What are the differences between these two different sign illumination technologies, and which is right for you?
For many businesses, illuminated signage is a must-have. It can enable customers to find you at any hour of the day or night and help your logo shine out like a beacon in bad weather, not to mention being an invaluable branding asset communicating prestige and permanence.
Many of us think of ‘neon signage’ as being sort of synonymous with ‘illuminated signage’, but more and more businesses today are turning to LED technology for their needs – so what exactly is neon signage, and what’s the difference between the two?
In this post, we will cover the two types of illuminated signs, how they work, and reasons we might choose one or the other…
What is neon signage?
Neon signage consists of glass tubing bent into the shape of lettering or artwork and filled with a small amount of a noble gas which, when electrified with a strong current, emits a brightly coloured glow. Electric terminals are present at each end of the tubing to administer the charge and ionize the gas, thus causing the sign to illuminate warmly.
Despite the name, these signs don’t always contain neon; other inert noble gases, such as argon, krypton or helium, might be used instead (or in combination with one another).
Other elements such as mercury or hydrogen might also be used – the reason being that each chemical produces a different colour when electrified. For example, helium produces a yellow glow, while mercury is blue (as opposed to neon’s standard orangey-red appearance). Sometimes, a thin powder coating is used on the inside of the tube to create further colour effects.
Neon tube lighting, if well-made and well looked-after, tends to have a long lifespan of years or even decades. It has a very distinctive look, although its popularity has been somewhat in decline in recent years – which in some cases can lend it a retro-chic appeal.
What is LED signage?
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are essentially tiny lightbulbs without a filament, meaning they can’t get particularly hot or burn out. Individually they produce a small point of light, but when combined together en masse in a sign they can form a large and brightly illuminated area.
LEDs were at one time quite expensive as they incorporate advanced semiconducting material. These days, technology has advanced to the point that not only the price has come down but also the options have increased – while the earliest LED bulbs produced only red and yellow lighting, it wasn’t until relatively recently that blue LEDs were invented. This breakthrough has now allowed high powered white bulbs to ultimately be produced.
In signage, LEDs are often encased in opal (lightbox) acrylic, a type of semi-translucent plastic that covers and obscures the bulbs but allows their light to pass. This allows us to create signs that are illuminated from within, and coloured film can be applied to the acrylic to create even more colour possibilities.
Comparing LED and neon signage
Both neon and LED signs have very long lifespans, and in both cases a well looked-after sign can be expected to last for many years.
However, they are definitely not equal in energy efficiency; as hinted at earlier, neon lighting requires a lot of power to operate (15,000 volts) compared to the tiny energy consumption of LEDs (just 24 volts). This makes neon both a great deal more expensive and also somewhat less environmentally friendly than LED illumination.
Neon signs are also made of glass, unavoidably making them more fragile than their acrylic-encased LED counterparts – which can also represent a safety issue, given that some of the chemical contents of these tubes aren’t conducive to good health (inhaling mercury vapour, for example, can lead to poisoning).
LED signs, by comparison, are extremely safe and don’t even get very warm – which is the main reason for their severely reduced energy consumption, as they use electricity much more efficiently than traditional bulbs that waste large amounts of power as heat instead of light.
Aesthetically, the two types of signage are quite different. Neon signs have a distinctive look and character, but at the same time can be quite limited – there are many designs and concepts that can’t really be done in neon. Often, the limitations of working with glass-bending can mean that the finished look of a neon sign can seem to be a simplified approximation of the original design.
LED-illuminated signage, on the other hand, is quite versatile and can be incorporated into a wide variety of designs and styles of signage with ease. Whether the diodes are used to illuminate a lightbox sign from within, or to provide halo backlighting for solid letterforms, almost any conceivable logo, word or image can be adapted to incorporate LEDs.
Neon lighting is also generally not as bright as LED lighting, which can be seen from a much greater distance. Unprotected LED lighting is so strong that it can sometimes be a little harsh on the eyes, which is why it is generally presented behind acrylic or as a backlighting element.
This strength of illumination does mean that LED signage can still seem to be glowing brightly even on a sunny day, whereas the softer lighting of neon can sometimes cause it to appear ‘washed out’ in sunlight.
In the end, both varieties of signage have their uses in the modern business landscape. Depending on the requirements of a given project, it can often make sense to favour one type over another to get a particular look or outcome.
The retro glamour of neon can evoke classic images of 1950’s Las Vegas, London and Tokyo, and if you’re after that buzzing, old-school aesthetic then there can be no substitutes. For most other projects, though, we generally recommend LED signage as being a great deal more versatile, efficient to run, cost-effective, easy to maintain and modern in appearance.
Here at Medash Signs, we have produced illuminated signage for much of our forty-year history. From the neon signs years of yesterday to the LED signs of the current era, we have the experience to manufacture both types of signs for any project – please don’t hesitate to contact us for more advice about which is right for you.