Outdoor advertising
Illuminated 3D letters
Built-up letters with internal light give a brand real presence and stay perfectly readable after dark.
At a glance
- Even, glare-free light
- Any typeface and colour
- For facades and interiors
- Made to your project
About this solution
Illuminated 3D letters are usually the most visible thing on a facade. By day they read as relief, through the shadow they cast on the wall; by night they are the only part still visible from a distance. They are made in any typeface and any colour, at the size the facade asks for rather than the other way round.
The body is made from acrylic, PVC or composite aluminium, with returns in aluminium coil or PVC and a diffusing acrylic face. LED illumination can be front-lit — light coming through the face — side-lit, halo or backlit, throwing light onto the wall behind the letter, open-face with the LEDs visible, or a combination. The choice changes the character of the sign completely: front-lit for maximum legibility at distance, halo for the quiet, expensive look that suits an office building or a hotel.
Fixing is on standoffs, on a concealed rail or directly to the facade, depending on the material and the state of the wall. Power supplies, cable routes and access for maintenance are settled at the design stage — otherwise the first LED replacement means taking the letters down.
Outdoors, sealing is what matters: LEDs and drivers are chosen for damp and dust, and the letter body is built so water cannot sit inside it. A well-made letter does not look different from a poor one in the first month — it looks different in the third winter.
Frequently asked questions
All frequently asked questionsWhich type of illumination should I choose?
Front-lit if the sign has to be read from a distance or from the road — it is the most legible. Halo if you want a restrained look and the facade material deserves to be seen. Side-lit or open-face for accents and a more graphic character. It comes down to the distance the sign is read from and how bright the surroundings are.
What are 3D letters made from?
Most often acrylic, PVC and composite aluminium, with a diffusing acrylic face where the letter is lit. Non-illuminated letters are also made in stainless steel, brass or wood. The material follows the size, the setting — outdoors or indoors — and the look you are after.
Do I need a permit for an illuminated sign?
Outdoor advertising placement is generally regulated, and the requirements depend on the locality, the building and the zone — a building in the historic centre is treated differently from one in a retail district. It is worth settling before design, because the rules affect both size and fixing. Tell us where the sign will go and we will say what that means in your case.
How much do illuminated 3D letters cost?
The price is worked out per letter rather than per sign, and turns on four things: the letter height, the body material, the type of illumination — front, halo or combined — and the mounting height, which decides whether a lift is needed. The same words at two metres, unlit, cost a fraction of what they cost at twelve metres, illuminated. Send us the text, the approximate letter height and where the sign will go, and we will come back with a quote.
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