Handwritten letters and notes are beautiful - turn a cursive font into a neon sign, which takes on the beauty and feeling of a handwritten note.
Fortunately, LED neon flex the LED technology that allows us to make finely detailed neon signs - can bend and mold to any shape. This is why we use LED neon flex in our cursive neon signs.
I wrote this blog post to help customers decide when to use a cursive font and to choose the appropriate neon sign font for their project.
- Cursive fonts are perfect for intimate and personal messages.
- LED neon flex can be molded and shaped to any cursive font.
- Cursive neon signs convert a cursive font into a neon sign.
- Cursive neon signs are perfect for weddings, business logos, wall art, quotes, sayings, and expressions.
- Neon signs with cursive typefaces nearly always cost more—they use more LEDs, which increases the cost.
Below are my top tips for cursive neon signs.
Examples of Cursive Neon Signs
Here are some photos of cursive neon signs we have created over the last year. Some feature a company name, suit a wedding style, some are indoor or outdoor, and some feature lots of personalization.
Ideas for Cursive Neon Signs
Cursive neon signs can be used in nearly all decor and business situations. However, some trends we've seen over time show the most popular places where they are useful.
- Weddings: They are usually decorated with the happy couple's surname, first name, or a welcome message- usually in a warm white color.
- Beauty and Hair Salons: Often simple messages like "You're Gorgeous" or "Hello Beautiful" - usually in pink.
- Home Decor - Positive affirmations, love messages, or a welcome sign.
- Quote Signs - A famous quote from a famous person, like "Believe you can, and you're halfway there" or similar.
- Bars - Usually messages related to drinking, "But First Alcohol" or similar.
- A Gift - Regarding unique gift ideas, a cursive neon sign is the most striking.
Things to Avoid and Be Aware Of
Working with a cursive typeface has some issues, and here are the problems and some professional tips to help solve them.
Beware - More Lines = Higher Price
There are many factors that go into the cost of a neon sign. One of the biggest factors is the amount of LED neon flex used in the sign. The amount of LED neon flex needed is calculated based on a trace of all of the elements needing to be lit up—the number of LED lines in the design.
Cursive fonts are elaborate, often overusing lines to make letters and numbers. When choosing a cursive font for a neon sign, it's essential to be aware that the more elaborate the font, the more lines it will have and, therefore, the amount of LED flex needed to trace those lines, which comes with a price increase.
Pro tip: Choose a cursive typeface that is a good balance of flourishes but doesn't go over the top.
Beware - Pairing with other fonts
Cursive fonts can be tricky to read sometimes, so if you need to use a particular typeface in the neon sign, consider using a secondary font to highlight other elements—like offers, services, or products.
A secondary typeface should be complimentary and suitable for the design.
Pro tip: If you plan to pair a cursive font with a non-cursive font, be sure to check the design and be comfortable with how it looks before manufacturing.
Avoid - All capital letters
Cursive fonts were designed to be similar to handwriting - letters are joined and flow, with some flourishes and accents. However, they are not intended to be used in all capital letters as they are hard to read and, quite frankly, look clunky (see the image below).
Pro tip: Avoid using all caps in your cursive neon sign - it won't look good.
Avoid - Kerning
Kerning is the spacing between individual letters and numbers. Cursive fonts tend to take up more space (both horizontally and vertically) due to their elaborate nature. We can be tempted to adjust the kerning to cram more letters into the neon sign - this is a mistake.
Cursive fonts are designed to be spaced as they are so that they fit together in a specific manner - adjusting the kerning alters this spacing and can disrupt the visual look once it is made into the cursive neon sign.
Pro tip: Don't mess with the kerning of the cursive lettering, it can affect the visual look in the neon sign.
Conclusion
Choosing a cursive neon sign is a great idea if you think the style of the sign will fit into the decor you have planned. They are versatile and easy to style, and having a custom neon sign with your particular message or personalized quote is always a lovely touch to add to any space.
FAQ About Cursive Neon Signs
What is a cursive font?
A cursive font is a font or typography that looks like handwriting - they come in many forms, and there are many thousands. They vary in how elaborate or excessive they are in lines, width, height, and style.
One of the critical features of a cursive font is that the letters are joined together and flow.
What is a cursive neon sign?
A cursive neon sign is made using a cursive font. Once a particular font is selected, we trace it with LED light tubes (aka LED neon flex) and turn the design idea into a working neon sign.
Why do cursive fonts work well in neon signs?
There are two key factors: 1. The visual appeal of the letters flowing and the handwriting style all make for a compelling look. 2. The joined letters also help neon sign makers create the neon sign—each letter needs power, and if the letters weren't joined together, wires would show.
The joined letters provide a nice visual aesthetic and also hide the wiring needed to power the neon sign.
What are the best cursive fonts for neon signs?
There are many to choose from, but some of our most popular are Bayshore, Mayfair, Neon Script, Royalty, Freehand, and Brittany.
Check out some of our most popular fonts for neon signs.
Can cursive neon signs be customized?
Customers often request that we create a customized neon sign to display specific quotes, modern artwork, messages, or names. Our custom neon signs allow a personalized touch and are often the ideal solution for marketing, advertising, or business needs.
Backboard options include an acrylic backboard in black, white, or clear.
Our cursive neon signs are easy to install, and weatherproofing makes them suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
They are energy-efficient, use little electricity, and come with a free remote control for altering the brightness of the display.
Contact our support team if you want an affordable custom neon light designed specifically for you.
