| Channel letter signs, which are also referred to as | | | | takes a bit longer, it is usually more expensive than |
| halo lit letter signs or back lit letter signs, are signs | | | | those installed with a raceway. |
| that are typically illuminated with Neon. | | | | Another type of channel letter sign is the open face |
| Channel letter signs are often used by business | | | | channel letter sign. These signs are built in a manner |
| owners to display information to their customers. | | | | similar to standard channel letters, though they can |
| One type of channel letter sign is the raceway | | | | be mounted either on a raceway or individually. Open |
| mounted channel letter sign. The letters on these | | | | channel letters are not actually "open." Rather, these |
| signs are attached to a box called a raceway, which | | | | letters have a clear face rather than a colored plastic |
| is a long rectangular box. This box helps with | | | | face. |
| mounting the letters and also serves as a housing for | | | | By having a clear face, this type of channel letter |
| all of the wiring, electrical components, and | | | | sign allows the neon tubing to show through. This |
| transformers needed to make the light function. | | | | makes the sign even more noticeable and nighttime. |
| Channel letters within a raceway are generally easier | | | | Channel letters with a colored face tend to |
| to install in a sign than those letters that are | | | | overshadow the brightness of the neon light. |
| individually mounted. In addition, channel letters are | | | | Channel letters can also be reverse. Reverse channel |
| easier to wire inside of wall because it only requires | | | | letters have metal faces as well as returns on the |
| pushing a few wires through rather than several. | | | | sides of the letters. These channel letters also have a |
| Channel letters can also be mounted directly onto the | | | | clear plastic backing and are designed for mounting |
| wall. Most people prefer the way individually mounted | | | | just an inch or so away from a wall. As a result, |
| letters look better than those that are on the | | | | these channel letters tend to have a halo-lit look at |
| raceway. When mounting these letters individually, | | | | night. |
| the person hanging the letters must lay out a | | | | Regardless of the method used, channel letter signs |
| mounting pattern directly on the wall where it is to | | | | are an effective means of advertising and catching a |
| be added. Then, holes are drilled for the letters and | | | | potential customer's eye. |
| for the electrical components. Since this process | | | | © 2007 RightNow Communications, Inc. |