3d LED Backlit Letter Metal Business Advertising Logo Sign

How It Works 

 

LEDs inside each letter point at your wall. Light bounces off the wall and creates a halo around the letter shape. The spacing between letter and wall matters - usually one to two inches. Too close and the glow looks pinched. Too far and it washes out. Uneven spacing looks terrible with bright spots and dim spots. 

 

Your wall does half the work here. A clean painted wall gives even reflection and smooth glow. Brick or textured surfaces can work if they're uniform. A damaged or dirty wall creates uneven lighting that ruins the whole effect. If your wall needs fixing, budget for that before you commit. 

 

During the day you see metal letter shapes. At night the halo makes them visible. They're not as bright as frontlit letters though. On a quiet street that's fine. On a busy highway you'll get lost. 

 

Build Quality 

 

Good ones use thick aluminum that holds its shape. Thin aluminum warps and changes the spacing, which messes up the halo. Powder coating protects the metal and comes in different colors and textures. 

 

LEDs last around 100,000 hours, maybe ten to fifteen years of nightly use. They make heat so the letters need ventilation to prevent hot spots. 

 

You can't judge quality until you see them lit at night. Good construction gives even glow all around each letter. Cheap construction shows bright spots, dark spots, and uneven glow. Daytime photos don't tell you anything useful. 

 

Your Choices 

 

Metal faces come brushed, painted, powder coated, or polished. Brushed aluminum is popular - looks modern, doesn't show fingerprints much. Painted faces match your brand colors. Dark faces with white halos create strong contrast. Light faces look softer. 

 

Most people use white LEDs. Warm white is softer, good for restaurants. Cool white is crisper, fits professional offices. Colored halos are possible but limit you if you rebrand later. 

 

Installation Matters 

 

Spacing has to be exact and consistent. Professional installers use mounting systems that hold each letter at the same distance from the wall everywhere. They check spacing at multiple points on each letter.