Illuminated letters for outdoor advertising

Illuminated letters – photo gallery

Because the world around us is three-dimensional, the human eye takes in raised lettering faster and more easily than flat. And if that lettering is lit, it will not go unnoticed – especially after dark, when the night provides a contrasting background.

That is why shopfronts and interiors in most towns are full of all kinds of illuminated signs and light boxes.

Illuminated letters for advertising or information, of any size and in any typeface (from standard to decorative), usually become a real marketing asset for their owner (especially combined with brand elements).

Illuminated letters: types of lighting and their features.

1. Illuminated letters with internal lighting

The most affordable and most common option. LED modules fitted inside the letter body give the whole shape bright, even lighting.

The face is made of light-diffusing translucent acrylic. A well-matched combination of light colour and material colour creates an excellent visual effect.

Illuminated 3D letters with photo printing

Illuminated 3D letters with coloured film

Illuminated letter with internal LED lighting

2. Halo-lit letters

Halo-lit 3D letters have no back, and their face is made of opaque materials. To create the halo effect, LED lighting is fitted at the back of the lettering, which is mounted on the façade or sign on stand-off fixings.

Halo lighting with dynamic RGB LEDs is also possible, as are combined letters with both halo lighting and a lit face.

Halo-lit letters

3. 3D LED letters with exposed LEDs

Exposed LED lighting with a variety of dynamic effects has become fashionable recently. The effect is achieved by filling the letters with a grid of LED modules, where what matters most is spacing the modules evenly over the surface.

Illuminated letters of this type are popular with nightlife venues and anywhere a bright atmosphere is needed. These LEDs are sealed, extra bright and clearly visible even from a long distance under street lighting.

3D LED letters in Kyiv

4. Illuminated 3D neon letters

Although neon is gradually being replaced by LED products, it is still in demand today in some designs where a particular style is wanted.

Neon letters

5. Flat illuminated letters

LED modules are placed along the edge on the back of a pseudo-3D letter, which is mounted a short distance from the wall (or sign), so the whole element is lit. A stylish, unusual and smart option – and, naturally, cheaper than illuminated 3D letters.

Flat illuminated letters

6. Illuminated stainless steel letters

An ideal, prestigious choice for outdoor use, suited to durable, strong lettering. All-metal letters need halo lighting. Metal + acrylic letters can be fitted with internal LEDs that light the face.

Illuminated metal letters

Production of illuminated stainless steel letters

Materials we use to make illuminated letters.

1. Acrylic (PMMA sheet, acrylic glass, Plexiglas).

The ideal sheet material for illuminated advertising structures. It is a high-quality alternative to ordinary glass, with greater impact resistance and light transmission. It comes as opal and coloured acrylic, which transmit different amounts of light.

Opal acrylic is one of the core materials in illuminated letter production. It is mainly used for the face, though in some designs also for the returns (so the whole letter glows). It is covered with coloured light-diffusing film to give it colour.

Coloured acrylic does away with the need for coloured film and gives a deeper glow than opal acrylic + film.

2. PVC sheet

This material is used for the body: the returns and the back, on which the LEDs are mounted.

3. Galvanised metal

In some cases metal replaces PVC in the sides of the body. This makes sense when the elements are large and will be subject to higher loads.

How are illuminated advertising letters made?

A laser cutter or CNC milling machine cuts the letter from translucent sheet material (usually acrylic) following the digital artwork. All edges and surfaces of the letter come out straight and smooth.
Strips for the returns, as wide as the finished letter will be deep, are cut from PVC or another sheet material.
The letter is then assembled by bonding or welding. Flat illuminated letters (like solid letters of wood or marble) need no assembly, as they are cut on a CNC milling machine.
The lettering is then fitted with lighting and, if needed, covered with coloured film.
The final stage is attaching the fixings for installation.

Why are LEDs the most popular choice for illuminated letters?

Internal LED lighting is a 100 % guarantee of an effective sign.

High light output for a small size;
Low operating voltage and energy saving;
High mechanical strength combined with a long service life – all these advantages make LED modules the best and most practical lighting for advertising letters, with high efficiency. These modules allow:
Quick installation;
A wide range of dynamic effects;
Fast replacement of failed elements.

Illuminated advertising letters: choosing LED modules.

With such a huge variety of LED equipment available, the most suitable option can be chosen for every letter. We buy only sealed LEDs, and their brightness is then calculated with special software.

Illuminated 3D letters up to 300 mm high are fitted with small modules, or with LED strip (just 8 mm wide), which has relatively recently become available with notches that let it bend easily (especially important for serif letters and script typefaces).
Letters from 300 mm high are fitted with 2-, 3- or 4-LED modules linked into chains. They sit under a polycarbonate light-diffusing lens that spreads light evenly through the letter at 160°.
LED modules also differ in warranty period, meaning a deviation of photometric characteristics of more than 30% from the stated values. As a rule, these modules come with a 3-5-year warranty.

LEDs of certain colours and materials of different colours can either enhance or weaken each other in certain combinations, for example:

Red acrylic with red LEDs gives a deep red glow, richer than with white LEDs;
Blue acrylic with blue LEDs gives an ultraviolet (deep blue) colour;
Green, however, used the same way, gives no more than 10 % extra depth of glow;
Halo lighting is barely visible on a glossy surface;
It is very important that the inside of the letters is a uniform colour. Using different plastics for the return will make the face glow unevenly, in different shades.

Why buy illuminated letters – and why from us?

Illuminated letters and outdoor advertising go hand in hand, because they always boost a company's image. And they are not only for clients with big budgets: almost any outlet (a pharmacy, café and so on) can afford a small, original design made of illuminated elements.

The only thing to plan for in advance is registering the advertising: if it goes on a building façade, it will need approval from the city authorities.

Our installation teams will install your sign in line with all technical standards. Almost 20 years in business have taught us a lot, and we are confident in our staff and in the quality of the products we offer.