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Fish tails. That's what kept our team here at Port City Signs up at night during the design of a recent outdoor illuminated business sign project. The tails were an important design element of the client's logo, but they were so thin that it was difficult to figure out how to light them. Which, of course, meant that we left no stone unturned in coming up with a way to have them show up at night while retaining the true look of the logo. Why? Because we know how important lighted signs are to the overall success of your business, and we're here to make them happen in a creative but efficient way that allows you to tell your brand's story around the clock. 

What Are Illuminated Signs?

In a nutshell, illuminated signage is where the lighting comes from inside the sign. It's powered from the building's power, which uses a photo cell that is activated by darkness. It lights up when the sun goes down or the weather creates low light during the day, and then turns off when the sun comes up or out. 

Our big fish tale provides us with the perfect example because this particular sign that we did for Dimock, Weinberg & Cherry's new Coastal Carolina Pediatric Dentistry location in Leland, NC included both illuminated and non-illuminated elements. The fish logo and the names of the dentists are lit up while the name of the practice and the bubbles around the fish are not. 

The sign for their building partner in Leland, Campbell, Covington and Icenhour Orthodontics, is also a combination of illuminated and non-illuminated elements. In their case, the name of the orthodontists are lit up, while the word orthodontics is not. And, because these long-time Wilmington-area business owners wanted signage that is as beautiful and functional as their new building, they also have a monument sign that lights up as well. 

Why Nighttime Visibility Matters for Outdoor Business Signs

There's no two ways about it. In our opinion, business signage should work hard for you both day and night. It's an important marketing tool that simply shouldn't get time off. 

Higher visibility

There is so much clutter out in the community that's vying for your attention during the day, it's often hard to get noticed. At night though, there's a lot less, and the darkness provides a dark background that makes your sign really stand out. 

Built-in billboard

Very few business owners would pay for billboard space along a public street and not use it. So, why would you not use your sign as your very own billboard when it could be attracting attention to your business 24/7? As we know, repetition is key in marketing your business. The more your sign is visible to vehicle or foot traffic at any time of day, the more your brand is becoming engrained into the minds of your ideal customers. 

Builds brand confidence

Showing that your business pays attention to detail, no matter how big or small, instills confidence in your brand. If potential customers see that you have a nice sign and that you've gone the extra step to make it light up in an attractive and appealing way, they're going to feel more secure in choosing you when the time comes that they need your products and services. 

Community recognition

A tastefully lit outdoor sign can help establish your business as a valued member of the community and potentially even a local landmark—in a good way. Even at night, when your business may not technically be open, your sign lets anyone passing by know that you are a reliable, consistent presence that is always there. 

In the case of Coastal Carolina Pediatric Dentistry and Campbell, Covington and Icenhour Orthodontics, their new building is in the Brunswick Forest area where there's a grocery store, a drugstore, restaurants, and other businesses that are open well beyond normal office hours. By having an illuminated sign, they send the message that they are part of that community around the clock, not just when their doors are open. 

Custom Illuminated Signs That Deliver Results

Outdoor lighted signs come in various types, each serving different aesthetic and functional purposes. While our team here at Port City Signs is experienced in designing and installing customized solutions that fit your needs, we usually start the process by considering the two main types of outdoor lighted business signs.

Channel letters

Channel letter signs are three-dimensional signs that display letters, logos, numbers or pictures. They are often made of aluminum, acrylic, or stainless steel and are illuminated with LED lights or neon bulbs. There are several different ways of achieving illumination for channel letters. 

Front-Lit Letters

Front-lit channel letters are illuminated signs where the light shines through the face of the lettering so that the front of it lights up. We use energy-efficient LED lighting for our custom signs, which allows them to last longer and need less maintenance than traditional fluorescent or neon signs.

Backlit/Halo-Lit Letters

Backlit, or halo-lit, channel letters create a classy but eye-catching glow by projecting light behind the letters that reflects off the building, forming a halo effect. Mounted slightly away from the wall, these signs allow for customizable lighting colors, which can add a distinctive and elegant touch to any branding.

Front and Backlit Letters

In some situations, such as with Coastal Carolina Pediatric Dentistry and Campbell, Covington and Icenhour Orthodontics, a combination of both front and backlit letters is most effective. That's where both sides of the sign are lit, which can give your business a more dramatic look.  

Lightbox or Illuminated Cabinet Signs

Lightbox or illuminated cabinet signs are aluminum, four-sided boxes where the entire graphic is on the face of the sign instead of having individual letters or logo pieces. They can be used on a building face or as a monument sign, which is a freestanding, ground-level sign designed for high visibility. It is usually made from very durable materials like stone, brick, or metal.

For Coastal Carolina Pediatric Dentistry and Campbell, Covington and Icenhour Orthodontics, they each have their own separate offices, entrance doors, and signage, but they wanted both brands featured together on the monument sign in a way that could be easily changed if needed. Our solution was to build a double-sided custom illuminated cabinet using LED strips, with replaceable acrylic panels that can be switched if one of the tenants moves out. 

Considerations for Outdoor Illuminated Business Signs

As a business owner, how do you know what type of illuminated sign you need or whether you even need one at all? That's where we come in! Here's a look at the most common considerations that we go over with our customers. 

Font selection or logo elements

We always do a mock-up for the illuminated lettering on our signs so we can determine exactly how the light is going to behave with your font. If it's too thin, such as with some of the more "swirly" serif fonts, the lettering can be blurred and hard to read when it's lit, especially if it's just seen briefly in traffic. There are ways we can possibly work around those issues, but that's why it's so important to partner with a sign company that is familiar with the latest techniques and can come up with creative solutions. 

That brings us back to how we solved the fish tail issue in the Coastal Carolina Pediatric Dentistry logo. Whereas the sign at the practice's Wilmington location was altered to deal with the challenge so that the tails aren't black, they're white, we wanted to preserve the integrity of the logo. By adding a white backer behind it, we did two things. It gave us an outline of sorts for the logo that provided a little more room to work, and it partially obscures the raceway behind the letters that contains all of the wiring. By backlighting the entire logo, the light reflects off the backer so that the black tail pieces are as visible at night as they are during the day. 

Color contrasts

Color contrast matters greatly when it comes to lighting signs. There are many combinations that simply don't work together, especially at night. Add the way the sign is lit to the equation, and it can make the difference between whether your all-important message can be read or not. 

How to mount the sign

With so many things that can go wrong with installation of an illuminated sign, how to mount it is one of our first considerations when we're brought in on a project. We think about how much support is going to be needed to handle the weight of the sign, as well as how to access it from the back so the electrical line can be run, allowing it to tap into the building's power. We don't want electrical wiring coming out of the side of the sign or running down the building so that it has to be painted. 

Traffic

Being cognizant of the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic near and around the building is also important. With Coastal Carolina Pediatric Dentistry and Campbell, Covington and Icenhour Orthodontics, there is only one side of the building that isn't directly beside a roadway, so we worked with the owners to determine where signs would be most impactful and whether they all needed to be illuminated. 

Landscape

Taking current and future landscaping elements into account is another must when considering whether to illuminate a sign. This is especially important when dealing with newly constructed buildings where all of the trees and decorative plants may not be at full size yet. Your sign company should be able to help you anticipate sight lines and recognize where it's a worthwhile investment to include lit signage and where it's not. 

Maintenance

When planning your illuminated sign, think beyond just the installation—maintenance matters! Over time, weather, dirt, and electrical wear can affect its brightness and performance. Choosing energy-efficient LEDs, easy-access components, and durable materials now means fewer headaches (and costs) down the road.

Planning Your Illuminated Sign Strategy

Your illuminated sign needs a strategy that matches your business goals and values. Clear goals result in better signs because your objectives guide every choice. Your illuminated sign should not be an afterthought. It should work alongside your other marketing, creating one strong message everywhere customers look.

For new construction, the best time to think about your illuminated sign strategy is during the design phase. Ideally, that's when we, as your sign partner, should be brought in on the project. We know the permitting process and building codes in the areas that we serve, and we know what is and isn't allowed in terms of lighting a business sign. We can also say what needs to happen inside the building during design and construction to be able to light the signs and in anticipation of future maintenance. All of these considerations are much more cost efficient to think about before the building is constructed than for us to come in at a later point. 

If you are refurbishing a sign and building, the same holds true. Bring us in as early in the process as possible so that any code changes or previous mistakes can be addressed and future ones can be avoided. 

Your Illuminated Business Sign Partner

Our team of experts will work closely with you to ensure that your exterior illuminated sign not only meets but exceeds your expectations. From concept to installation, we are dedicated to providing creative and cost-effective solutions, skilled service, and reliable support every step of the way. Let us help your business shine bright 24 hours a day.

Get started by contacting us at (910) 294-9402 or Request a Quote.