How to Create Backlit Signage: Expert Tips
Backlit signage is one of the most common forms of business signage out there. You’ve seen these signs in malls, restaurants, at the movies, at special events, and even in schools, churches, and other institutions.
Backlit signs can do great things for your business too, but have you ever wondered what goes into designing and fabricating them? Our guide will walk you through the process and offer some expert tips to help you create your own high-impact LED light box sign.
Choosing the Display Frame
Backlit LED signs can be fitted to many different display frames depending on your needs. If you want a large, imposing sign with 360-degree visibility, a fabric tower is a great solution. Businesses with counters or reception desks can make the most of those spaces by adding signs on counter-frames.
The tried-and-true straight display is always an option, too, offering a backlit sign that basically functions as a lightweight indoor billboard. These frames come in sizes of up to 30 feet and look incredible when they’re lit up.
Each frame type comes with either a zipped or a push-fit fabric display. Zipped displays fit around the frame like a pillowcase, closing tightly around the frame. Push-fit displays come with channel bars that you can use to anchor the fabric in place as it’s stretched across the frame. Both approaches have their merits, so choose whichever works best for you.
Attaching LED Lighting
Once you’ve picked out a frame, your sign company will add the LED lights that will illuminate the sign. LEDs last much longer than incandescent bulbs, are more energy-efficient, and are less likely to shatter on impact. All of these qualities make them the superior choice for lightbox signage.
The lights in an LED lightbox sign can be placed in many different ways depending on the results you want. There are also different shades of white LED light to choose from, each with its own unique appeal. Ask your sign design company about which arrangement is best to achieve the look you’re going for.
Creating the Graphic Display
The fabric or vinyl graphic display is the only part of your sign that people will see when the final product is complete. You can use it to display a written message, a photo, or a graphic that relates to your company. Many businesses use them to decorate the inside of their office building or storefronts or to promote specific products, services, and promotions.
Your print shop will use dye sublimation to transfer the design you give them onto the fabric or vinyl’s surface. This technique produces vibrant, long-lasting results that are UV-resistant and won’t fade over time. Ask your sign shop for examples of their past work to see just how striking a well-designed light box sign can be!
Showcasing Your New Graphic Display
Once your backlit sign is fully assembled, it’s time to show it off to the world. Find a permanent spot for your LED displays in your business’ building, or take them with you to trade shows, conferences, and local events. As long as you have access to an electrical outlet, you’ll be able to use your sign to attract new leads and returning customers alike.
Crucial Tips for Backlit Signage
- Consider Where the LED Signs Will Be Placed. Backlit LED signs vary in brightness depending on their surroundings. A sign placed in a room with little light should be dimmer than one that will be placed in a room full of bright fluorescent lights.
- Consider the Space Between the Lights and Your Graphic. Graphics placed closer to the LEDs will glow more brightly, while graphics that are further away will look dimmer.
- Check the Lighting Spacing. Spacing the lights correctly is one of the most important parts of making an LED light box sign. Evenly-spaced LEDs will create the even, consistent glow you’re looking for.
- Choose Your Colours Wisely. The colour of the LED lights in a lightbox impacts the look of the finished piece. A warm white produces a gentle and welcoming glow, while a cool white makes the display look more modern and innovative.
- Remember Your Viewing Angle. Check out what your sign will look like from your audience’s perspective before you have it permanently installed. You may find that you need to change its position slightly to achieve the best effect.
- Use Lightbox Signs for Ambient Light. A backlit LED lightbox creates softer lighting effects than harsh fluorescent lighting does. Keep this in mind when deciding where to place your sign and how to style the area around it.
- Avoid Hot Spots. Hot spots are areas where too much light passes through backlit signs, resulting in inconsistent lighting effects. To avoid this problem, use high-quality LEDs, fabric, and vinyl materials and leave plenty of space between your LEDs and the display that is covering them.
- Match Your Lights to Your Cabinets. Shallow cabinets should be equipped with LED lights with a wider viewing angle to avoid making the display look dim and difficult to read when viewed from the side.
- The Light Should Be Evenly Distributed Across the Centers and Edges. The more evenly lit your backlit sign is, the better your sign will look. Place an even number of LED lights in your lightbox, going row by row in a neat symmetrical pattern.
- Make Sure You Have Access to an Appropriate Power Supply. LEDs will quickly burn out with too much power flowing into them, but they can also burn out their power source if they can’t draw enough electricity to function properly.
Order Custom Backlit Signage from Sign & Graphics Manufaktur
LED backlit signs can do so much to generate interest in your company and its products. Let Sign & Graphics Manufaktur bring your vision to life with custom LED backlit signs that your audience will love. Contact us today to discuss your ideas for backlit signage and begin refining them into a quality sign design that will help you promote your business for years to come.
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