Making The Most Of Your Real Neon Signs With Carousel Lights
Real neon signs have long been a symbol of vibrancy, creativity, and nostalgia, lighting up storefronts, bars, and late-night city streets with their distinctive warm glow. While modern LED options offer plenty of convenience, there’s an undeniable charm and authenticity to real neon signs that make them stand out amongst the crowd.
Whether you’re a business owner looking to enhance your brand presence, create a unique ambiance, or simply appreciate the artistry of handcrafted signage, investing in real neon is a great way to showcase quality. In this article, we’ll explore the definition of a real neon sign, the differences between real neon and LED alternatives, the benefits of sourcing from a trusted company like Carousel Lights, and how to maximise the impact and lifespan of your neon sign with strategic positioning and proper maintenance.
What Are Real Neon Signs?
Real neon signs, or traditional glass neon, refer to light-up signage that uses the decades-old traditional method of construction and operation. This means a light-up sign is created by filling shaped glass tubes with a noble gas such as neon or argon, and running electricity through this gas to produce a bright glow.
Neon signs have long been celebrated as a pop culture icon, their warm glow defining the nightlife and crowded streets of cities throughout the world across much of the 20th century and into modernity. Although they’ve gotten slightly less popular over time with the arrival of alternatives such as LED signs, their use tends to create a strong feeling of nostalgia, giving businesses who use traditional neon signs a cool, retro feel.
The most popular of these alternatives are LED-based neon signs, which are easier to make and maintain. At Carousel Lights, we have two options for LED neon signage: Neon Ultra and Neon Flex, both of which are high-quality alternatives to our traditional neon signage options.
How Are They Different To LED Alternatives?
LED-based neon imitation signs have become an increasingly popular alternative to classical neon signs. Even though they are widely referred to as ‘neon’, they are totally different. One is real neon whilst the others are LED illumination attempting to recreate the look of real neon. There are a few key differences between this modern version and the classical version, ranging from material differences in construction and the way they operate to costs and energy usage.
LED alternatives do not use glass tubes filled with a noble gas to produce their glow. They use LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights encased in a plastic, acrylic or sometimes glass coating to merely reproduce a similar effect. They tend to be more energy-efficient than traditional neon signs, and smaller ones can even be battery-powered to allow for easy mobility. The use of LEDs means that these signs are programmable, with lights in some models being dimmable or able to change colour at the touch of a button.
A high-quality LED neon sign can have a lifespan of between a decade and seventeen years with fairly minimal maintenance required. On top of all of this, they’re cheap to produce, buy, maintain and power, making them the ideal choice for businesses or individuals with a lower budget who want to recreate the charm of real neon signs.
Even so, there are still lots of reasons to opt for real neon signs. The old-school stylings of traditional neon signs glow with a warmth and vibrancy that immediately draws the eye. The vintage atmosphere that these signs create can be difficult to replicate, and the retro feel never goes out of style.
Investing In Custom Real Neon Signs
One of the most appealing aspects of real neon signs is the options for customisation. The actual design (whether that be an image, logo, or font), size, colour and even material can all be adapted to your wants and needs as a business. This is a great way to give your business a unique flair, displaying a custom image, brand logo or slogan. This also opens up great possibilities for artistic expression, as you can easily create a sign that more heavily emphasises aesthetic appeal over brand identity, a good option for establishments using neon signs to create ambience.
Custom signs mean you can bring your logo to life, set up light-up navigational signs, create spaces for social media pictures, advertise specific promotions, or just boost the atmosphere with colourful lighting. The options are endless, and you can really take advantage of your creativity to get the most out of your signs.
Carousel Lights specialises in the creation of custom neon signs, with decades of combined experience creating personalised neon signs for clients across almost all industries. We are confident that no matter what your requirements are, we’d be able to work closely with you to help produce the perfect custom neon sign for your unique needs.
Positioning Your Real Neon Signs Correctly
Another critical part of making the most of a real neon sign is positioning it in a way that benefits you the most. An incorrectly placed sign risks going unnoticed, being illegible or even damage from human and natural elements. On the other hand, a real neon sign that has been placed intelligently will draw the eye (and patronage) of customers, stand out among the crowd, and withstand the wear and tear effects of the outdoors.
First off, you need to choose the right location. Place your sign where it can be easily seen from key vantage points, from both the perspective of pedestrians and drivers. Make the visuals pop and enhance readability by mounting the sign on a background that contrasts well with the colour of the sign. You should also make sure that the sign is at eye level, or slightly above, for maximum impact.
Next, consider the lighting and reflection of the sign. It’s best to place your sign away from direct light sources or bright ambient lighting that could wash out the warm neon glow. If the sign is placed near windows, look out for glare and reflections that could reduce its visibility.
Another major consideration is whether to place this sign indoors or outdoors. If you decide to place your neon sign outdoors, place it somewhere where it isn’t exposed fully to the elements such as sunshine, rain and wind. Indoor signs tend to have longer lifespans as they don’t have to come into contact with the conditions of the outdoors, but it’s still important to keep them away from direct heat sources, such as radiators, and out of reach of children or pets.
At Carousel Lights, we are more than willing to help you decide on the right location for your neon sign based on your desires. If you plan on getting a neon sign for outside, let us know at the beginning of the process for best results. Whether you opt for an indoor or outdoor sign, we provide durable and effective signs that are bound to last for years.
Maintaining Your Real Neon Signs
While traditional neon signs and LED neon signs do not require heavy upkeep, it is important to keep some maintenance tips in mind. The proper maintenance and care of your sign can make it last that much longer, and the processes are simple and straightforward.
The first step, as you may have already guessed, is to clean your neon sign regularly. After disconnecting the sign, you can use a soft microfiber cloth, duster, or soft bristle brush to help remove dust without damaging the fragile tubing. Feel free to use compressed air to clean hard-to-reach areas.
As you clean the sign, it’s a good time to inspect for damage, such as any cracks or breaks that may have appeared. You can also check for flickering or dimness after switching the sign back on, which might indicate transformer issues or loose connections. If you notice any of these issues, feel free to reach out to Carousel Lights, as we are more than willing to assist you with repairs and resolving any problems surrounding your sign.
Keep in mind that while neon signs are indeed designed to run continuously, turning them off when not needed is a great way to extend their lifespan and avoid overheating. Another way to avoid overheating is to make sure that the sign isn’t enclosed in a tight space without proper ventilation, where heat buildup can easily occur.
Whilst some issues can be easily fixed with a few of the right tools and the right attitude, if your real neon sign is flickering, making a buzzing noise or simply not lighting up, reach out to us at Carousel Lights, and we will assist.
Why Choose Carousel Lights For Custom Neon Signs?
At Carousel Lights, we’re more than just your everyday sign-making company. We are a multi-award-winning family business operating right here in the U.K. We specialise in signage and lighting, and neon signs are our bread and butter.
We’ve helped thousands of clients create neon signs for business, personal, and artistic purposes. Our long list of notable clients includes Coca-Cola, Sky Sports, BBC, Paramount+, and many more.
We’re experts in creating traditional neon signs, LED neon signs, lightboxes, fairground lights, and edgelit signs. We have both the tools and expertise to produce essentially any sign you can think of, from simple light-up logos to complicated neon art pieces.
You can provide us with a vague idea of what you want, and we’ll prepare some mock-up designs for you to review, or you can give us your exact specifications, and we’ll get to work. The reason clients choose us time and time again is because of our deep commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and expert customer service. No matter what type of neon sign you need, we’re here to make it happen.
Getting The Most Out Of Real Neon Signs With Carousel Lights
Real neon signs represent more than just illumination or advertisement; they create atmosphere, evoke nostalgia, and add a touch of artistry to any space. By choosing a high-quality sign from a trusted supplier like Carousel Lights, you’re guaranteed an investment that is both visually striking and long-lasting. Custom designs further elevate the uniqueness and bold impact of your sign, allowing you to bring your designs to life with the help of expert custom sign-makers.
To truly capitalise on your neon sign, careful placement is essential and regular maintenance will keep it glowing beautifully for years. Whether for business purposes or personal decor, a well-made, well-designed, well-placed, and well-maintained neon sign stands as a timeless statement of craftsmanship and style.
If you’re looking for a traditional or LED neon sign, Carousel Lights has you covered. Give us a call at 01372 662299 or email us at hello@carousellights.com for more information on our custom neon sign making services!
