Channel letters are customizable metal or plastic letters commonly used as exterior signage on storefronts, strip malls, and public buildings. While illumination may be added for extra impact, channel letters don’t always need to be illuminated.
LED backlighting is one of the most sought-after illumination methods. This involves fitting lettering with LED strips that illuminate them at night or whenever you set them to.
Acrylic Channel Letters
Channel Letters are an elegant form of signage created with aluminum and acrylic to illuminate an outline of your business name or logo, lit from within. Custom shapes, fonts and colors can be manufactured to meet branding needs.
Self-contained signs come equipped with their own metal frames to shield them from the elements, with polycarbonate or acrylic faces attached to an aluminum side frame, which can be custom painted to match your corporate colors.
LED-lit channel letters are more energy efficient than neon signage and typically backlit, though front lighting can also draw significant attention day and night. Standard or front-lit channel letters typically feature metal back and aluminum sides (called returns) with either acrylic faces or no faces at all to allow LED tubes to shine through and give their sign an authentic neon look.
Direct Wholesale Channel Letters
Direct wholesale channel letters tend to be manufactured at a more reasonable cost than those sold directly to end customers, making them an economical and time-saving solution for sign shops that need their work completed quickly and efficiently. They’re also great way to build brand recognition while creating an eye-catching storefront that stands out against competition.
Front Lit Channel Letters, commonly known as standard channel letters, are the most prevalent sign type. Constructed of solid plex faces illuminated internally by LEDs of your chosen hue and attached via raceways for ease of maintenance, these signs often display solid messages or brand images on solid backgrounds.
Back Lit Channel Letters or Halo Lit Channel Letters differ from Front Lit letters in that their illumination illuminates against the wall behind, creating a glowing halo around each letter. They can be installed either face up or face down.
LED Lighted Channel Letters
Lighted Channel Letters are an extremely durable signage option, fitting seamlessly into various architectural styles. Not only are they low light visible and provide increased foot traffic to your establishment; their long lifespan and reduced energy consumption also makes them highly resistant to damage compared with neon signs.
Front-Lit Channel Letters consist of transparent or colored acrylic face inserts attached to aluminum returns, illuminated by LED bulbs with colors designed to complement those found on the face inserts. Cut vinyl can also be applied directly onto this surface if desired to add various hues or a halo effect.
Reverse Lit Channel Letters feature aluminum faces and returns connected by transparent acrylic backs that allow LED lights to shine through for an eye-catching halo effect. They are often utilized on tall buildings for maximum visibility as well as storefront signage applications.
Custom Channel Letters
Durable stainless steel channel letters make an impactful statement while offering excellent low-light visibility. Choose from an assortment of translucent acrylic face insert colors, and returns in natural satin/brushed, polished or titanium finishes – all UL Certified.
Pan-channel letter signs are widely utilized in shopping centers and retail stores. They can either be left non-illuminated (face lit), illuminated with LEDs for an illuminated halo effect around each letter, or can even be front/back lit for easy visibility.
Custom raceways or wireways are an integral component of signage that resemble a box behind channel letters, housing power supplies to safeguard them against vandalism and potential issues. Pre-built or custom made options may be suitable, and are particularly beneficial when installing channel letters larger than 18″H on brick, block or concrete walls where drilling holes would not be feasible. They offer cost-effective signage options that allow installation on any wall surface.
