3D Acrylic, Aluminium Channel Letters Mounted on a ACP Base Frame
Channel letter signs are almost exactly similar to acrylic box letters. Here too, we have a raised 3D letter with LEDs fixed on the inside. But there is one major difference.
In acrylic box letters, both the front as well as the side skirtings are made of acrylic. This means that the entire letter (the top surface as well as its 3 inch deep sides) glow when lit from within.
But that is not the case for a channel letter board.
How is a 3D Acrylic Channel Letter Board Made?
In 3D channel letters, the side border is made of a metal patti or strip. Signmakers refer to this border as ‘aluminium profile strip’ or ‘channel patti’.
For fabricating our letter, we take a 3-inch thick aluminium channel and turn it into the desired shape. There is a specialised channel bending machine to do this. The laser-cut acrylic sheet is then mounted on top of the shaped channel.
The End-Result and Application
The end result is an exceedingly beautiful letter with a metallic finish on the sides. With the acrylic sheet on the front, you still have your backlit effect. The only difference being that the letter will glow only from the front and not from the sides (being made of metal, the aluminium channel does to allow light to pass through.
Choosing between a fully glowing acrylic box letter sign board and the aluminium channel letter option is a matter of personal choice. The costs for both are more or less the same.
A sign board is not lit during a major part of the day. So, for some people, the metallic finish of a channel letter is more important than the amount of light it throws out. Others might prefer the glorious glow of the entire 3D letter. For them, it would make sense to opt for the acrylic box letter sign.