Internally Illuminated Channel Letters Signages Wholesale Supplier

Channel Letter Signs: The Ultimate Guide to Internally Illuminated Signage for Your Business

Illuminated channel letters can be a very cost-effective way to promote your brand. These letter signs are also known as “internally illuminated channel letters”. Unlike Dimensional Letters, which are usually just cut metal or acrylic, channel letters are usually lit from the inside or lit from the back, which is called reverse or backlit channel letter signs. With so many options, we can find the style that best suits your brand.

Like all of our signs, our lighted channel letters are completely customized to your exact specifications, using the finest materials, including durable metal, plastic, and LED lighting.

The Internally Illuminated Channel Letters are generally Outdoor Commercial Sign with acrylic faces that allow light to be projected through the Lighted Channel Letter Signs in a multitude of colors, using a combination of acrylic color and LED modules color. Individual Channel Letters are individual pieces of aluminum, molded into lettering and then illuminated with LED for channel letters.

Designed in many sizes and colors, these Wholesale Dimensional Letters make your building pop! Making Channel Letters can also be formed into specifications that will match your company’s logo, color, and font.

Outdoor Channel Letters display a very professional image and are an eye-catching addition to any building. They are very bold and have substantial stopping power, helping you out the shine and elevate above your competition. Many buildings and store owners insist on Lighted Channel Letters to help create as many impressions as possible to passing potential customers.

What is a Channel Letter Sign?

Before we dive into what these signs are and how they work, let’s answer the most relevant questions. A channel letter is a single shape or letter used as a logo. Usually, instead of a single channel letter, you have multiple channel letters to form a word or message, such as a business name. Letters are three-dimensional, lighted or unlighted, and made of acrylic and metal.

Channel sign letters are known for their bold, eye-catching, and unique designs. For the most part, you will see channel letter signs fixed to outside storefronts, but it is becoming more common to have these signs indoors as well.

Channel letter signs are a common sight in (but not limited to) the following business types:

• Restaurants
• Bars and taverns
• Retail stores
• Specialty stores
• Clothing boutiques
• Gymnasiums
• Shopping Malls and Malls
• and more!

Nothing sets your storefront apart from the competition like a unique channel monogram. No matter the time of day, weather, or location, channel monogramming is a wonderful way to brighten up your business and make potential customers aware of your presence. Plus, you can look professional, reputable, and trustworthy.

If you have questions about channel letter signs and how this type of sign can work for you, please read on. We’ve compiled the answers to frequently asked questions to create the ultimate guide to channel letter signs for you! Here you will be shown the different options you have, the pros and cons of channel letter signs, and even a tool to estimate how much a channel letter sign will cost you.

Channel Letters (Industrial Illuminated Letters)

Visible during the day and illuminated at night, channel letters provide great depth and accuracy to your company’s logo.

Channel letters are also known as “internally illuminated letters”. This description says it all, as each letter is usually lit from the inside, with light shining through the plastic sign face or from the back of the letter (called a halo or reverse channel letter). Like most of the signs we offer, channel letters are custom-made of metal and plastic and are usually illuminated with LED lights (very efficient) or neon tubes.

Channel letters can be mounted directly to the building panel (each letter is mounted separately) or to the pipe. The raceway is a prefabricated metal box that is the same length as the channel letter sign. The conduit is then mounted directly to the building panel. Your type of installation may be determined by city ordinance or building owner sign standards. We can help you get the results you are looking for.

Our channel letters are manufactured to the strictest standards and meet all necessary local electrical and building codes.

Types of Channel Letters

Standard Illuminated Channel Letters / Front-Lit Channel Letters

Standard letters are 3-dimensional letters covered with thick plastic and illuminated from the inside. Standard illuminated channel letters are the most affordable letter sign option for your business. These signs are internally illuminated and covered with a plastic translucent surface for a bright and eye-catching front.

Standard illuminated channel letters are the most common channel letter sign design, also known as “front lit channel letters”. The main advantage of front illuminated channel letter signs is their visibility during the day and night.

The light is located in front of the letters, as well as other parts of the sign, such as the logo. This illumination keeps the sign lit throughout the day, so the message can be seen throughout the day, regardless of how bright the sun is or whether road visibility is limited. Another benefit of the headlight type is that they are highly customizable.

Featuring a headlight design, each letter is made of a durable aluminum composite panel (ACP) back and sides, using pre-finished aluminum. The metal is usually painted white, but you can get it in any color you want. Each letter is illuminated with an LED module.

Some of the materials often used in front-illuminated channel letter signs include a 0.125-inch aluminum laminate backing, a 5-inch by 040-inch aluminum return on the sides, a 3/16-inch acrylic or polycarbonate surface, and a 1-inch decorative cover.

Edge Lit Channel Letters

Side illuminated channel letters are made of metal on the front as well as the back. The sides are made of acrylic or a combination of acrylic and metal, with the metal wrapped around the acrylic on both sides, allowing light to shine through the side acrylic surfaces.

Halo Lit/ Reverse Lit/ Backlit Channel Letter Signs

Back-lit channel letter signs have a solid opaque front and are illuminated from behind the letters, creating “negative space” when illuminated at night.

Reverse channel letters are also called “halo” because of the halo that forms around each letter. The back of the sign is made of clear acrylic, approximately 1.5 inches from the mounting surface.

When the light hits, it comes from the back, illuminating the mounting surface, and then diffuses. Unlike the standard setup, the reverse channel letters will use a 0.090-inch metal face and a 0.063-inch return. The polycarbonate backing is 1/8″ or 3/16″ thick.

Back-lit channel letters create an elegant and stylish look. The wired aluminum letters are mounted on a return that in turn is backed with clear plastic to allow light to pass through. This produces the so-called “halo letters”.

Because the front of the letter is made of aluminum, it will not glow as much as a front-lit channel letter. halo lit/reverse lit is very sophisticated and unique, perfect for companies or other professional businesses.

Front and Halo Lit Channel Letters

As you may have guessed, this combination combines front lit and backlit elements to create a truly unique feel. The combination front & halo lit channel letters have aluminum sides with an acrylic surface and internal lighting from LED bulbs. The backs of the letters near the mounting surface are also transparent, so some light creates a background glow.

There is also an aluminum spacer separating the front and back of the letters, so the light is not too intense. In addition, you can have different colors of headlights and reverse lights. Due to this unique construction, the combination channel letters are the most expensive of the four types.

Custom Internally Illuminated Channel Letters Signs

Sometimes, custom-lighted channel letters are a better choice for your business logo. Custom letter signs will help you stand out from the rest of the crowd by using a unique look. Illuminated channel letters are a specialty of IDS Sign.

Specialty Channel Letters

While anything labeled “professional” is not a channel letter per se, it’s worth mentioning the various ways you can customize the channel letter logo. No matter which style you decide on, it can be customized to fit your needs. The size of the numbers, letters, and logos you add to your design can vary, and you can mix color-changing elements, different colors of acrylic, and more.

Installation Options

We will continue to mention the customizable channel letters. In addition to textures, designs, colors, and lighting, you can choose how you want to mount the letters to any other surface in your storefront.

You don’t have to worry about architectural constraints, which means you can mount the signage wherever you want.

Energy Efficient LED Modules

Our lighted channel letters are equipped with energy-efficient LED modules to create an eye-catching and bright look for your signs. Save money in the long run with our illuminated lit signages and our long-lasting LED modules.

These lights are not only energy-efficient but also safer because they do not generate heat or burn. These modules also use plastic instead of glass, which means less room for injury if they need to be replaced without a 3-year part and labor warranty.

What Are The Benefits of Internally Illuminated Channel Letters Signs?

Did you know that most shopping plazas around the world require channel letter signs on the runway at the front of the business? One reason channel letters are needed is that it is easy to uninstall them if a business moves out of the plaza. Even if you are not in a shopping plaza or strip mall, channel letter signs are consistent, clean, elegant, and professional.

With the exception of some businesses that require channel letter signs, there are benefits to choosing this sign for your business no matter where you are.

Versatility

Channel letter signs are so versatile that you can stand out even if other buildings around you are using them. After all, you don’t just have to use letters. You can include your business logo to increase category and brand awareness.

You can even make different sizes of channel letters. This is beneficial for businesses that want to match their logo to their interior space. For example, if you want an easy-to-read directional sign, such as a restroom marker, a channel letter sign is the ideal choice. In addition, you can create a uniform atmosphere without sacrificing your corporate image.

Finally, because the signs are made of aluminum and acrylic, you know they will be extremely durable compared to other signs. After all, aluminum doesn’t rust.

Multi-Dimensional Readability

Another great benefit of channel letters is that each letter and logo will stand on its own. Texture and visibility improve readability. Since the letters are not flat, they can be read from multiple angles. Also, channel letters don’t have to be mounted on a box or screen – unless you want a raceway.

Low Maintenance

The maintenance cost of installing channel letters is very low, especially if you use LED lights. This cost-effectiveness is ideal if you are a business aiming to achieve LEED certification.

Recycling and Upgrades

If you already have another sign, you can use channel letters to upgrade anything that previously used wood, LED screens, PVC, sheet metal, etc. You can even upgrade old signs.

How Are Internally Illuminated Channel Letters Made?

There are four main parts to channel letters: the return, the face, the backing, and the illuminated elements. The return, also known as the side of the channel letters, usually consists of sheet metal, aluminum being the best and most preferred. The front or face of a channel letter is usually acrylic, but if it is a halo type, the front may be aluminum or some other material.

The same rules apply to the back of channel letters. In modern designs, LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs have replaced neon tubes for lighting because LEDs are more energy-efficient.

However, you are free to choose the channel letters with or without illumination and the lighting elements you want. The level of customization you decide on will slightly alter the manufacturing process. Without getting into the technical aspects of manufacturing, there are a few things you should know.

Some groups will use computerized equipment called computer numerical control (CNC) manufacturing, while others will use hand tools. CNC manufacturing is generally considered to be of higher quality because there is less chance of error. Hand tools are slightly more likely to have defects than CNC, which increases the risk of water getting inside the fluted letters and damaging the bulb.

Standard Channel Letter Manufacturing

The standard assortment of channel letter signs includes aluminum returns and backs, translucent acrylic faces approximately 3/16″ thick, raceway mounting clips (if necessary), racing repair covers (if desired), transformers, LED or neon lights, and decorative caps.

Acrylic is available in a variety of colors and can be customized with a wider range of shades if you use higher quality vinyl from manufacturers such as 3M, Oracle, and Avery.

One thing to consider is that certain colors are better at transmitting light than others, including variations of white. Acrylic has more color options than polycarbonate sheets. Sometimes vinyl is an option for customers who want a color that is not available in either polycarbonate or acrylic.

Decorative caps are attached to the body of the letter with acrylic, made of UV-resistant, durable plastic, and extruded with aluminum foil.

The grooved letter backing is cut with a miter and is available in a variety of thicknesses so you can choose the one that works best for you. These thicknesses typically include 0.040, 0.063, and 0.090 inches.

Some slotted letters, such as the reverse lighting type, will have an aluminum surface and a polycarbonate or acrylic backing. The aluminum surface is usually paired with a 2-inch deep return that can be painted in a rainbow of colors.

How Long Will The Internally Illuminated Channel Letter Signs Last?

Lighting is not required, but how can you deny having strong and effective signs 24 hours a day? If you maintain them and repair them when they are least damaged, channel letter signs can last more than 15 years.

A good quality LED light will last 30,000 to 50,000 hours. Some lights will last longer. To estimate how long an illuminated channel letter sign will last, consider the lumen maintenance rate of the LED bulb.

Anything between L50 and L70, which means 50-70% of the lamp’s total light output will be retained, is good. If you run an LED light channel letter sign for about 10-12 hours a day, you can expect the bulb to burn out within 10 years.

Of course, replacing the bulb in a channel letter sign is easy!

Be sure to check with your sign company for a warranty on parts and labor. This will keep you from having to worry about expensive repairs or needing to buy bulbs that burn out sooner than expected.

How Do You Choose The Correct Internally Illuminated Channel Letters Height?

According to the California Institute of Technology, the channel letter and color variation of the lighting will affect the visibility of the channel letter logo. For example, if the letter height is approximately 10-12 inches, you can expect to be affected by 100-120 feet, with a maximum readable distance of between 450-525 feet.

In addition, if you have letters around 30-36 inches, you can expect maximum impact at 300-360 feet, with a maximum readable distance of 1250-1500 feet.

In short, the larger the channel letter signs are, the greater impact they will have at greater distances. If you want to maximize the distance at which the signs can be seen, we recommend red or black on a white background. If this doesn’t suit your business, we are happy to discuss further options with you.

However, you need to keep in mind the amount of space available as a mounting surface, signage limitations, and the location of most passersby. You don’t want the sign to be too big or too small, but just right. A general rule of thumb for choosing the correct letter height for your channel is that legibility improves by 10 feet for every 1 inch the letters provide. Therefore, you want to consider where the reader is going and what the sign will be used for.

If you want to advertise your business, you will want to make an impact. If you want to be visible to people inside the building or on-site, then smaller letters will do the trick.

The last thing to consider when choosing the correct letter height is the font you plan to use. Thin fonts or scripts can reduce visibility, so you may need to increase the size of such signs.

If you want a logo that is easy to read, choose a thicker font and place spaces between the letters (also known as word spacing adjustments). You can test different types of fonts and letter spacing by printing different pairs and keeping them at a distance.

How Are Internally Illuminated Channel Letters Signs Installed?

Internally Illuminated Channel Letters Signs can be installed in two ways:

Raceway Mounted Method Channel Letters

The easiest way to install channel letter signs is called the ” raceway” method. You have seen this term mentioned many times. The reason the raceway method is so common is that you can offset the cost of installation. The letters of the raceway mounted signs are applied to a narrow box – the pipe – that also houses the wiring of the letters. This means you need to drill fewer holes and leave fewer holes in the wall or façade when the sign is removed.

Raceways are often painted the same color as the building where the sign is installed. Painting them the same color allows the letters to stand out from the original color of the building and makes them more legible.

Another option that is very similar to the raceway method is called “backing installation”. The difference is that instead of using a metal box, the channel letters are attached to a backing plate, a metal cabinet. The width and height of this cabinet are larger than the letter configuration. Everything needed to illuminate the sign, including wiring and power, is installed inside the cabinet or behind the façade or bulkhead.

You will find that most channel letter signs mounted on raceways follow similar manufacturing specifications. For example, letter depth is typically 5″; raceway depth is 7″; standard height options are 18″, 21″, or 24″; and wiring includes 3-pole pigtails, power boxes, transformers, and switches. All electrical components should be UL listed and covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

The Individual Letter Mounted Method

You may also see this method of installation called “direct mount” or “flush-mount”. If you are looking for visual appeal and do not need to use raceways, then the flush mount style may be the ideal choice for you. Each letter of the sign is mounted individually on the face or wall of the building.

Because of the additional work required, you can expect the cost of installation to be higher than with raceway and back mount. The fact that all wiring must be done separately for each letter also affects cost. As a result, direct installation can be both complex and time-consuming.

What Is The Cost Of Internally Illuminated Channel Letters Signs?

One of the questions we often get is “How much are channel letter signs?” You may think that buying individual letter signs will cost more than some other signs, but this is not necessarily true.

The price of a sign can vary depending on the letter height, font, stroke thickness, return thickness, return color, depth, mounting type, face and trim cover color, and other elements.

The average cost of a channel letter sign is quite economical once the channel letters are installed. This is partly due to the longer lifespan of LED lights. In fact, LED channel letters to use 40% less energy than letters using neon lights.

LED channel letters are also much easier to install and maintain. This means less downtime and fewer maintenance costs. Overall, it is estimated that the cost of running a channel letter sign is between $15 and $500 per year.

Compare that to the cost of placing a local ad in a newspaper on a daily or weekly basis, which, according to Sign Business Magazine, is between $3,000 and $40,000 per year! The cost of national publications, TV ads, and even mailing prospects can be excessive compared to the direct cost and maintenance of signage.

So, what would you rather have? An eye-catching, beautiful channel letter sign on your building block for the world to see, or a newspaper coupon that will go unnoticed?

If you still can’t decide, here is an estimated cost breakdown to help you determine which channel letter signs are best for your business:

Using Letters and Signs

The typical size of a channel letter equals an average of 20 LED bulbs, which means the average cost per letter is about $150-$300. The larger the letters, the more bulbs, and materials are required, resulting in higher costs. You can also expect slightly higher costs if you choose to include a logo in your channel letter sign. It is difficult to estimate how many bulbs will be needed for the logo as the size may vary.

Using a Raceway

Are you planning to use raceway mounted channel letters signs? Keep in mind that you will pay based on the number of LED lights and the total length of the sign. On average, when you pay by foot, the cost per foot is about $30.

However, some companies may charge more or less for signs. You also need to consider the cost of transformers, which can range from $100 to $300. Larger signs may require multiple transformers to work properly.

Materials and Design Used

The final component of the price of a channel letter sign is the material used to construct the sign. As we mentioned before, some sign types cost more than others, such as front-illuminated than combination illuminated channel letter signs. You will need to discuss your budget with the sign company in order to balance the quality and durability of the sign with the amount you are willing to pay.

Things To Consider When Buying Internally Illuminated Channel Letters Signs

Now that you’ve learned about the many benefits of LED illuminated channel letter signs, there are still a few things to consider. Small business owners and large businesses alike should be aware of building codes and what permits may be required for the installation of channel letter signs.

In addition, you need assurances from the company installing the letters that they will be CE/UL certified. By adhering to international standards, you know that the signs will be of top quality and durability.

When an illuminated channel letter sign is CE/UL certified, this means that it has been properly grounded, has no weak spots, and will drain adequately if exposed to the elements. The sign’s electrical components also need to be properly insulated.

Depending on the installation you get, the specifications for insulation and layout may change. Be sure to follow up with the sign company you are using.

In addition to meeting specifications, you want to make sure that the channel letter you order will come with a warranty. This will protect you from any installation problems or electrical issues that may occur unexpectedly.

However, you will need to perform routine maintenance on your signs. Otherwise, you may miss an issue and end up needing costly repairs.

Overall, channel letter signs do have a higher direct cost compared to other signage options. However, they offer an excellent return on investment (ROI), which will be discussed in the next section.

Fabrication Internally Illuminated Channel Letters Signs Wholesale Manufacturing Factory

IS LED SIGN as Direct Sign Wholesale Maker, we can offer service of Channel Letter Fabrication and Channel Letter Installation Guide, also custom many types of channel letters, including Channel Letters On Raceway, Internally Illuminated Sign, Acrylic Sign Design, Channel Letter Logo, internally illuminated letters, Front Lit Channel Letters, Open Face Channel Letters, Face Lit Letters, Building Channel Letters, Reverse Lit Channel Letter Signs, Internally Lit Sign, Metal Channel Letters Wholesale, Face Lit Sign, Halo Channel Letters, Reverse Pan Channel Letters, Custom Illuminated Signs, 3D Illuminated Letters, Backlit Sign Letters, Front And Back Lit Channel Letters, Aluminum Letters For Buildings, Custom LED Backlit Signs, Trimless Channel Letters, Backlit Sign Letters Wholesale, Advertising Sign Letters, etc.

Contact us to get your own sign, and discuss how to make reverse channel letters and front-lit channel letters, today.

Contact to get Internally Illuminated Channel Letters, and ask for a free quote of fabrication illuminated channel letter signs wholesale price, Now!