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September 28, 2015

More Effective Signage in a Single Step

Color wheel for channel letter signage

More Effective Signage in a Single Step

You know one of the standard problems with installing effective signage. It is “drown out”, or the tendency for a single sign to become inconspicuous in a competitive signage environment. How can you make your customer’s channel letter set stand out and be noticed?

Use this trick from the art world. Complementary colors. We’ve touched on this in a previous post and it is time to briefly revisit it. This idea works for daytime sign viewing – it will not help at night.

Remember that complementary colors appear opposite each other on the color wheel (see color wheel below).

Research has shown that items with complementary colors actually leave an afterimage on a viewer’s retina.  So your first move is to review the building façade and take careful note of the mounting area color. Then check out the color wheel. Which color is opposite (complementary to) the façade color?

Whatever it is, that should be your channel letter acrylic (face) color. Here is an example of a façade/face with complementary colors.

If the façade is a neutral shade that does not appear on the color wheel (like white), common sense suggests using any dark color (including black) that will have a strong contrast to the light façade. Whatever you do, don’t specify a face color that matches the façade color.  

This approach packs a visual punch and can help to generate attention for your customer’s sign. Combine it with well illuminated channel letters, a clear font and strategic sign placement and your customer will succeed despite a crowded signage environment.

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