How to make your Illuminated Signs do the heavy lifting
When it comes to business signage, illumination is one of the simplest ways to create instant impact. But it’s far more than brighter is better. The scope and range of illuminated signs on offer today presents a real opportunity to enhance your site. Whether you want to make a bold statement at the front of your building or help visitors find their way, illuminated signage offers flexibility and function in equal measure.
At SPI, we work with clients across all sectors to design and install illuminated signage that doesn’t just look the part — it works hard too.
Here’s a look at some of the most popular types of illuminated signage and how we used them to transform Easy Access Storage’s latest flagship site in Stockport.
Make a Statement with Illuminated Flex Face Boxes
External signage is all about visibility, and illuminated flex face boxes are the ultimate option for giving maximum visibility.
Commonly used at retail parks, flex face boxes are just as they sound: a solid box with a flexible skin made from a PVC banner material.
Why?
It enables huge facings to be manufactured in one piece.
The boxes are illuminated from within, lighting up the whole fascia. Positioned at key points on a building – at Easy Access Storage, we installed illuminated flex face boxes on the three elevations that face onto a major road – these mammoth signs help attract attention from passing traffic and make sure the facility remains easy to find, even from a distance.
And when we say mammoth, we mean it. These signs measure up to 5m x 100m in a single piece!
Save Space with Halo Illuminated Signs
These signs can work excellently when you’re looking for a subtle look.
Lighting up letters or logos from behind creates a glowing “halo” effect on the surface behind the sign, which gives a classy and high end look. Because the effect is more subtle, it’s also suitable for traditional buildings and has even been known to be used on listed buildings, though this is always subject to listed building consent and would have to be well justified.
These smaller scale signs are also excellent options when you are a bit tight on space but still want to make an impact. for pinch point locations, like at a building entrance where movement cannot be impeded, this use of illumination still draws the eye but with more subtlety.
We opted for a halo illuminated finish at Easy Access Storage’s reception area because we needed a low-level signage solution to catch the eye of customers on foot to draw them to the building entrance. – installing signs on two sides of a pillar to provide maximum visibility for customers approaching the entrance from all angles.
Turn Heads with Face Illuminated Letters
If you want to strike a balance between the previous two illuminated signs, then face illuminated lettering might be the right choice.
Typically used above shop fronts, face illuminated letters are 3D individual letters that are internally lit, creating a uniform look. They’re great for highlighting entrances from a bit further away, because the lighting effect helps them stand out more than halo-lit signs do.
At Easy Access Storage, we installed a set of 1.5m-high face-illuminated letters running horizontally along the side of the building, spanning 15 metres in total.
Create Contrast with Day Night Letters
These signs are essentially face illuminated letters but with one key difference: signs are generally perforated, and are known as day-night vinyls. That effect of that means that letters look solid during daylight hours but can be lit up internally at nighttime to boost visibility.
The benefit? It’s all about contrast. During the day time, lettering can display bold colour and create a contrast against the building façade. And when the light levels drop, the lights can be switched on, lighting up the signs against the now dark building helping your building, and your offering, to stand out.
At Easy Access Storage we manufactured 1.2m tall letters spanning 21m, creating a fantastic contrast with the building’s cladding. long letters with day-night vinyls to be positioned on the most prominent elevation of the building.
Bright Ideas for Every Business
The versatility of illuminated signage is one of the reasons we love working with this product. Understanding a site and the main objectives that the signage needs to achieve is key to deciding which illuminated sign is best.
Illuminated signs don’t just look good — they work hard too. From large-format external signs to practical wayfinding solutions, illuminated signs are a smart investment across all kinds of commercial environments.
Plus, they elevate brand consistency and boost customer experience, from the premium feel achieved through halo lighting to the truly massive impact of some of our largest products.
And at Easy Access Storage’s Stockport site, we got to install all four!
Whatever effect you’re looking for, there’s plenty of options with illuminated signage. Get in touch with our team and we’ll help you choose which illuminated sign is best for your next signage project.
