Signage Education | What to Look For In Channel Letters

Until I went into the sign industry I had no idea what a channel letter was, so if you’re not aware let me briefly explain. A channel letter is a lighted sign with letters almost always made of aluminum. The walls of the letter are generally about 4-5 inches deep and form a channel for the lights to be mounted in. Front lit channel letters will have an aluminum back and the front face will generally have an acrylic piece mounted to it. That’s the portion that’s illuminated. Back lit channel letters have a solid aluminum face with a clear acrylic or Lexan backing. The letters are individually mounted to the wall with long studs and standoffs that hold it off the wall so you get light dispersion. It provides a nice halo effect. These are both good options and either can look very nice if done right. Here are examples of both types of signs. The first two pictures are back lit channel letters showing the day and night displays. The third one is a front lit example.

Channel letters can either be individually mounted to the wall or mounted on a raceway, which is an aluminum box behind the letters. If the letters are individually mounted to the wall we will also need to be able to run the wiring from the letters behind the wall and connect them together. At times there can be structural reasons in the building where this may not be possible. The sign below is an example of that where we mounted the back lit letters to an aluminum pan, then mounted that to the wall. This building had a steel I-beam running the entire length of the area where the sign was to be mounted and we couldn’t run wiring behind the brick. Unique problems require unique solutions and we can do that for you.

Here are some other things to think about when considering channel letters. Channel letters are an investment into your business. You want them to stand out and give you visibility and you want them to last. Who you choose as your sign company does make a difference. Channel letters can now be built by automated tooling machines or they can be done by hand. Look at the differences between what you are getting for your money. The machine built way may be a little faster, but the thickness of the aluminum is generally thinner and the letter sides are most likely crimped to the back plate of the letter. Hand made letters are going to probably take a little longer to make, but they will generally be made of thicker aluminum and the joints will be welded together, not crimped. With the handmade letters you can get a better product that will hold up a longer time.

Channel letters can also be lit by either neon tubing or LED lights. Both are used today, however, I think the trend is shifting toward LED more. The LED lights are lighter, draw much less energy (meaning cheaper electric bills), last a lot longer between service calls and are easier to build and install. Neon can also be dimmer in the winter with colder weather. I had one person that told me their neon signs were even more pink in the winter time instead of white. The original LED signs were more expensive up front, but they are now the same price. In fact, many cities now require LED for new lights and you may see neon becoming less common.

If you are looking for channel letters we can work with you and ensure you get the solution you are happy with. At SignCraft Solutions we want to take care of our customers and give you the service you deserve and what we would expect if we were in your place. Give us a call. We would love to work with you.