Short answer
Choose front-lit letters when the name must be read from far away, day and night. Choose halo-lit letters for a softer, upscale look at night on a light coloured, flat wall. Front and halo lit letters do both.
How they work
- Front-lit (CL-F1, CL-F2). LEDs inside the letter shine through a translucent acrylic face. The face is the bright part. CL-F1 has a trim cap around the face, CL-F2 is trimless for a cleaner edge.
- Halo-lit (CL-H1). The face is solid metal. LEDs shine backward through an open or clear back onto the wall, so each letter is outlined by a glow.
- Front and halo lit (CL-FH). A lit face plus a halo behind.
Side by side
| Front-lit | Halo-lit | Front and halo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading distance at night | Longest | Shorter, the face is dark | Long |
| Look in daylight | Coloured acrylic faces | Solid metal faces | Coloured faces |
| Wall it needs | Any | Flat, ideally light coloured | Flat, ideally light coloured |
| Typical use | Busy roads, plazas, retail | Clinics, offices, boutiques, lobbies | Flagship storefronts |
Questions to ask before you pick
- How far away are your customers? If they read the sign from a car across a parking lot, front-lit is the safer choice.
- What is the wall like? A halo needs a surface to land on. Dark brick, ribbed metal or glass behind the letters weaken the effect.
- Does your landlord or strata have sign rules? Many shopping centres and some cities set the lighting type. Check the lease and the local permit rules first.
Certification is the same for all three
Every lit option we sell ships with a cUL label to CSA C22.2 No. 207. Why that matters.