You’ll find LED channel letters above the entrances of some of the most well-known establishments in the city. Think Starbucks, Woodfield Mall, and even The Chicago Theatre-they all use channel letters.
But simply installing a channel letter sign isn’t good enough to capture people’s attention; you need to spend time honing the design. In this blog, we’ll give you five tips that’ll help you perfect your sign.
Tip#1: Size Your Channel Letters Right
It can be tempting to maximize the space available, but beware! A too-large (or too-small) sign can make the space seem awkward. To determine the correct size:
- Measure the space where you’ll be installing channel letters for your business.
- Take pictures from several angles to get an idea of how it’ll look.
- Consider how far your audience will be when they look at the sign.
It’s why before our customers finalize their designs, we show them digital mock-ups of how the sign will look in real life.
Tip #2: Play Around with Lighting for Your Channel Letters Sign
One of the most eye-catching aspects of channel letters is their lighting. There are many configurations to choose from, including front-lit signs, reverse channel letters, and backlit channel letters.
Each of these offers a very different look to the sign, which is why you should take the time to understand how they’ll look. You also have a wide choice of lighting colors, so test out different combinations.
The goal is to make sure the sign enhances your branding, maximizes visibility, and matches your surroundings.
Tip #3: Pay Attention to the Mounting
How a channel letter sign is mounted to the wall will greatly impact its appearance. There are several options to choose from, including raceway (signboard), hanging, and floating.
Which mounting method is suitable for you will depend on factors such as your surroundings, your business, and if you’ve opted for backlit channel letters. Before finalizing the mounting option, make sure the sign doesn’t get obscured by the background.
Tip#4: Avoid Overly Stylized Fonts
Swoopy fonts (cursive) look great on paper, but they don’t always translate well into signage. Large curves can make channel letters harder to read, and your customers may struggle to discern your business’s name.
It’s usually best to stick to sans serif fonts-what they lack in frills and fancy they make up for in legibility.
Tip #5: Last But Definitely Not Least, Branding
It’s vitally important to include your branding with your sign. You’ll be surprised how often businesses send us designs that don’t incorporate any branding elements, such as colors, fonts, and logos.
LED channel letters are great for building brand awareness, and it’ll be a missed opportunity if you don’t incorporate your branding elements.
Work with the Top Team for Channel Letter Fabrication
Channel letter fabrication is a substantial investment for your business, and the sign will hang above your entrance for a good few years. You should talk to signage experts about whether you’re going with reverse channel letters or a front-lit setup.
Book a free consultation with an expert to discuss channel letters for your business today. We’ll be happy to share our portfolio of channel letters and help you design the ideal signs.
