Sign Lighting

Sign Lighting - Attention to Your Signs

Effective commercial lighting can direct attention to your business signs and outdoor displays.

This can maximize their effect and enhance your storefront's attractiveness.

However, with so many lighting options to choose from and placement considerations to keep in mind, it can be a challenge to know which lighting option suits you.

Your Sign or Display Size

If you want to effectively illuminate your sign or display, you first need to consider its size.

Once the size is determined, your lighting options can be narrowed down to those that best highlight the area you plan to light.

For example, a larger sign or display may require multiple lights with the right intervals and distances from it to cover it completely and achieve maximum effect.

Your Lighting Needs

Think about what you are trying to achieve.

Do you want to boldly highlight your sign or display with direct lighting, or create a more low-profile effect with accent lighting?

Do you have plenty of outdoor space or is the area where you want to install lights limited?

Are you looking for lights with a warmer, yellow tint or a bold, bright white beam?

Knowing the answers to these questions will be very helpful when you need to choose lamps, shades, mounting styles, and fixture color finishes.

5 Things You Should Know When Looking for Sign Lighting

There are many decisions to make when choosing commercial lighting for outdoor signage.

Considerations often include: light source (color/temperature, bulb style, etc.), shade type, mounting system, fixture color, and any available accessories.

These decisions will largely revolve around the specific type of shade you are illuminating.

When illuminating walls for company logos, branding, or monikers, it is important to find something eye-catching and durable.

Overall, there are typically four major considerations when selecting outdoor and sign lighting.

#1 - Which Bulb Do You Want?

When trying to draw attention to your business signs and displays, the first decision is to choose the type of light source to be used.

Standard lamp options include:

• Incandescent
• Fluorescent
• HID (such as metal halide and high-pressure sodium)
• LED

There are unique advantages and disadvantages to each of these lamp types, so the one chosen can greatly impact the strength of your display.

For example, with incandescent bulbs and fixtures, they are typically cheaper than other lighting options mentioned above, and they provide greater illumination.

However, these bulbs are not as energy-efficient and may not be the best option for outdoor lighting.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lights, on the other hand, offer many advantages.

First of all, they have a CRI rating of 92, making them some of the most realistic lights compared to natural light.

But perhaps the biggest advantage of LED lights is their lifespan:

They can provide many years of use without worrying about replacing the bulbs.

Plus, they are energy-efficient, which is great if you plan to keep your lights on night after night.

The only downside of LED bulbs is that they are not as bright as other types of lamps, so outdoor use is not always ideal.

#2 - The Shade on Your Lamp

When choosing a shade, it is important to first consider how you will use your lighting.

A longer shade allows you to focus your light on a smaller area, while a shorter shade provides a wider light angle.

A deep shade with a limited light angle can be beneficial for direct lighting, such as when you aim your light at a specific spot on your display or shine light on a sign.

Conversely, a low shade can offer a broader light angle, which can be helpful for illuminating a large display or sign; an example of this is using projectors to light up a wall.

With gooseneck or globe lights, you can also choose from custom shade options to create a specific lighting style that works for you.

#3 - How Will It Be Mounted?

When choosing a mounting system, consider the lighting style you want to use.

Such styles include spotlights, projectors, and gooseneck lighting.

The mounting system you choose will also affect your options for illuminating your walls or signage.

For example, projectors are generally placed away from the building on sidewalks and pedestals, while lights attached to sign fixtures will shine from above.

Our sign lights and gooseneck lights have an array of solution-based mounting brackets and shapes, from the traditional shepherd hook style to powerful breast lighting.

With all these options, there is truly a mounting arm for every application.

The way you choose to target your lighting, whether switching between uplighting and downlighting, will have a direct impact on the outdoor display's aesthetics.

You want to direct your lighting in a way that illuminates the entire display.

With projector lights, you can for instance illuminate a large display, like a store facade or a showcase window.

When illuminating a display from the ground, you typically aim your lighting upward; by burying your projectors in the surrounding landscape, you can hide the fixtures and keep your message in focus.

When distributing the lights, you should first determine how much space you have to work with.

This will help you distribute your lighting evenly for the best effect.

Fixtures placed on the ground should be spaced apart at a distance equivalent to double the distance to your setback for even lighting.

For example, if you set your projectors 3 meters away from the wall, you should place multiple fixtures 7 meters apart.

This ensures your lighting is consistent and prevents the beams from overlapping.

#4 - What Color Finish Should the Lamp Have?

As the goal of lighting is to draw the eye to the display, not the fixture, be sure to select a color finish that matches the surrounding décor.

Keep attention focused on your display, and not your light fixtures, by choosing a fixture color that matches your existing exterior.

#5 - What Accessories Will You Need?

Using lighting accessories allows you to develop your own custom lighting system.

When choosing a light fixture, be sure to look at all compatible accessories, such as additional mounting options, wire shades, rotating knobs, and various other enhancements.