I created this guide for our customers and potential customers. These are the main steps we ask and cover in our questions to customers who request that we create a custom neon sign.
Publishing this article does two main things: It publicizes our formal process and helps customers understand what they need and what to expect when creating personalized neon signs.
- The purpose of the neon sign - is it for a business, decor, or event?
- Budget - usually custom neon signs cost between $400 and $1000+
- Indoor or outdoor use - Outdoor signs must be weatherproofed and cost more.
- Size - The size of the sign is restrained only by the design and the budget.
- Fonts - Most fonts can be converted into neon signs with UV print or LED overlay.
- Colors - Up to 24 colors of LED lights to choose from.
- Backboard shape and print—We can UV-print a backboard with a bespoke design and cut it to whatever shape is desired.
- Installation type - Wall, window, ceiling, or desk mount.
- Reputation of the manufacturer - Choosing a reputable sign maker with history, photos, reviews, and everything you'd expect of a good company.
Here are what we think are the crucial steps for customers when considering buying a custom neon sign:
The Purpose
The first thing we always ask is the purpose—how will the neon sign be used, where will it be used, and what is the purpose and goal?
We ask these questions because we have years of experience designing and creating custom neon signs. With this experience, we can likely offer advice and help on how to actually achieve the customer's goals.
If the customer is looking to use the neon sign for their business, we should ask more questions about their goal and logo (in high resolution), discuss the sizing, give feedback on the design, and offer advice we think will have a positive impact on the outcome.
If the customer wants to use the neon sign at their wedding, we can offer advice on sizing, decor for the space it will be used in, and color selections.
If the customer is looking to use the neon sign in decor, then we ask about the space it is intended for. The sizing of the sign, the design, and the colors are all factors to consider based on the space.
Depending on the answers to these probing questions, the following are some of the considerations we might have about the purpose:
Weddings
For a wedding, romantic and sophisticated designs like hearts, love quotes, or the couple's name in a vibrant, warm white neon sign will add memories to the special day.
Couples should consider the design of the sign, the size of the sign, and the location it will be used. We often find a photo wall where the neon sign sits behind, which is quite an attractive idea - photos can be shared on social media. A neon welcome sign, as is a nuptial neon sign, is also a good option, positioned behind the couple when they sign the marriage documents.
The most significant advantage of custom neon lights is that couples get to design their unique neon sign.
However, considering this is a wedding, they could consider one of our pre-designed neon wedding signs if budgets are tight.
Business Logos
Often, businesses want to display their logo, maybe outside their retail or office location. Our team has made custom indoor and outdoor signs.
The main consideration regarding purpose here is whether the sign is being used indoors or outdoors. Do you have high-resolution images of the logo? Finally, what is the size of the sign?
If you want a neon sign as your business logo, it's easy. Send us an image of your logo and the answers to the above questions, and we'll make an LED sign for you.
Clothing Stores
Retail clothing stores need to stand out. Having a neon sign which represents the brand, its ethos, and vibrant personality. The main consideration here is making sure the neon sign suits the brand guide and design. We need to know the goal of the sign - Is it to stand out and draw customers in? Is it a decor piece to highlight in the store? Is it to promote a particular sale or discount?
Our LED neon light signs can be crafted to suit any of these demands. Understanding the clothing store's goal will help us navigate the design, sizing, and colors more easily.
Coffee Bar
Coffee shops need neon light signs to make the space look good and attract more customers. Selling coffee is competitive, and often, potential customers who are driving past the cafe, who see the sign and then stop to buy, need the prod and reminder of functional neon advertising.
Sometimes, neon signs are used as decor inside a coffee shop to create a vibe and mood. Designs featuring coffee cups, coffee beans, or quotes about coffee (think, "Coffee first, questions later") create a coffee shop vibe.
There are considerations with coffee shops, such as whether the sign needs to be waterproof for outdoor use or in areas near steam, the size of the sign, and the design.
If budget is a consideration, we do have a number of pre-designed neon cafe signs that are more budget-friendly but also cannot be custom-made to suit the specific cafe or coffee shop.
Party Decoration
Birthdays, bah mitzvahs, special events, or celebrations. A neon sign adds a unique touch. Often, the age or name of the person is a feature of the sign. These make it your own custom neon.
For party use, make a party atmosphere with a custom neon sign saying "Let's Party."
The purpose considerations here are: where will the sign be used? Indoor or outdoor use? What is the size of the sign? And what are the colors and design of the sign?
Home Decor
Our neon signs are safe to use indoors, which makes them a unique decor element to use as lighting and accents in spaces. They can be used in bedrooms (ensure to get the dimmer option),
Our questions in this one extend to how the sign will be used in decor, where it will be used, and the size of the wall, room, or space, as this all feeds into the appropriate size of the neon sign.
Personalized neon signs make home decor easier by allowing you to customize the design, color, and text to be unique.
Children's Room
The consideration here is the size and location of the neon sign in the room. The neon will also need to be controlled and turned down (dimming is almost mandatory). As LED neon lights can be very bright, dimming the light at night will make it manageable as a "night light."
The considerations are the sizing, location, and design of the sign. Will the sign feature the child name? What color of LED lights are wanted? Where in the room?
Designs can be letters, numbers, kid-friendly cartoon characters, and design.
Given that we use LED neon, our signs are all safe to use indoors and safe to the touch—there are no safety issues (unlike antiquated glass neon signs).
We can make you your own neon sign as a one-of-a-kind gift for kids – their favorite icons, logos, emojis, or quotes.
They make unique gift ideas for kids from parents or grandparents. We can offer advice on the design, size, and colors.
Budget
Set a budget that's right that's right for you. The total cost of your custom LED neon sign will be a factor of the size of the sign, the amount of LED, and the complexity of the design.
Indoor or Outdoor Use
Indoor neon signs don't require extra work. Outdoor neon signs require weatherproofing, which prepares the sign for use in rain, dust, or other extreme weather conditions.
Indoor neon signs should never be used outdoors - they will fail.
The Size of the Custom Neon Sign
The size of neon signs is most often a factor of the allowable wall space and the budget's limits.
Consider the balance between the budget, size, and the location where the neon signs will be used.
Font and Design Style
We allow nearly any font to be used in our neon signs. Customers can use their own business-specific font from their brand guide, or we can recommend some common fonts we use in neon signs.
No matter the selection, we trace the font with LED neon flex to closely match the design.
The only considerations here are the font's style and budget. Some fonts are more elaborate and require more LED neon flex to trace them, which results in higher costs, which then factor into the budget.
Color of the LED Lights
Often dictated by the sign's design, which is finalized before production, the customer can select and use any of the 24 LED light colors in the neon sign. It could be one color or 24 colors; it doesn't affect the cost or sizing of the sign.
Backboard Shape & UV-Print
Backboard options include UV-printing and cutting the shape of the acrylic backboard to the shape of the design, cut to the letters, a rectangle/square cut, or circle cut. We use one of two options - 1/4" acrylic bac" board, and 1/2" acrylic bac" board for most applications. We have black, white, and gold color backboard options.
The consideration here is choosing the backboard color that is most aligned with the finalized design of the custom neon sign.
UV printing a design on to the backboard allows us to get fine detail that is not possible in LED neon flex but is part of the design. UV printing is a color print of a design that is printed to the backboard.
Often, customers have a complex design, and it is not possible to replicate the design in only LED neon flex—there are limitations, and the width of the LED strip is a factor (read about the limitations of LED neon flex). So, using UV printing allows us to get complex designs printed onto the sign while still having the LED neon flex overlayed onto the design to accentuate the main design elements.
Our main types of cut
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This is cut to the shape |
This is cut to rectangle |
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This is cut to the letter |
This is cut to a circular shape |
Installation
We always consider how the LED neon sign will be installed. Will it be mounted on a wall, window, or door, or mounted on an acrylic stand? The answer to this question factors into the design and creation of the sign.
Brand Reputation of the Neon Sign Maker
The final consideration we recommend customers consider is the reputation of the neon sign maker they choose.
Customers should choose a reputable sign maker with trading history, photos, reviews, and everything you'd expect from a good company. Simply Googling the company name, and business profile, will show you reviews, and detail about the company.
Reputable companies have a business name, a business profile on Google, a phone number, an EIN, an email address, a physical address, and directors listed on their websites with LinkedIn profiles.
A red flag would be the lack of company history, reviews, or a portfolio of previous neon signs they have made.
View our company details and director, our photo gallery of neon signs, and our Google Business profile.
Conclusion
I hope that by documenting and outlining our considerations and questions when customers request custom neon signs.
I hope that considering the nine things above will result in a better neon sign.
If you want to talk to our team about custom LED neon signs, ask for advice, or get help creating one, please use this custom quote form. We provide a free concept design and FREE quote with no obligation.
Video of How We Make Neon Signs
Personalized Neon Signs FAQ
What can I personalize about the neon sign?
When we create personalized neon signs, we allow customers to use their bespoke background artwork or design and choose any specific fonts, colors, and the overall sizing of the sign. Customers can also have multi-color and color-changing as part of the sign.
We can tailor a neon sign to replicate an existing glass neon sign, or it can be a unique design the customer has in mind.
How many colors can I select from?
Customers can select from 24 LED light colors to use within the neon sign. The sign can include one or all of these colors; there is no limit to the number of colors within a sign, and there is no price difference.
How do you create custom neon signs?
We use LED neon flex in all of our custom neon signs. LED neon flex is made of plastic tubing containing LED neon lights. As you might expect from the name, it is flexible. It is also cheaper to use and safer than traditional glass neon signs.
This flexibility allows us to mold and shape the LED lights into complex shapes that can replicate any design that a customer wishes.
How long does it take to make personalized neon signs?
Personalized neon signs usually take 2-3 days to manufacture. Our team takes the final design of the sign, cuts the backboard, prints the backboard, and shapes the LED neon flex to suit the design of the sign.
How much do custom neon signs cost?
Custom neon signs vary significantly in price. The cost depends on the design, size, and complexity.
We encourage customers who are considering buying a personalized neon sign to use the custom quote form to contact us.
