Reverse Lit Channel Letters

Reverse lit channel letters for every setting

The same halo that frames a brand name on a busy street can sit quietly behind a reception desk. What changes from one place to the next is the build, the mounting and the protection inside each letter. Below are the common places for reverse lit letters and what we set up differently for each.

Storefronts and building fronts

Outside, a sign has to cope with sun, rain and cold while staying readable from the street. Every outdoor set we build gets waterproof LEDs and an outdoor rated power supply, and that is a must. Where long rainy seasons are normal, the LEDs step up to IP67 and each letter gets drain holes along its bottom. For a building by the sea or in salty air, tell us before production, since marine-grade 316 stainless steel is then needed for the letters and for all mounting hardware.

For large lettering high on a facade, and for sites with harsh weather, we suggest Basic Metal Reverse Channel Letters, which hold up better in tough outdoor conditions. Very large letters are made in sections and joined on site. Inside big channels we place stiffeners to suit each letter shape, keeping the faces flat and free of oil canning.

Size the letters for the distance people will read them from. Readers can usually make out a letter from a distance of 100 to 120 times its height, so each inch of height carries to about 10 ft (3 m).

Luxury retail and showrooms

Pro Metal Reverse Channel Letters are made for upscale, elegant places like these. They can be mounted flush, go up easily and show no fixings. With a fine metal finish and a graceful halo, they put on a strong display and look clean indoors and out.

Lobbies, reception walls and offices

Indoors the sign is seen up close, so a tidy mount counts. Mounted flush, which is the default for Pro Metal Reverse Channel Letters and Acrylic Reverse Channel Letters, the wires, studs and mounting holes all stay hidden behind each letter. If the site does not allow a flush mount, mounting off the wall is the alternative. We supply stainless steel spacers, which control the gap while keeping the wires, the stud bolts and the holes drilled in the wall out of view.

Acrylic Reverse Channel Letters are especially good indoors, for signs seen up close that need no metal finish. Thanks to high-precision CNC carving, every detail of the channel is sharp and clean. They can go outside too, ideally under an awning, where they stay in good shape for longer.

Restaurants, pools and spas

Dry rooms indoors can do without waterproofing. Damp ones are a different matter. Letters near an indoor water feature, around a pool, in a high-humidity spa, or beside an open kitchen or dishwashing area get waterproofing as well. If your indoor sign is going into a space like one of these, mention it up front when you contact us.

House numbers and homes

Numbers are made the same way as letters, so a house number can carry the same halo as a shop sign. No digit can be made shorter than 3-15/16 in (100 mm). A vector file lets us review the strokes as well.

Pylon signs, logos and lettering sets

Reverse lit pieces do not have to be words. Logo shapes, single letters, and the letters and logo parts mounted on a pylon sign are all built the same way. Each one is then finished for its own weather exposure and mounting needs, so the more you tell us about the project in your inquiry, the better.

Picking a build for your site

• Basic Metal Reverse Channel Letters must have a gap behind them for the glow to form, so they are always mounted off the wall. The spacers we supply set that gap and conceal the stud bolts, the wiring and the holes in the wall. They suit indoor and outdoor signs alike, and they are the best choice for large letters and harsh outdoor weather.
• Pro Metal Reverse Channel Letters are mounted flush by default and give a bright, wide halo. They are a natural fit for storefronts, showrooms and lobbies.
• Acrylic Reverse Channel Letters are mounted flush by default and give the same bright, wide halo as Pro Metal Reverse Channel Letters. They are at their best on indoor walls seen up close.

What to tell us about the site

A few details let us set up the right build from the start: where on the building or in the room it will go, indoors or out, any salty sea air at the site, and a picture of the wall itself. If the electrical supply at the site is unusual, mention that too. Our Mean Well power supplies accept 90 to 264V AC. Never connect a set to a circuit beyond that range.

Installation, timing and warranty

Packed with every set are the power supplies, studs, a wiring diagram, written installation steps and a full-size 1:1 template for marking the holes. Spacers are packed for letters that sit off the wall. If you have access to the back of the wall, nuts and washers are added too. For mounting, hire a professional sign installer, who will fit the letters correctly and safely so they last. An electrician then finishes the hookup by following our wiring diagram. Yelp or Google Maps can help you find one nearby.

After the drawing is approved, production takes about 15 business days and DHL delivery about another week. Sets are UL Listed and covered by our 3-year limited warranty. Want something outside our defaults? Describe it and we will make the set to match.

Related: Reverse Pan Channel Letters, Reverse Channel Letter Signs and Reverse Illuminated Channel Letters.