Halo-Lit (Back-Lit) Channel Letters
Halo-lit channel letters — also called back-lit or reverse-lit — turn the classic channel letter around. The face and sides are solid aluminum, so the letter itself stays opaque, and the LEDs shine backward through a clear back onto the wall. Each letter is mounted on standoffs a short distance from the surface, and the light spills out around its edges as a soft halo. By day they read as crisp metal lettering; at night the letters sit in silhouette against their own glow. It is the look hotels, offices, clinics and boutiques choose when a fully lit face would feel too loud.
Request a quote for pricing. Fabrication and delivery timing are confirmed with your quote.
Features
- Solid aluminum faces and returns, painted or brushed
- LEDs shine backward for a soft halo on the wall
- Mounted on standoffs so the light can spread
- Works best on a smooth, light or mid-tone wall
- Any typeface or logo shape, from 8" letters upward
What's in the box
- Your letters, built to the approved proof with LED modules installed.
- Standoffs for spacing each letter off the wall, and the power supply.
- A backer panel only where you choose that mounting.
- Installation and electrical hookup are not included.
Applications
- Reception and lobby walls where the logo should feel premium
- Hotel, restaurant and boutique frontages
- Office, clinic and professional-services signage
- Feature walls in a showroom or a permanent exhibit space
Specifications
Construction: Fabricated aluminum face and returns
Illumination: LED modules, lit from the back
Back: Clear back so the light reaches the wall
Finish: Painted, brushed or brand-colour match
Letter height: 8" to 36" standard, custom on request
Mounting: Standoffs from the wall, or on a backer panel
Power: Low-voltage LED with remote power supply
Configure your Halo-Lit (Back-Lit) Channel Letters and request a quote →
Frequently asked questions
What does halo-lit mean?
The letters are lit from behind rather than through their faces. The face is solid metal and stays dark; the LEDs face the wall, and because each letter stands off the surface on spacers, the light spreads out around it as a glowing outline — the halo.
What wall works best for halo-lit letters?
A smooth surface in a light or mid tone. The halo is light reflected off the wall, so a dark, glossy or heavily textured surface swallows or breaks it up. On a difficult wall, mount the letters on a backer panel in a colour that reflects well.
Are halo-lit letters readable from a distance at night?
They are readable, but softer than front-lit letters, because you see the outline of each letter rather than a lit face. For a sign that has to be read from a moving car across a wide road, front-lit or front-and-back-lit letters are the stronger choice.
What do you need from me to quote channel letters?
Your logo or lettering as a vector file (AI, EPS or PDF), the wording, the letter height or the overall width you have to fill, and a photo of the wall or fascia with its measurements. If a landlord has sign criteria for the building, send those too — they often fix the height, colours and mounting style.
Do channel letters need a permit?
Exterior signs usually do, and the rules are set by your city and often by your landlord as well. Check both before ordering. Your quote comes with a dimensioned proof, which is the drawing most permit offices and landlords ask to see.
Is installation included?
No. Letters are built and shipped ready to mount; installation is done on site by your sign installer, and illuminated letters must be connected to power by a licensed electrician.
How fast is production and shipping?
Fabrication and delivery timing are confirmed with your quote. We ship across the United States and Canada — see our Shipping page for delivery details.
What artwork file formats do you accept?
JPEG or PDF (single page only), up to 300MB. CMYK — convert Pantone and spot colours before sending. 150dpi for raster images, which is ample for large format. Build artwork to the ordered size; scaled artwork is detected and fitted, and do not include bleed or crop marks. Convert live fonts to outlines. We check every file at no charge and send a free proof before printing.
Do you offer bulk or wholesale discounts on halo-lit (back-lit) channel letters?
Yes. Pricing is wholesale and the per-piece price falls as the quantity rises. Send your quantity with your quote request and the volume price is included in the quote.