Signs & Large Format Print
How an illuminated letter is built
Every illuminated built-up letter has three parts: the face (front), the returns (the strip of profile running around the shape of the letter) and the back, with LED modules inside. Which of these lets light through decides the effect.
- The face glows: a face-lit letter.
- The back glows, so light goes towards the wall: a halo-lit letter.
- The face and back glow: face and halo.
- The returns glow: a side-lit letter.
Technically they are also fitted differently. Face-lit letters are usually mounted close to the wall. Halo-lit letters have to be set off the wall on stand-offs, otherwise the glow has nowhere to spread.
Illumination types compared
| Type | From approx. | By day | By night | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Face-lit (acrylic face) | €46 | Coloured face, aluminium returns | The whole letter face glows | Shops, services, legibility from afar |
| Halo-lit (reverse-lit) | €55 | Solid Dibond or aluminium face | Glow on the wall, letter outline | Showrooms, law firms, hotels, restaurants |
| Face + halo | €70 | Coloured face | Face and the wall behind the letter glow | Premium look on dark facades |
| Non-illuminated | €16 | Dibond or acrylic on stand-offs | Visible only with external lighting | Interiors, receptions, small budgets |
| Side-lit (glowing returns) | individual quote | Depends on construction | The letter outline glows | Unusual projects |
For every extra 10 cm of letter height we add approx. €11 net per character, as material use and the number of LED modules go up. The full range is on the illuminated LED letters page.
Face-lit letters: pros and cons
Pros:
- the best legibility at night, even from a long way off,
- the acrylic face can be covered with vinyl in your brand colour or printed,
- the lowest price among illuminated letters.
Cons:
- by day, with light acrylic, colours can look less saturated than on screen: we choose vinyls so the colour is right in both conditions,
- very thin typefaces light unevenly, because it is hard to spread LEDs evenly in a narrow letter.
This is the most popular option for shops, pharmacies, garages and anywhere the sign needs to be seen from the road.
Halo-lit letters: pros and cons
Pros:
- a very refined effect at night: the letter seems to float on a halo of light,
- by day, a solid Dibond or aluminium face looks substantial and does not fade,
- they suit both historic and modern facades, where a glowing face would be too loud.
Cons:
- the effect depends on the wall: on a light, smooth facade the halo is clear; on dark brick or glazing it is barely visible,
- legibility from a distance is weaker than with face-lit letters,
- they need stand-offs, so installation takes longer.
Before ordering halo letters we always ask about the colour and texture of the wall. If the facade is dark, we suggest face and halo, or changing the background, e.g. a strip of light-coloured Dibond behind the lettering.
- 24 hexpress printing (UV inks need no drying)
- approx. 3 daysstandard lead time
- up to 14 dayslarge and custom projects with installation
Plus courier delivery. Tell us your date — we plan production around it.
Fitting the letters and running the cables
We fit illuminated letters from a 1:1 template. We hold it against the wall, mark the holes for the fixings and cable entries, and only then drill. That keeps the lettering straight and the spacing exactly as designed.
Each letter has its own cable. The neatest solution is to take the cables through the wall into the premises, where the power supply sits. When that is not possible, we run the cables in a trunking, or mount the letters on a shared rail or backing panel that hides the wiring, so there is one connection on the wall instead of a dozen holes.
With halo letters the stand-offs must be the same for every character, otherwise the halo varies in width and the lettering looks crooked at night even though it is straight by day. That is why we check halo letters after dark. The electrical connection is made by the client's electrician or by our qualified crew.
A sample quote and how to choose
The word "SALON": 5 characters, 40 cm high:
- face-lit: 5 × (€46 + €11) = approx. €285 net,
- halo-lit: 5 × (€55 + €11) = approx. €330 net,
- face + halo: 5 × (€70 + €11) = approx. €405 net.
On top of that comes the logo as a separate element (face-lit from approx. €46 net at 30 cm high, see LED 3D logos and emblems), installation and connection.
How to choose in three questions:
- Where does the customer look from? From the road and from afar: face-lit. From the pavement, close up: halo works too.
- What is the wall like? Light and smooth: halo looks great. Dark, textured or glazed: face-lit, or face and halo.
- What is the character of the business? Quick services, retail: face-lit. Premium brand: halo.
If you are not sure whether to go for letters at all or a light box, read light box or 3D letters. The materials we use for faces and signs are covered in acrylic or Dibond.