As lettering is a complex signage product with varying factors such as font type, depth, optional illumination and the added consideration of a detailed install, a skilled approach should be taken. Lettering is most commonly supplied in aluminium, acrylic, or composite board as flat cut, built up (3D) or LED block letters.
The retail sector understands letter sign requirements better than most. With customers needing to read signage instantly in our fast-paced environment, it is essential to place yourself in your clients' shoes: Are they driving by your sign in their cars, walking past them, or encountering them in-store? Senior citizens or people with vision issues call for bigger fonts, also. Keeping this in mind can enable you to create the most legible and attractive sign.
Another factor to consider when choosing fonts is the clarity of the text. Reaching prospective clients or highlighting your brand should be done with visibility in mind. Cursive and italic fonts can work but should be checked from different angles, as well as different distances before production to ensure your customer experiences a clear and on-brand effect. Always ensure people can actually read the name of your business.
Remember that when it comes to creating the best signs, sometimes less is more. A simpler, branded design isn't only more legible, it also suggests that your company already has a strong reputation, and that your name and logo are enough to let people know they've come to the right place. Aim to design signage that captures attention, not cause distraction.
Similarly, smaller signs belong where the viewer can get close to it, such as near the entrance to your business and larger signs will attract the eyes of more people because they're more visible from further away, including on busy streets, in open areas such as city centres, or higher up on taller buildings.
When planning for your new sign, take a moment to really look at it and see if there is anything that doesn't seem right. The editing stage is a good time to see if the spacing works between the letters and other elements. Assuming the ratios stay the same when enlarged to a larger size, it will look the same in its final stage. Using a mixture of small, medium, and large signs is a good way to attract customers and diversify your marketing strategy.
Nothing creates “WOW” quite like dimension! We love to use laser cut acrylic letters to add dimension to signs and displays. If you’re looking for a cost-effective, yet bold and beautiful way to display your logo, mission statement or company slogan, you should consider dimensional acrylic letters. Lettering comes in either flat cut or built up (3D) letters, and LED block lettering which is a hybrid of the two.
Flat cut lettering is exactly as it sounds, where lettering is cut out of a sheet of material. These are great for wall mounting and ideal for a modest budget. They can also be added to a totem or folded tray for added depth and dimension. Suitable for internal and external uses. They are typically made at a height of 0.5mm-2m and the thickness is recommended at 10% of the chosen height.
Channel letter signs are usually the signs seen on the store front of a building typically above the entrance. You may have often heard them referred to as “Neon Signs” or even “LED Signs,” which comes from the fact that they are internally illuminated by one of these two lighting options. Channel letter signs are a bold and vibrant colour meant to attract the attention of the customers passing by especially when it is illuminated at night. They are particularly helpful during winter when the nights are long and business hours run into the night. Furthermore, they are designed in a manner that looks elegant and creative during the day too.
Built-up lettering is quite an art and more often than not hand formed. Built up letters offer striking displays of 3D letters, with tailored features, coming with or without illumination. They have become an industry standard and a customer favourite. Great for representing your business logo on a shopfront. Dimensional acrylic letters bring impact and beauty to a variety of displays and signs. If you have a wall that needs decoration, you should consider incorporating acrylic letters.
LED block lettering is a combination of flat cut and built-up lettering made from opal acrylic, offering a slimline premium look for 3D illuminated custom sign letters which makes your brand appear as sleek and prestigious as possible, producing stunning edge-to-edge illumination.
Letter sign lighting is another element which adds custom design and functionality to your sign. It can be constructed in different ways such as standard lit through, halo lighting, and exposed lighting. The standard lit through is a dimensional letter that has lighting inside the letter with a translucent face so that the light can shine through. The halo lighting is similarly constructed except that the back of the letter is exposed, with the lighting directed towards the back so it shines around the letter giving it a halo glow. And the exposed neon is like the standard lit through lettering, except there is no face covering the letter so that the neon can directly be seen.
Fixing methods are as varied as the letters themselves. Sign letters can be mounted onto a folded aluminium tray enhancing the overall look of your lettering and making it stand out. Letters can also get fixed standing off the wall or tray using spacers which gives the illusion of the letters floating. Couple this with halo illumination and you have a visually stunning sign, especially when viewed at night.
You can manufacture lettering in pretty much any material, though some are better suited than others. Stainless steel is the most popular given its resilience to the elements and general clean appearance, even after years of exposure to all manner of conditions. Three popular finishes include brushed, mirror or powder coated but you can also use a specialist finish, such as titanium, patterned or bead blasted.
Acrylic has been used in letter making for years and still remains popular, adorning the walls and facades of many prominent brands along the high street. This material is available in a vast number of colours, thicknesses and finishes, some premium products have the ability to change from black to white when illuminated from the rear. The material is durable, lightweight, and easy to cut with detail and precision. It can be engraved, polished and bevel edged or add LED backlighting, the possibilities are endless! Acrylic letters and brand marks look great in lobbies or entryways. They can be used for interior or exterior signage.
Aluminium composite material (ACM) is available in many colours including brushed silver, to emulate the appearance of stainless steel. Foamex can be cut from many different thicknesses, 3mm-20mm, should you be looking for a budget friendly letter with some real depth. As with ACM, Foamex is available in a range of different colours and can be painted to allow for exterior use. The above highlight some of the preferred lettering materials, more options include brass, copper, bronze and many more.
Choosing a letter sign is a major brand decision and will reflect well upon your company. Signs truly have the potential to be your very own landmark.
Folded tray signs on the other hand can be as simple or as complicated as you want them to be. Simply powder coated with applied vinyl text or fret cut and back illuminated. Folded trays can be used as a carrier panel for built-up lettering. Trays can also be any number of different shapes for additional visual impact. Using our fishplate system, a longer fascia can be achieved by using multiple panels. Our folded tray signage offers a durable and cost-effective approach to creating a range of different sign solutions. Made from 3mm aluminium, these signs can be fabricated into wall or post mounted signs, totems/monoliths, projected or suspended signs, directional signs, car park signs and directory signs.
The signs have seamless, high-quality corner and edge finishes. Comes powder coated in a range of RAL colours as standard. Signscape and Signconex offer bespoke services to create signs specific to your environment. Our trays are easy to install and a popular choice within the trade. Key features include highly robust aluminium designs, easy and quick installation, the ability to create a full wayfinding scheme, the option of custom sizes, personalised graphics, and protection with an anti-graffiti layer. Idea locations include outdoor wayfinding sign systems, schools and universities, churches, public spaces and hospitals.
