Channel Letter Signs

Channel letter signs are 3-D exterior signage, made with a combination of aluminum and acrylic, and generally include LED illumination. 

Most storefronts use channel letter signs mounted on the building front in a huge variety of channel letter signs. Brand-matching is easy with different style options including color, font, and more. These signs are the number one choice for all storefronts including restaurants, bars, hotels, shops, schools, and more. 

Channel Letter Sign Components

There are 5 primary components to know when it comes to channel letter signs: 

1. Channel or Return – This is the bulk and depth of your sign. The return is a heavy-duty, yet lightweight piece of aluminum bent and welded to maintain the shape, design, and structure of your signage. The aluminum material captures and “channels” the light to dictate how your sign will illuminate. 
2. Face – Usually acrylic, but can be aluminum for back-lit signs
3. Trim Cap – Metal strip attached directly to the facing. It includes a soft acrylic feature designed to hold the face securely to the structural aluminum channel (1).
4. Backing – The back of the channel letter sign can be either aluminum or acrylic depending on your lighting style option. The CC team attaches the backing to the pre-shaped aluminum channel by either welding, stapling, or punching. 
5. Lighting Source – The bulk of channel letter signs use LED lighting. It’s safer, more energy-efficient, and produces a beautiful, long-lasting glow.

Channel letter signs origin story begins with the neon sign. With advancing technology and methods, now we can achieve the same glowing and show-stopping impact at a lower price point and with many customization options. With channel letter signs you can choose your own custom illumination option, font, shape, color, and more. 

The modern channel letter sign is made of aluminum, acrylic, and energy-efficient LED lighting. With some cutting, welding, and handiwork, these signs come together seamlessly again and again. 

Channel letter signs are one of the first marketing investments businesses make when planning their exterior signage. 

Often, it is a necessary step for businesses located in shopping centers, shopping malls, or business centers. National brands and businesses use channel letters as well as small local shops and restaurants. It’s a trusted stand-by for all marketing endeavors. 

Visibility is one of the main attractions channel letter signs offer to businesses or organizations. The 3-D structure means you can easily read the sign from different angles and their illuminated style gives 24-7 projection to customers. 

You will be both easier to find and showcase a highly professional profile to potential customers. 

Composed of durable aluminum and acrylic ensures that your sign is low-maintenance, easy to install, and can be fully customized according to your design preferences. Choose from your choice of custom font, thickness, size, and overall design. 

Channel letter signs primarily use LED lights. Using the highest quality LED lights is a cost-effective solution for maximum glow. Don’t cut corners with low-light or low-quality LED’s, even if you spend a little more up-front, your LED’s will provide an energy-efficient lit-up sign solution for your business. 

Our team at Coastal will also provide you full-service installation in San Diego and surrounding areas. We offer site check, design, permit drawings, permit procurement, and professional installation. 

Lastly, often these types of signs are easy to install and remove. So, should your business relocate, your sign can go with you.  

• Underwriter Laboratory (UL) certification
• Cost-effective 3-D signs
• The number one choice for exterior signage
• Can also be used for interior signs
• Wide range of customizations
• Designed to be illuminated
• High-quality, energy-efficient LEDs
• Custom cut and welded aluminum
• Contour cut acrylic facing
• Color matching

There are a number of things to keep in mind when designing your channel letter sign.

One of the most important factors to consider when it comes to channel letter signs is the type of lighting or illumination you want for your sign.

4 primary styles for channel letter signs:

Front-Lit or Standard Lit Channel Letter Signs

Front-lit channel letter signs are the most common and are the standard style used.

The construction includes aluminum side returns, aluminum backing, and an acrylic facing. The acrylic face can be translucent, white, or colored. LED lights are installed to the back panel and shine light through the front-facing acrylic material.

A unique feature of front-lit channel letter signs is that a digitally printed vinyl can be installed on the acrylic facing for a unique color effect.

Reverse-Lit or Reverse Channel Letter Signs

Reverse-lit channel letter signs allow light to escape from the back of the sign to produce a glowing effect around the edge.

The face of the reverse-lit channel sign must be composed of opaque aluminum so that the light inside doesn’t escape. Opposite of the standard, the backing of the sign will use clear acrylic material which allows the LED light to escape, this, in turn, produces that halo effect around the letter shape.

The lights are mounted on the back and point towards the face. However, since the face is aluminum, the light bounces off and out the clear, acrylic backing. It is necessary for reverse-lit channel letters to stand off the wall at least 1” to allow light to escape in an even pattern.

Note: Since there is more aluminum used and more welding, the cost can be slightly higher.

Simultaneous Glow: Front and Back Lit

Thanks to expert construction, you can have the best of both worlds.

By installing an aluminum divider, we can install LEDs on the front and the back of your sign interior. So, you get front-lit letters with a reverse-lit glow!

The front face and backing must both be composed of acrylic in order to let the light escape. You also can use different colors and play with contrast to get the optimal lighting effect.

Remember: This option will likely require twice as many LED lights.

Open Face Channel Letter Signs or Neon Signs

This classic style is iconic. The revolution of the neon sign began with the Geissler tube in 1898. Scientists discovered that a sealed glass tube with the newly discovered neon gas emitted a lovely, bright luminous light when charged with electricity.

Open face channel letter signs play on this style. Using a clear acrylic facing, these signs provide the appearance of an open face so that onlookers can see the light within the letters. Traditional open-faced signs used neon, however LED’s are now commonly used.

Traditional open face neon uses a carefully bent glass tube that is filled with neon. There are three types of glass- clear, coated, and painted. While called “neon signs” thanks to that initial discovery of the glowing gas, to produce other colors it is necessary to use other types of gases.
Neon = red light
Helium = orange light
Xenon = gray or light blue

Coated glass significantly expands the achievable range of color.

Of course, open-faced signs generally have no face, however clear acrylic faces can be installed to protect the neon from damage or nesting birds.

Additional Considerations

There is a wide range of possibilities for channel letter signs, just take a look around the next shopping center you visit. Each business stands out from the next with its unique font, color, sizing, illumination, and more.

You can play with the color of the aluminum channel, a vinyl overlay on your acrylic, the depth of your letters, the trim cap color, and more to create a unique and elegant or bold look.

Plus, LEDs offer tons of customization from color-changing to color options.

From typeface options, size, depth, and what type of lighting you prefer, working with a team that knows your goal and budget is the best way to proceed. Feel free to contact the team at Coastal Creative with any questions you may have!

The best size for your letter or sign height will depend on the impact you want to make.

We recommend a minimum size of 10-12” for your letters. This will allow easy readability from at least 100 feet away.

Skew accordingly if you want readability at further distances or better readability from passing drivers on the road by using the index found here. 

Height, capitalization, illumination, color, and font all play a role in the readability or legibility of your sign. It can be complicated to figure it out, so be sure to speak with our team directly for any specific questions you may have.