Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 43

A brushed finish aluminum composite
applied to the buffalo head logo
(left) helps to set it off from the
satin black letters (below). Remember
that these attractive letters can be
more difficult to read from oblique
angles.
letters," Lee from Bangor Neon said.
The mounting method contributes
greatly to whether channel letters
can be backlit or front lit. "Especially
with backlit letters, exterior raceways
are antithetical to the clean, even
illumination of the letters in relationship to the background texture wall,
which is integral to the overall display,"
Ron of PermaLetter said.

wanted to use its logo among the
channel letters and, as Ron said,
"Here's one area I might have handled
differently. While these displays are
aesthetic and photograph well, the
halo illumination is not conducive
to the oblique angles of the actual
traffic pattern." Fortunately for Black
Tooth, Ron reports the brewery is
well known in its market. "In more
competitive circumstances," Ron
said, "face-lit letters would have a
superior advertising function."
Where a display will be read from
is Ron's first consideration. If a display
is primarily to be viewed straight-on,
backlit letters are a possibility. Read
from an angle, however, "there is a
definite advantage to face lighting
the letters," he stated. "Even at a
relatively shallow angle, the depth
of halo-lit letters serves to distort the
shape of letters to the point
of illegibility when relying on the
illumination." After that, he said the
personality of the client/business
most determines how PermaLetter
designs a display and which available
options best serve them.

It's equally important to bear in
mind that, despite the client's desires,
backlit channel letters aren't always
the solution. "Often, it just makes
sense to keep things simple and readable, so we would just do front lit

MADE TO ORDER
Since most shops cannot justify the
equipment necessary to manufacture
channel letters, their fabrication is
usually outsourced to a wholesaler.
Both Bangor Neon and PermaLetter
work with Direct Sign Wholesale
in Denver. (See "When in Rome," ST
November, page 44, for an in-depth
article on channel letter construction
by John Baylis of Direct Sign.) Taking

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.COM

43


http://www.SIGNSOFTHETIMES.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - January 2018

Signs of the Times - January 2018
Contents
From the Editor
St Update
At Large
Tech Review
Leds + Lighting
Vehicles + Vinyl
Shop Ops
Strike a Pose
Reflected Glory
Channel Your Energy
First Impression
Strictly Commercial: Brushing Up
New Products
Advertising Index
Last Look
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Intro
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - BB1
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - BB2
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Signs of the Times - January 2018
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - CT1
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - CT2
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Cover2
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 1
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Contents
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 3
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 4
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 5
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 6
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 7
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - From the Editor
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 9
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - St Update
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 11
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 12
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 13
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 14
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 15
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 16
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 17
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 18
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 19
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - At Large
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 21
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 22
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 23
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Tech Review
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 25
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Leds + Lighting
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 27
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Vehicles + Vinyl
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 29
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 30
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 31
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Shop Ops
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 33
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 34
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 35
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Reflected Glory
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 37
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 38
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 39
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 40
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 41
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Channel Your Energy
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 43
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 44
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 45
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - First Impression
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 47
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 48
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 49
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Strictly Commercial: Brushing Up
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 51
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 52
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 53
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 54
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 55
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - New Products
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 57
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 58
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 59
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 60
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 61
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 62
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 63
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 64
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 65
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 66
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 67
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 68
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 69
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 70
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 71
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 72
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 73
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 74
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 75
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 76
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 77
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 78
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 79
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 80
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 81
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - 82
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Advertising Index
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Last Look
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Cover3
Signs of the Times - January 2018 - Cover4
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201411
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201409
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201312
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