Channel Letter Signs
Channel letter signage is a great way to capture the attention of clients and new business by providing a fresh and stylish impression of your brand identity.
From sign design, to fabrication, to installation, we have you covered. We specialize in Channel Letter Signs, Dimensional Signs, Brow Signage, Lighted Signs, Backlit Signs, Monument Signs, and Pylon Signs. Here’s what you need to know when choosing the best option for your signage.
What Is Channel Letter Signage?
Channel letters are made of plastic or metal and used as exterior signage on commercial or public buildings. They are often lit internally. Unlit 3D letters are also applied to panels and called dimensional letters. A channel letter is any number, letter or character used in the sign.
The major parts of channel letters are the face, return, back, and lighting element. The returns, or letter sides, are made of aluminum sheeting. The face and back are usually acrylic but can also be aluminum, or nonexistent. Because they are highly flexible, channel letters signs are available in an array of colors, fonts, and sizes.
Fabrication
For face-lit channel letters, the illumination is impacted by the lighting material — LED or neon — and the face material color and material, which is typically acrylic or polycarbonate. The illumination color is also influenced by the vinyl covering, if applicable. The channel letter’s acrylic face is attached to the can via a trim cap.
Trim cap is the world’s most popular signage material. It’s made of top-quality aluminum coated with plastic or anodized, making it elastic and seamless. Trim cap is used to attach the sign face to the body of each letter via a liquid bonding agent.
Return
The return creates the enclosed channel that this type of signage is named for, and refers to the depth of the channel letter. The most common depths range from 3-8 inches, which are subject to the signage criteria in your city or county or in your lease agreement in a commercial property.
Computer-driven bending and shaping machines form the character needed for a particular design. The aluminum sheeting can be painted in standard colors or customized with branding-specific shades or PMS (Pantone Matching System). PMS is coveted by industries that need long-lasting, professional-grade results for graphic arts.
Light Source
You can choose illuminated or non-illuminated signage. Where lease agreements and local authorities permit illuminated signage, it’s the most effective for drawing attention to the business.
Almost all internally-illuminated channel letters use LED illumination, due to its energy efficiency and cost savings when compared to neon lights. We also offer Halo backlit signs, or the ability to have both internal and back lighting.
Types of Channel Letter Signage
A great starting point in determining the best signage for your business is knowing the difference between the types of channel letters.
Front-Lit or Face-Illuminated Channel Letters
Front-lit channel letters illuminate letter faces and are still the most common type of channel signage. Light shines through a translucent acrylic face within the letters to draw attention night or day, offering great visibility over long distances that are easy to read.
Face-illuminated logos and characters give your brand added emphasis. Our LED signs use concealed illumination built to your specifications, so you don’t need to compromise on perfecting your signage branding strategy.
Back-lit or Halo Channel Letters
Known by several names — backlit, reverse or halo channels — this type of lighting appears to float off the wall. During installation, spacers are used to achieve a “halo effect” that surrounds the shape of the letter.
Our halo illuminated letters are built with stainless steel, aluminum, and other quality metals. Experience and dedication have helped us become the industry’s premier manufacturers of halo signs.
Combination-Lit or Front/Back Lit Channel Letters
For those that really want to make a statement with their sign, combination halo-lit signs use both face illumination and halo channel letters.
This type of sign allows you to use different colors to show contrast between the front and backlighting to give off a glow in the front and halo effect in the back.
CHANNEL LETTER SIGNAGE TIPS
Here are some final tips to help you select the best channel letters signage for your business:
- Check with your landlord and local zoning office to make sure you understand the requirements in your area.
- Invest in the best sign within your budget to plan for the long-term and the strongest return on investment. Your signage needs to convey a lasting impact on customers and the community.
- Don’t cut corners. Using low-quality LED’s means your sign won’t be as bright, meaning—if it’s dim today, that quality only declines over time. And substandard trim caps are likely to crack and deteriorate impacting the appearance of your sign.
- Use high-quality acrylic or Lexan to achieve colorfast results. This helps preserve the blue, red, yellow, green, purple, or orange face of your signs.
Epic Advertising is experienced in channel letter signage and installation services that create a memorable brand image and clearly directs customers inside and outside your business. Talk to an expert today to discuss your signage needs.
- FRONT-Lit
- REVERSE-Lit
- FRONT/BACK Lit
- Lobby/Reception Signs
- Monument Signs
- Illuminated Channel Signs
- 3D Channel Signs
- Pylon/Pole Signs
- Installation Services
