Channel letters are one of the most prevalent forms of signage and come in an assortment of fonts, colors and sizes – either illuminated or not they make for an integral component of storefronts.
CNC routers use aluminum backs and forms (called returns ) of channel letters to form their aluminum backs, then an acrylic face is attached with trim cap, ready to be painted using standard or custom PMS colors for your brand’s color palette.
The Face
Channel letter manufacturers use LEDs to craft custom signage that spells out your company name or displays your logo, often used to attract customers into stores and shopping malls. Constructing these custom signs involves cutting and bending letters or symbols into shape before fitting them with lighting and attaching them to bases for easy placement.
Your sign’s front side is constructed using translucent acrylic and vinyl materials that let light through, making these signs highly visible both day and night. Aluminum backs typically come equipped with trim caps of various colors for attachment – once held in place by rivets; now new manufacturing techniques enable seamless fabrication for cleaner appearances.
Front-lit channel letters typically use router-cut aluminum as their backside material, with returns that differ in color from their face and can even feature transparent polycarbonate to add a halo effect or painted to match. LED lights inside these signs typically use up to 20% less energy than traditional neon bulbs.
The Return
Return signage creates its signature body, depth or “channel”, giving this type of signage its name. Computer-controlled bending and shaping machines shape its character to create designs varying in depth between 3-8 inches depending on where its placed and whether or not its illuminated.
Channel letters are constructed of aluminum sheeting that has been cut to size using a router, with both ends cut for welding or bending to form what’s commonly referred to as a “letter can”. When your sign is complete, lighting modules will be fitted into this can.
Final touches include custom painting the acrylic face in any of the colors selected by customers for an eye-catching sign that stands out in night time, drawing attention from passersby and potentially drawing new customers in to your store or business. Front-lit channel letters are especially eye-catching at night due to their front illumination through acrylic faces; front-lit channel letters offer illumination through acrylic faces giving company logos an eye-catching presence at nighttime – they make an excellent addition in areas where local laws or lease agreements allow illuminated signage.
The Back
Channel letters provide your business with that “WOW!” factor it needs to stand out from its competition. They are highly visible and can increase brand recognition. No matter whether it is placed within a mall, along a busy highway or even within your local community – channel letters will get noticed by many potential customers!
A standard channel letter begins as a flat sheet of metal – typically aluminum as it won’t rust – which is then cut using either an automated router, water jet, or laser machine using vector files (typically.cdr,.eps,.ai..scv.sci or.fs). Next the returns – side panels which match back of sign are bent using computerized bending and shaping machines until all corners meet in their proper places.
Channel letters can be mounted either directly onto a building or onto a backer panel, with either option offering advantages for back-lit signs that require maintaining their halo effect. Direct mounts or flush mounts keep wiring and power supply hidden, providing greater halo effect for these signs; backer mounts typically include wiring/power supplies that contain channel letters within them, both options having the capability of being used for face/reverse-halo lit signs.
