Channel letters are easily the most popular type of signs for businesses. Channel letters are called channel letters because they are fabricated metal letters that are hollow, so they have a “channel” inside of them that can hold LEDs. Front-lit channel letters have metal returns and backs with translucent faces so the faces light up at nighttime. This is the style of channel letter sign we made for the bakery in the photos. Reverse-lit channel letters have metal faces and returns with a clear back and they are mounted spaced off of the wall so the light comes out the back of the sign onto the wall to create a halo effect around the sign. Reverse-lit channel letters are also called halo-lit channel letters. We can also make compound channel letters which are both front-lit and reverse-lit.
The bakery was inspired by another sign they saw so they sent us a picture to find a similar font to use for their sign. They chose red because red is the most eye-catching color, especially when it is illuminated. Red is easily the most popular color for signs when a client isn’t trying to use a specific logo color. After the customer and the landlord sign off on the artwork, we create a permit package and apply for a sign permit at city hall. Once the permit has been approved, we can start on production. We don’t start on production unless a permit is pulled in case the city requests any changes.
The returns are hand bent in-house according to the shape of the letter, and the backs are routed from aluminum and then welded to the returns. The faces were routed from red acrylic and then trimcapped. The LEDs are installed inside of the channel letters, and then we attach the face. For red front-lit channel letter signs, we use red LEDs for additional impact. The faces are attached with trimcap so they can be removed easily for LED service.