As a business owner, ensuring your business gains the visibility it needs is crucial. This is why you develop advertising strategies and launch digital marketing campaigns. However, if you operate a brick-and-mortar business, using signage to advertise your physical location is equally essential. What type of signage do you choose if you need a business sign?
If you're looking for a business sign that can be impactful yet economical, dimensional letter signs are a good choice.
Materials Being Used
Dimensional letter signs are logos or lettering typically made from aluminum or acrylic with a three-dimensional appearance, sometimes lit up using internal or external lights. They can be a variety of heights and depths and can be flush-mounted or mounted with offset studs.
SOULO incorporates top-notch artistry to fabricate long-lasting and durable dimensional signs, to an outstanding final effect.
What Types Of Dimensional Letters Are Available?
Dimensional letters are made using two different methods of production:
- Flat Cutting (CNC)
- Channel Letter Forming
- Cast Metal
Flat Cut Letters
Flat cut letters are CNC (Computer Numerical Control) cut using a computer-controlled machine with a laser, water jet, or router bit attachment.
Fabricated Channel Letters
Channel letters are metal or plastic signs made of bent channels that are glued or welded into custom shaped letters or symbols.
Cast Metal
Cast letters and logos can be made of aluminum or bronze and offer different finishes, such as polished, oxidized, and anodized. The depth of a cast metal piece is typically determined by the overall size.
What You Should Know About 3D Letters
You have three core options when making dimensional signs:
1. Depth
2. Material
3. Finish
Understanding each is essential to understanding what you can do with your dimensional letter sign.
Sign Depth (Thickness)
Flat cut materials normally range in Depth between 1⁄8″ to 1″. It's best to choose your lettering depth based on the size of the lettering and how they're going to be used.
For instance, using thinner letters mounted flush against the wall is more effective in high-traffic areas such as desks and hallways. These letters have a lower profile and don't obstruct movement.
In contrast, less frequently visited areas, such as walls behind reception desks, are more protected and can accommodate individually cut lettering raised off the wall on pegs to create a floating effect.
Most common flat cut material depths along with their best use cases:
- Quarter Inch 1/4" Depth: Ideal if you are on a budget or for subheadings and secondary information.
- Half Inch 1/2" Depth: This is one of the most common depths for 3D raised letters. This depth can be raised on spacers (small peg mounts) for an additional floating effect or directly to the wall. Either way, this sign provides a substantial look and feel.
- Three-Quarter Inch 3/4" Depth: Excellent for a beefier, bolder look.
- One Inch, 1" Depth: Perfect for a very bold look. Usually the max depth for flat-cut materials.
How far are they raised off the wall?
Another consideration regarding material depth is how far the letters protrude from the wall. This refers to the distance dimensional letters are spaced off the wall using standoffs, mounts, pegs, rods, or spacers.
The decision of whether to mount flush or spaced comes down to the surface you’re mounting to (and sometimes personal preference!).
Raising the individually cut letters gives them an added floating or hovering effect that makes them appear more three-dimensional. These dimensional letter signs look great.
Raising your sign will cast a shadow, so you have to be mindful of that. The shadow effect can be increased or decreased by simply adjusting your lighting.
Some wall types, such as ledge stone or irregularly-patterned walls, may require the dimensional letters to be raised at different depths. In these situations, our professional installers will manually adjust them to ensure they are level.
Materials
Dimensional letters can be made from a variety of materials. Acrylic and aluminum are most commonly used, but more expensive metals are also an option.
Acrylic
The most common material we use for making individually-cut 3D letters and symbols is acrylic.
Acrylic is a high-quality plastic that can be clear, frosted, pigmented, or combined with films and laminates to create a wide range of finishes. We use acrylic because it is versatile, high-quality, and highly durable. Most importantly, acrylic can be laser cut.
Acrylic is a great material because you can get creative when making 3D letters and logos. Laser cutting allows us to make complicated logos in a number of impressive-looking colors and finishes.
Acrylic can be laminated with intricate prints, custom films, brushed metal, and mirrored or chrome finishes to create high-end, highly customizable 3D logos.
Metal
There are five different metals we can use for dimensional signs, including:
- Aluminum
- Brass
- Bronze
- Copper
- Stainless Steel
SOULO provides acrylic-based "brushed metal substitutes" for all metal options. Brushed metal substitutes mimic the appearance of brushed metal finishes but are made from alternative substances. Compared to genuine metal, these substitutes are often used for their aesthetic appeal and cost-effectiveness.
These acrylic based metallic finishes are usually preferred because they are more cost effective, involve more precise laser cut manufacturing techniques, and can produce a cleaner, sharper logo.
Traditional flat-cut metal is often used for dimensional letters and signs in cases where more cost-effective acrylic-based brushed metal substitutes cannot be used, such as outdoors or in specific environments that require a certain metal finish.
Finishes
There are a few different finishes that are used for dimensional sign letters:
- Paints (To match corporate colors)
- Mirrored (Chrome)
- Frosted Acrylic
- Brushed nickel
- Brushed gold
- Glossy black (Pigmented acrylic)
There are several different acrylic-based brushed metal substitute finishes that can be used for your signage project, helping you achieve the exact appearance you want.
SOULO has the capabilities to handle complex gradients and graphics that need to be digitally printed onto the material and cut to shape. The edges of the material can then be painted to match the gradients on the faces of the letters.
How are dimensional letters made?
There are four core steps to making dimensional letters:
- Art and Prep
- Laser Cutting
- Painting
- Installation
Art And Prep: To ensure the highest level of quality for your sign, you must have your original artwork files for your logo. This could be a file in a few different formats (EPS, PDF, AI). You should be able to get this from the person who designed your logo. Although we cannot proceed without this file, if you do not have it, we can help you recreate it.
If you need to match specific colors, such as Pantone shades or paint swatches, you can provide them during this first step so that paints can be mixed accordingly.
Laser Cutting: We use a high-grade industrial CNC laser cutting machine that follows every point and curve of your logo to ensure your dimensional sign is cut precisely to specifications.
Painting: Once your dimensional letters have been cut, we paint them to match. Brushed finishes also have edges painted silver to match for a solid, professional look.
Installation: Our licensed installers have mounted thousands of signs and will handle it all for you.
Ready to start your Dimensional Sign Project?
Are you looking to add custom dimensional signs for your business? We have you covered from designing and suggesting material options to determining wall mounting details for installation! Contact us to get a quote and order your dimensional sign.
SOULO is a full-service marketing and communications agency that helps client partners get the most from their projects through signage, printing, and digital marketing. Ready to get started? Contact us today!
