Choosing letters
Channel letter types explained: face-lit, halo-lit, combination and non-illuminated
How each family of channel letters handles light, where it works best, and which of our 11 production profiles matches it.
Cut-out & non-illuminated letters
Non-illuminated channel letters PROFILE SML 2
Built letters in aluminium or stainless steel with a return depth to suit the letter size.
Construction
Built letters in aluminium or stainless steel. Return depth is chosen to suit the letter size; aluminium is CNC-cut and argon-welded, stainless is laser-cut and laser-welded.
Specifications
| Materials | Aluminium or stainless steel; PVC foam back |
|---|---|
| Fabrication | Aluminium: CNC cut + argon welding · Stainless: laser cut + laser welding |
| Finish | RAL paint, or self-colour stainless (incl. gold mirror) |
| Mounting | #1 flush on site · #2 raised with stand-off screws |
Typical applications
Premium facades and interiors that need depth and a metal finish without lighting.
Trade only – we produce for sign makers and agencies, not for end users.
What to specify when ordering SML 2
Send these six choices with your artwork and letter heights – we confirm the details and price before production.
- Application method
- Base material
- Return depth
- RAL colour & finish
- Mounting option
- Lighting
How it works
Send your artwork
Vector file, letter heights and installation details.
Choose the specification
Profile, material, depth, colour, mounting and lighting.
Quotation & approval
We confirm details and pricing before production.
Production & QC
Cut, welded, finished, lit and checked in our factory.
Packing & dispatch
Carefully packed for transport to your workshop.
Other profiles
All profiles →
SML 1
Cut-out facade letters
Flat CNC- or laser-cut letters in composite, PVC foam, acrylic, aluminium or stainless steel.
View profile →
SML 3
Back-lit (halo) channel letters
Aluminium or stainless letters with LEDs that throw a halo of light onto the wall.
View profile →
SML 3 EXCLUSIVE
Exclusive back-lit channel letters
Mostly stainless steel letters on a 20 mm acrylic base for an even halo.
View profile →Guides about this profile
All guides →
Choosing letters
Stainless steel, aluminium or acrylic: choosing the right material for built-up letters
What each material brings to a channel letter – fabrication, finishes, weight and look – and how the choice maps onto our production profiles.
Lighting & installation
How to mount built-up letters: flush, stand-off, rail and panel fixing
Flush or raised, on studs, a rail or a backing panel – how built-up letters are fixed, how the choice affects the look, and what to plan before installation.
Have a sign project for your client?
Send us your artwork and sizes – we will come back with the right profile, materials and a quotation.