Channel letters are one of the most visible forms of exterior signage, making a bold statement and drawing customers in from all directions. Illuminated or not, channel letters draw customers while helping businesses stand out in a crowd.
Illuminated channel letters use LED tube lighting to produce a neon-like effect, attached via trim caps with either standard or custom colors for use on acrylic faces of signs.
What is a Channel Letter?
Channel letters are three-dimensional illuminated or non-illuminated signs that grab people’s attention in your street or business center and set you apart from your competition. Channel letters are durable, rustproof, cost less over time than neon signs, require lower maintenance and energy savings than neon signs – and energy efficient as well.
Signs made of aluminum can be customized into desired shapes with fabrication using CNC technology, then covered in acrylic with backlighting or front lighting using LEDs which provide more efficient illumination than traditional neon.
Trim caps serve to combine returns and faces together and can be mounted using various means – including an oversized backer, monument or cabinet sign. One benefit of using trim caps for back-lit and combination letters is reduced building penetrations as maintenance can be more straightforward; additionally it’s recommended to avoid using blue colors since light reflection off solid blue signs is likely.
Backs
Front-lit channel letters can help your business to stand out and draw customers in. With its versatile construction, these durable signs can either stand out against their surroundings or blend in seamlessly, making them the ideal solution for storefronts, malls, office lobbies and other commercial properties.
Channel letters are made of flat sheet metal, typically aluminum for its durability and ability to be formed using computer-driven routers and cutting equipment. Channel letter returns are then formed using this same process into letters in different colors or materials depending on whether your sign will be lit from either its front, back, or both sides – or both!
Channel letters may be mounted directly or flush against a building facade; backer-mounted (attached to an oversized “backer” panel which hides return edges and reduces wall penetrations), or raceway mounted; this rectangular mounting structure often houses all electrical components for easy maintenance; it may even be painted to match your building color scheme!
Returns
Channel letters are an effective way to enhance your business’s visibility, brand image, and credibility. Customizable to fit almost any size, font style or color preference imaginable – they also add professionalism to any facility’s appearance!
Signs constructed with aluminum don’t rust, so CNC routers cut a flat sheet from it based on a vector production file. Once this step has been completed, computer-driven bending and shaping machines form returns – enclosed channels known as signs that allow LED illumination if face lit – on its edges.
If the sign is halo-lit, its return can be welded directly onto the letter to create one unit. After which, an acrylic or polycarbonate faceplate can be attached using adhesive strips to complete its look. Raceway mounts or building-mounted signs are two options for mounting this sign type.
Faces
Channel letters are one of the most effective forms of advertising available, often being front lit signs crafted out of aluminum backs and sides (returns), illuminated by LEDs or neon lighting through polycarbonate faces that spell out your business name.
Reverse or halo-lit channel letter signs offer another alternative. They create an elegant look by spacing their aluminum faces away from the wall, mounting them with transparent acrylic backs, and lighting from behind, producing an “halo” effect around each letter.
These signs provide a more architectural look while still exposing neon light for an authentic and clean style. You can view these signs from either street level, an oversized cabinet, monument, or sign panel – they utilize multiple non-corrosive fasteners or studs that connect each letter individually – plus power packs must be purchased.
