Oakland, CA – A Tutorial On Acrylic and Metal Dimensional Lettering

The beauty and versatility of dimensional lettering make them an easy choice for both exterior building signs as well as lobby signs.  SignWorks  generally uses Gemini when sourcing our dimensional letters because the letters carry a life-time pass through warranty which is very important to our customers.  Gemini is the leading supplier to many sign shops and their products range from molded plastic logos and lettering, to flat cut Acrylic, as well as metal logos and letters.  As we have done in the past we decided to do a mini tutorial on the topic of acrylic and metal dimensional letters since they have become so popular with our customers and seem to always be in demand. Dimensional letters can be used both indoors and out, with the exception of laminate letters mounted to foam or acrylic.   These are restricted to indoor use.

Dimensional letters can be flat cut acrylic, formed plastic or made from a variety of metals (flat cut or cast).  And, there are a variety of depths as small as 1/8” thick.  For flat cut metal signs, the types of metal, their respective depths and the overall height of the letters are as follows:

• Aluminum: ⅛”–1” deep, ½”–46” high
• Bronze: ⅛”–1/2” deep, ½”–46” high
• Brass: ⅛”–3/4” deep, ½”–46” high
• Copper: ⅛”–3/8” deep, ½”–40” high
• Steel: ⅛”–1/2” deep, ½”–46” high

Standard style cast metal letters range from 2” to 24” tall.  Custom ones, made as a single piece, can be as large as 48” X 48” with depths up to 3”.  Even larger pieces can be made by combining multiple sections.  Metal letters fabricated in stainless steel or aluminum can be from ½” to 3” thickness. And, dependent on the depth can be illuminated using LED bulbs to create illuminated channel letter signs.

Flat cut Laser acrylic letters and logo options are a great choice and are available in even more sizes as referenced below:

• 1/8″ thick, sizes from 1″ – 24″
• 3/16″ thick, sizes 1″ – 30″
• 1/4″ thick, 1″ – 48″
• 3/8″ thick, 1″ – 72″
• 1/2″ thick, 2″ – 72″
• 3/4″ thick, 2″ – 72″
• 1″ thick, 2″ – 72″
• 1-1/2″ thick, 2″ – 72″

Rounding out the selection are formed plastic, injection molded and laminated metals mounted to acrylic or foam represent other dimensional lettering options.  We will discuss these in more detail at a later date.

Besides dimensional letters, Gemini also supplies a variety of metal plaques in raised or recessed styles, as well as precision laser etched ones.  Each is offered in a variety of metal finishes and carries the same lifetime warranty.  The company is easy to work with and extremely professional.  Plus, their website is rich with product information such that we often send customer’s there if they need to compare product types or need some guidance regarding available standard fonts, etc.  Custom and specialty fonts are also available.

If you are considering adding dimensional letters or a logo to your building or thinking about an interior lobby sign, just give us a call.  You can reach us at (510) 357-2000.   We can offer you guidance and expertise as needed to select from all the various options.  We can also help with design, including installing the lettering at your facility!   For more information about SignWorks just visit our website to view our project photos and blog posts.