Effective signage means many things. The message being displayed needs to be clear, readable, informative, and distinguishable from competing messages. These messages can be letters, words, logos, images or even moving images. A functional sign works because it identifies you or your business and it communicates to the public who you are and what you do. Outdoor signs are (maybe) the most important kinds of signs. Businesses that rely on walk-in customers need outdoor signs on their building that work in the daytime and at night. In most cases, outdoor signs are permanent. Channel box signs (or cabinet signs) are popular and work well, but channel (or dimensional) letters provide the most impact. They are versatile and showcase brand identities the best. The most popular kind of channel letters are frontlit channel letters.
Frontlit channel letters are illuminated and dimensional. There are many different options for colors and font styles. There are four parts to a frontlit channel letter: the back, the return (or the side), the face of the letter and the trimcap. The return is the side of the dimensional letter and comes in an array of standard colors, but can also be painted a custom color. The face of the letter is made from exterior-grade translucent acrylic. The face can be white or colored acrylic or custom-printed translucent vinyl can be applied to the letter and trimmed. Anything can be printed on the translucent vinyl, so the possibilities are endless! A trimcap connects the return of the letter to the face and comes in many standard colors, but can also be painted any color. The last part of a frontlit channel letter sign is the illumination. LED lights are the most common and the most energy efficient.
Again, these signs work best if you think about what they will look like in the daytime and what they will look like at night. Here’s a great example of an effective frontlit channel letter sign. Ander’s Auto Glass is a great Northern Colorado company that recently opened a new location in Fort Collins right along the main interstate highway. They needed a BIG sign that was readable from the highway. We were really excited to help them with their sign and they are very happy with the finished product!
