There are many different types of sign lettering. These letters are typically applied to the outside of a commercial storefront, and in a manner easily viewed by potential retail traffic. Letters get really small really fast as the viewing distance gets larger, and especially as the speed of traffic increases. There is a sign letter visibility chart which illustrates what minimum size is required for your application.
We will review the different sign letter options from least to most expensive.
Vinyl Sign Letters
Any sign shop with a computer plotter can plot out lettering in vinyl. The vinyl comes in rolls (like fabric) and in a variety of standard colors. Be prepared to pay extra for uncommon colors, as the sign shop will have to special order the color roll of vinyl. Vinyl Sign Letters are basically a sticker, and do not have any depth (non-dimensional). Expect this product to last around 5 years before needing to be removed (very difficult) and replaced. Vinyl sign letters can be applied to any smooth surface, including glass, who also, metals, etc.
Gemini Letters
There is a company that makes a variety of sign letters in a limited variety of typefaces. These are stocked items, so you are restricted to specific character heights, fonts, finished and styles. Gemini letters only sells to sign shops, so you will need to order locally, have the sign shop order and install. The most common style are molded, meaning each letter is melted plastic that is then formed over a dimensional letter mold. The results are a dimensional letter with a front face and side walls (or ‘returns’) with the inside being hollow.
Laser Cut Sign Letters
If the project requires small text with detailed fonts (serifs), acrylic can be laser cut. The acrylic comes in a wide variety of colors, including clear (transparent). This allows the option for any font, but the thickness is restricted to between .25″ up to 1″ thick.
CNC Routed Sign Letters
There are many sign materials (aka ‘substrates’) like PVC (plastic), aluminum, etc. that ships with a Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) router table can cut. The first advantage is you can have any font and at any size you like. Another advantage is you get solid lettering (not hollow) which last longer.
Dimensional Sign Letters
These are non-illuminated letters made with plastic (acrylic) letter faces and thin metal side walls (‘returns’). This is the preferred solution when you want a letter that looks really thick, Ad it’s more cost effective to produce a tick letter this way versus making a really thick solid substrate letter, which would be outrageous in material cost and really heavy to install. This style letter also introduces the most high-end style letter, the Channel Letter.
Channel Letters
Dimensional sign letters are really custom made individual light boxes – we just add lighting inside. The front face can be in a colored material that glow in color at night. There are acrylics that are one color in day and another color at night. There are many, many options.
These letters can be made in an opaque material (can’t see through) so that adding lighting to the back creates a back halo glow. These glow effects can be in a variety of different colors, and now, even in changing colors.
We can also combine internal lighting AND back hall lighting for an incredible variety of effects.
General Comments
Channel Letters are installed on a race track to conceal all of the wiring, power supplied, and sensors. The sign arrives to the job site fully assembled and wired, ready to hand to the facade as one modular unit. You simply make one electrical connection and the sign turns itself on and off with the sun set and sun rise.
Lighting
Traditionally, channel letter signs were made using neon. Neon tubes are custom formed, which is expensive. Neon is very expensive to operate (high utility bill). Neon also is nearly impossible to repair. For all these reasons, we use LED bulbs in all of our products. These last a lifetime, cost very little to operate, and are extremely bright.
Here is an example of our work. This laundromat requested internal LED lit channel letters in both green and blue. The entire wall mount sign display was mounted on an aluminum backboard in white. The aluminum backboard was too back-lit in white halo LED. This sign is visible from a mile away.
The Best Sign Monuments require the Best solutions. Our focus is to offer a painless, one-stop source for your new sign monument project needs. Our goal is to make you look your Best, and to save you unnecessary expenses. And Yes, we deliver to any job site in the continental United States.
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