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.
Front-lit channel letters
Front-lit channel letters with trim PROFILE SML 4
Stainless steel returns and trim with a coloured acrylic face; front or reverse lighting.
Construction
Stainless steel letters formed by cutting the trim, with an acrylic face in the colour of your choice. Front lighting and reverse lighting are both possible. Contact us for special shapes.
Specifications
| Materials | Stainless steel return + trim, acrylic face |
|---|---|
| Back | #1 PVC foam back tray · #2 high mounting screws; metal back-face available |
| Finish | Electrostatic powder coat or stainless colours |
| Lighting | Front-lit; reverse (back) lighting also possible |
Typical applications
Storefronts and facades that need bright, legible lettering day and night.
Trade only – we produce for sign makers and agencies, not for end users.
What to specify when ordering SML 4
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 4 EXCLUSIVE
Exclusive front-lit channel letters
The premium SML 4: stainless trim and returns, metal back-face, zero gap to the wall.
View profile →
SML 5 ECO
Front-lit channel letters – economy
CNC-cut acrylic face with a painted aluminium return in 4, 6, 8 or 10 cm.
View profile →
SML 6
Front-lit channel letters – reverse tray
Reverse-tray letters, preferably stainless, with several face options.
View profile →Guides about this profile
All guides →
Ordering & trade
How to request a channel letter quote: the files, sizes and specifications to send
A complete brief gets you an accurate price faster. Here is what to send – artwork, sizes and the six choices that define every letter.
Choosing letters
Letter height and viewing distance: how big should sign letters be?
A practical metric chart for sizing sign letters, the legibility index behind it, and why contrast, font, lighting and speed matter as much as height.
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.