Channel letter signs are one of the most popular sign types for a reason. These signs use bold three-dimensional letters to capture the attention of potential customers. Channel letters are highly customizable and available in a wide variety of sizes, styles, fonts, and colors to display your business’s name or logo, giving your storefront a professional look.
What’s more, illuminated channel letter signs ensure your business is highly visible, even from a distance. The right lighting plays an important role in making these signs stand out. In this post, we’re going to take a look at the different lighting options for your storefront channel letter sign.
Lighting Materials
Illuminated channel letter signs are lit with either LED modules or neon tubing. LEDs are the most popular choice for modern signage, however, neon lights are making a comeback. Let’s take a quick look at both options:
LED Lights
LED modules use light-emitting diodes to emit light in one specific direction, creating a bright, vivid display. LED signs are highly customizable and are available in a wide array of colors and styles. Many companies favor LEDs because they offer several advantages, including:
- LED lights are highly durable, lasting up to 100,000 hours of use. This means your LED sign could last over a decade!
- LED signs require little to no maintenance.
- Most LED lights are made from shatter-proof plastic, whereas traditional neon lights are fragile and break easily.
- LED lights are known for their energy efficiency. They create a lot of light while using very little energy, and are inexpensive to run.
Neon Lights
Traditional neon lights are made by filling a glass tube with neon or other gasses to create different colors. Today’s neon signs have added safety features and energy-saving components so they are more affordable and efficient than ever. The authentic glow of a classic neon sign is very appealing to many of today’s consumers.
Lighting Effects
Beyond the materials used to light your sign, you can use different lighting effects to customize your channel letter sign even further. Let’s take a look at your options:
1. Front-Lit Channel Lettering
Front-lit or face-lit signs are the most common type of channel letter signage. This type of illumination comprises individual translucent letters that are internally lit to create a bright, attention-grabbing appearance. The acrylic face of each letter, number, or character allows the light to radiate through, making it highly visible, especially during darker hours. Front-lit channel letters are easy to read and are popular because of their bold, classic design.
2. Back-Lit/Halo-Lit Channel Lettering
This type of lighting effect is known by a few names including halo-lit, back-lit, or reverse-lit channel lettering. As the name suggests, this type of signage is lit from behind, casting a radiant halo that forms around each letter making the signage appear to float against the wall. Reverse-lit channel lettering creates a unique visual effect, often exuding a luxurious, sophisticated ambiance. The soft glow of a back-lit channel letter sign might be associated with high-end products or brands.
3. Open-Face Channel Lettering
The absence of a “face” in open-face channel letter signage exposes the internal components, allowing the lighting elements (neon tubing or LEDs) to be visible. This type of signage creates a bare, industrial aesthetic that draws attention and departs from traditional channel letter designs. Open-face channel lettering is unconventional, edgy, and distinct. This type of lettering might appeal to companies and businesses who are looking to differentiate themselves from the norm.
4. Combination Channel Lettering
Combining both front-lit and back-lit lighting brings the best of both worlds to your channel letter signage. These signs allow light to shine through both the face and the back of the sign for a unique visual display that stands out both day and night. The dual lighting combination ensures that your sign will be visible in various lighting conditions. Combination channel lettering also gives you the option to choose a different color for each type of lighting, for a truly custom sign.
Your storefront signage is an essential part of your business and its overall appearance. Channel lettering offers a customizable, visually appealing display that effortlessly conveys your message. The type of lighting you choose for your channel letter sign has an impact on your brand and how your business is perceived. For all your signage needs, contact us today at National Neon.
