Dimensional letters can be custom made or come from stock items comprised of wood, plastic, foam, metals, metal-faced plastics or …… you name it. Metals are the most durable by nature; while plastics are also an effective and less pricey means from which to produce custom designs. Wooden products are also used, especially when one desires that classic warm look and even a nice wood grained stain. There really is a product for any budget.
Dimensional letters provide the three-dimensional look that a flat printed sign can’t always represent. These letters are one of the most frequently used forms of advertising or for use in a lobby or exterior to label a building or a monument place sign.
Because dimensional letters can be produced from so many types of materials and in so many custom sizes, these letters can match or compliment a 3D logo without being stuck with an off-the-shelf font that negates the powerful look of the logo.
Illumination of this type of letter can be in nearly any orientation nowadays with the advent of LED lighting. Lighting these makes them more eye-catching and noticeable whether indoors or out, good weather or bad, nighttime or daytime.
Channel letters are 3D as well but with a bit more to them. These are generally built with the intention of being lighted. (Photo courtesy of Sign Source USA)
Channel letters are what one typically sees above big box or grocery stores and can be lighted from the front, the sides, the back or halo lit. Often LEDs are placed inside a channel letter so that a translucent surface, usually the front, can be lit at night. Some letters are produced so that not only does the front light up but the sides light up as well.
Most of this style letter is made up of an aluminum or plastic design with a polycarbonate and translucent face that will diffuse the light. Color can be added by certain lighting or a translucent film. Those that light up from the front are called, simply, front lighted channel letters. Colors? Well, a pretty broad range is available!
Letters can also be front and backlit. To do this, one usually combines a backlit technique, or “halo” lit letters with a front lighted letter. By standing the letter off of a backing panel or wall just a bit and allowing the light to reflect off of the mounting surface, one gets a halo-like appearance to the letter. In the evening, the letter appears dark while the light softly outlines the letter. These are quite popular. (Photo courtesy of IGS America)
One of the very very cool new lights out there is the InciseonTM type lighting effect which is LED but resembles a neon light. It so closely resembles the lighting effect of neon that it is tough to discern the difference. These can be customized into nearly any shape desired and can be very brightly colorful beyond many others.
Each style of lighting and letter has its purpose and can be custom made to suit the customer’s needs and the look they wish to achieve. Halo lighting is often softer and used to appear as a classy alternative to the bright-hey-look-at-me face lit channel letters of businesses interested in making a big bold statement to get a consumer’s attention over the noise of the other lights of nighttime advertising. Businesses like restaurants or those wanting to make the consumer or viewer feel warm and cozy will also use this type of lighting indoors. It also serves as a great mood type lighting.
Do you know which type you’d like to have? Give us a call, and we can help you with your own Broadway light display……. or perhaps something less gaudy – but effective!