Are you considering getting a new sign for the front of your shop’s storefront? Are you confused about the available choices or even about what the various terms actually mean? We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Sign Freaks, where we will now explain what a Channel Letter is, examine the numerous sorts of Channel Letters, and discuss the various components that make up a channel letter sign. Spend some time being familiar with the fundamentals of channel letters before you buy them, and make sure that the first sign you purchase is the one you intend to maintain.
What Does It Mean for a Sign to Have Channel Letters?
A channel letter sign is an example of a visual element that is three-dimensional and possesses its own unique structure in addition to its own unique lighting. Any letter, number, or another character that, when combined with others of the same sort, may be assembled into a sign presentation and be referred to as a “channel letter” is an example of such a character. In other words, a channel letter can take the form of any character. Each letter is hand-crafted using aluminum sheets and acrylic, the two primary components of each substance. Channel letter signs are incredibly adaptable in the sense that they may be built with a wide variety of fonts, color palettes, and size combinations. In addition, they can be customized in a number of different ways.
When It Comes to the Fabrication Process, How Exactly Are Channel Letters Manufactured?
Channel letters are comprised of the following components, which are outlined in the following list:
Face:
The face of a typical or front-lit channel letter is manufactured from colorfast acrylic sheets that seem to be 3/16 inches thick. These sheets are then cut to shape using a computer numerically controlled (CNC) or Multicam router. Acrylic sheeting can indeed be acquired in a variety of color possibilities and can even be customizable to a broader spectrum of shades by making use of high-quality translucent vinyl or perforated vinyl that is produced by sector manufacturers such as 3M, Avery, and Oracal. This allows acrylic sheeting to be customized to a wider range of colors. There is a wide range of color possibilities available for these individual pieces of vinyl. The acrylic face of a channel letter is secured to the channel letter’s “can” by use of an attachment method that is referred to as a “trim cap.”
The mechanism that fastens the acrylic channel letter face to the body of the channel letter is made out of a plastic that is stable against ultraviolet light, favorable to the environment, and extremely robust. The plastic is extruded around aluminum foil. This device also goes by the term trim cap in some circles. When it comes to attaching the trim cap to the acrylic channel letter face, a liquid bonding solution is what gets the job done. This “welds” the trim cap to the channel letter face, which ultimately helps to keep the trim cap in its proper position. Following this step, the face of the channel letter is cleaned and then made ready to be attached to the body of the letter.
Return:
The “return” of a channel letter is the side of the letter that has the same name, and it is referred to by that term. The depth of the return for conventional front-lit channel letters is often three, five, or eight inches, and this depth may be determined either in the Sign Criteria of your Lease Agreement or in the requirements of the local city or even the country. The use of computer-driven bending machines allows returns to be formed into a suitable character so that they may be sent back. In addition, the aluminum sheeting that is used in the production of channel letters is offered in a wide selection of conventional colors, and it may also be custom-painted using any PMS or other color-matching shade that the customer specifies.
Backs:
The back of a channel letter is created using router-cut aluminum sheets, which come in a range of thicknesses and may be purchased in a variety of widths.
Light Source:
Channel letters can be manufactured as either lighted signs or non-illuminated signs, depending on the customer’s preference. When compared to the more traditional neon lighting methods, which were more often used in the past, today, almost all internally-illuminated channel letters are manufactured with LED illumination. This results in considerable cost reductions related to energy consumption.
What Varieties of Channel Letter Signs Are There to Choose From?
Front-Lit Channel Letters:
Front-Lit Channel Letters, also known as ordinary channel letters, are the most basic and widely used variety of channel letters. Acrylic will be used for the face of a front-lit channel letter, while aluminum will be used for the trim cap, returns, and back. Again, the number of available choices is rather extensive; in addition, these signs may be personalized in a variety of different ways!
Reverse Channel Letters/Halo Channel Letters:
For a distinctive and sophisticated design, choose reverse channel letters! In place of an acrylic face, reverse channel letters have.090 metal faces and.063 aluminum returns. Additionally, the backs of these letters are made of transparent 1/8″ or 3/16″ Lexan or poly-carbonate. The return of a reverse channel letter is often more compact, measuring around 3.50 inches on average.
We are SignFreaks, the best-known company for channel letters in Chicago.
