Channel letter signage offers businesses an eye-catching way to differentiate themselves and stand out from their competition. There is an almost limitless array of fonts, materials, illumination methods and sizes available when it comes to channel letter signs.
Computerized bending & shaping machines make the fabrication of channel letters quick and affordable for modern sign shops; however, there are certain technicalities which businesses should be mindful of.
Aesthetics
Channel letters are three-dimensional graphic sign elements that stand out from building facades, drawing passersby in. Available in an assortment of fonts, sizes and colors to match your business logo; back-lit or internally illuminated to maximize visibility and attract customers.
Channel letters feature returns made of router-cut aluminum sheeting that can either be painted or left natural. A translucent plastic sign face made from acrylic or polycarbonate material may also be painted any color and covered with vinyl vinyl covering for durability and fastening purposes. A trim cap is attached to each return for a polished appearance and provides fastening surface.
Channel letters may be flush mounted or mounted onto a raceway or wireway for easier display. A raceway provides protection for electrical components while wireways contain more wiring and thinner structures.
Durability
Channel letter manufacturers specialize in designing signage that is both visually pleasing and highly durable, perfect for storefront signs or wayfinding systems. Channel letters come with either illumination or no illumination and come in an assortment of fonts and colors to match your brand’s aesthetic.
Channel letters are constructed as individual components with aluminum backs, aluminum sides (known as returns) and acrylic faces attached. The aluminum backs and returns are routed into their intended letters or numbers using computer-driven routers, lasers or water jets according to vector-based art files (.cdr,.eps,.ai.scv sci or.fs). Once complete the aluminum backs are bent into can shapes to hold LED or neon gas tubes and their associated trim caps in place for lighting components (LED or neon gas tubes).
Acrylic faces can either be solid colors or translucent to produce a halo effect when lit from behind, and their trim caps come standard colors, though you may opt to customize it to meet branding standards and match brand logos.
LED Illumination
Channel letter signs illuminate your business name and brand to attract customers day or night, making them ideal for restaurants as well as pubs, bars, gas stations and convenience stores.
Illumination options may include neon, LED or both types of lighting sources. LEDs are more energy efficient than neon and can be programmed to display black during the day and white at night – which makes for easier programming of channel letters with colored aluminum backs that match their sign face or building.
Back-lit signs can be mounted either directly to a building or onto a metal raceway which houses their wiring and power source, with raceway mounts being preferred among landlords and building management companies as they require fewer penetrations in buildings than flush mounts. Illuminated channel letters can be remotely controlled through Lightcloud technology to adjust brightness levels with your mobile device or computer.
Budget
Channel letter signage can help your business stand out in an overly-competitive market and establish customer awareness 24/7, drawing potential clients directly to its doors day or night.
Although vinyl signage may be more costly than other types, its durability and long-term quality make it worth investing in. Furthermore, its use costs less than neon or other lighting used in other forms of signage.
Standard front-lit channel letters are composed of aluminum returns and sides clad with acrylic faces made of transparent or colored polycarbonate for visibility at night, lit either with LED or neon illumination. Ideal for storefronts or shopping malls seeking night visibility, front-lit channel letters lend themselves well to logo incorporation to increase brand recognition.
