photographer shot the image, the photographer may still hold the copyright unless they assigned it in writing. If the image came from a stock library, a freelancer, a designer, or an old campaign folder, check the licence terms rather than assuming it can be reused.
- Keep the original licence or contract that gives you printing rights
- Check whether the image may be used for private display, resale, or business promotion
- Confirm if the right covers one panel or a wider production run
- Make sure any permission includes online use if you also want a digital proof shared
- For company orders, confirm that the person sending files is authorised to release them
If an image has several owners, for example a photographer and a studio, get written approval from the party that controls reproduction. If there is any doubt, pause the order until the paperwork is clear.
Faces, buildings, artwork and logos each carry their own rules
Image rights are not only about who pressed the shutter. A panel may include a person, private property, a copyrighted artwork, or a business logo, and each element can need separate approval. A portrait taken at an event, a mural photographed in a lane in Johannesburg, or a corporate interior shot in Midrand may all need extra permission depending on how the image is used.
For businesses, this matters most when the panel will hang in a public area or be used for marketing. If a person is clearly recognisable, a model release is often needed for commercial use. If a building, sculpture, artwork or branded product is the main subject, the owner may also have rights that affect reproduction. We recommend checking these points before you submit files, not after the print is already underway.
A useful pre-print rights checklist
Use a quick check before you approve the artwork. It takes less time than sorting out a dispute later, and it helps us keep the production line moving from Randburg to delivery points across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha.
- Do I own this image, or have I been given written permission to use it?
- Does the licence allow printing on aluminium, not just online viewing?
- Is the image being used for personal display, resale, promotion or exhibition?
- Are there visible people, private properties, artworks or logos that need release forms?
- Has the file been checked for the correct crop, resolution and finish choice?
- Do I have proof that I can authorise this order on behalf of the business or client?
If any answer is uncertain, send the order back for clarification. A clean rights file is as important as a clean image file.
Why rights checks protect both the picture and the project
When rights are unclear, the whole job can stall. A print may need to be held, a release may need to be requested, or a reprint may need to be done if the wrong file was supplied. That can affect mounting dates, courier bookings and gallery handovers. For clients working to tight install times in offices, hotels or retail spaces, this is where planning pays off.
We also look at practical print matters at the same time: image resolution, crop planning, finish selection and mounting options. A rights check and a file check often go hand in hand because a legal problem and a technical problem can show up in the same order. If a customer wants a brushed finish for a corporate portrait or a matte finish for a fine art piece, the image must still be cleared for that use. Good paperwork keeps the panel ready for packing and delivery without last minute changes.
If you did not make the image, get the paper trail first
Many orders involve a client who received files from a photographer, designer or marketing team. That is common, but the source of the file still matters. Ask for the licence, release, assignment or written approval before you approve the print. If the image came from a family archive or old company folder, do not assume the right to print is automatic.
For teams in Johannesburg and around Gauteng, it helps to keep one person responsible for approvals. That person can confirm the image rights, final wording and delivery details before the order enters production. It saves time, cuts out back-and-forth, and avoids a situation where a beautiful panel is ready but cannot leave the workshop because the permission trail is missing. If you need extra support, our enquiry process can be used to flag any rights question before we proceed.
Rights questions to answer before final approval
Before you sign off, answer these points in plain language. If you can answer them confidently, the order is usually on solid ground.
- Who owns the image file now?
- Who gave permission, and is it written down?
- What is the image allowed to be used for?
- Does the permission cover printing, display and repeat use if needed?
- Are all people and property owners who need to consent already covered?
- Will the image be used in one location or across several branches?
Once those answers are clear, the rest of the process is straightforward. We can then move on to file preparation, finish selection, mounting choices and delivery details with fewer delays and less risk of rework.
