Lightbox signage is a vibrant and eye-catching signage solution that has gained significant popularity in recent years. Whether you want to bring your logo to life or add some flashy text to the walls of your restaurant, bar, or retail space, a custom lightbox from Carousel Lights is the way to go.
In this quick read, we’ll be covering everything you need to know about our custom-made lightboxes – filling you in on how we put them together, maintenance, installation, customisation options and more. This is the perfect read before browsing our gallery of successful lightbox signage projects and ordering one of your own.
At Carousel Lights, we specialise in crafting custom-made lights and signs tailored to your specific needs. Keep reading to learn more about our custom lightboxes and how Carousel Lights can help you make a bold statement with our high-quality signage solutions.
A lightbox is an illuminated sign that combines an enclosed frame with a backlit design, often used for signage, branding, wayfinding or decorative purposes. If you order your lightbox from Carousel Lights, the design is printed on vinyl and then fixed to an acrylic face panel. The design is then internally illuminated with LED lights, making the face design stand out. You can also adjust the colours and brightness via a remote control if you wish.
While backlit signage and lightbox signage are closely related terms and often overlap, there are subtle differences between the two. Backlit signage refers to any type of sign where the graphic or content is illuminated from behind using a light source. Lightbox signage, however, is a form of backlit signage in which the display is encapsulated in a box-like structure. Put simply, all lightbox signage is backlit signage, but not all backlit signage is lightbox signage.
The purpose of a light box revolves around the vinyl design on the acrylic display. The goal of this signage solution is to display your design in the most eye-catching way possible, using the glow of the energy-efficient internal LEDs to really make it pop.
Lightboxes are pretty versatile in their application. Businesses can use them for branding or advertising, to either reinforce brand identity or draw in new customers. For example, Carousel Lights supplied lightboxes to coffeeshops with information wording such as ‘ORDER HERE’ and ‘PICK UP HERE’. These stylish signs can also be used as informative tools, providing wayfinding directions to assist navigation, or by displaying important information. In other situations, lightboxes can be used to enhance aesthetics and create a high-class atmosphere wherever they’re installed. Essentially, the sky is the limit and what you use your custom lightbox signage for is entirely up to you.
With so many light and signage options available out there, what makes lightbox signage stand out specifically? Let’s break it down:
One of the biggest appeals of lightbox signs is that they are fairly durable, and generally require minimal maintenance. However, the lifespan of a lightbox is largely dependent on the kind of materials it’s made from. Fluorescent lightboxes used to last between 1-3 years when in regular use, while LED lightboxes can last for around 5-10 years, depending on how long they are turned on for. Damaged or defunct lights can often be replaced, ultimately leaving the total lifespan more dependent on the frame and cover. If made from tough, sturdy materials, these can last up to 15-20 years.
All of our lightboxes are custom-made right here in the UK, offering a great way to transform designs like logos and slogans into striking, illuminated signage. As mentioned, each LED lightbox is made with recyclable steel and energy-efficient LEDs, making them an eco-friendly and sustainable solution that keeps mother nature in mind.
By producing our lightboxes locally in Britain, we significantly reduce air miles too, ensuring an even lower environmental impact and more money saved on delivery. If you’re interested in investing in a custom lightbox to suit your purposes, don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know what you need – you can even request a free quote and look forward to expert advice from our design team to help you bring your vision to life.
Our custom lightbox signs are made up of four primary parts:
When ordering your custom lightbox signage from Carousel Lights, there are a few design decisions you’ll need to make. First and foremost, you’ll want to consider the design that you’d like on your lightbox as well as the colour of the frame. For the vinyl graphics, we can cut coloured vinyl according to the shape of your desired design (this is best for simple lettering like ‘COFFEE’ or ‘WELCOME’) or you can opt to have more complex designs printed onto the vinyl.
Either way, the vinyl will then be applied to the acrylic face which will slot right into the face of the box. In terms of colour, we can powdercoat the lightbox in any standard RAL colour scheme of your choice, giving you plenty of vibrant options to personalise your custom light box sign.
Once you’ve filled us in on your design ideas and the colour scheme to match, we’ll need to discuss the finer details. This includes everything from the size of your lightbox signage (we can build lightboxes in just about any width and length) to your installation preferences; would you like your lightbox to free-stand or would you prefer to have it fixed to a wall?
We’ll also discuss where you’d like the power cable to exit the box as well as what colour and length the cable will need to be. All of this will help us craft the perfect custom lightbox to suit your needs and aesthetic vision, so don’t hesitate to share the nitty gritty details of your design preferences!
Lightbox signage is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, although the lightbox will have to be specifically designed to be adapted to either. Outdoor lightboxes may feature additional weatherproofing details to protect the interior from rain and wind damage.
Lightboxes aren’t complicated to install, but still require the skill and know-how to do so. While Carousel Lights doesn’t handle installations directly, we collaborate with specialist installers for professional setup of your custom signage and organise installation on your behalf.
Lightbox signage can be a powerful tool to enhance brand visibility and leave a lasting impression, making them pretty popular with plenty of businesses. With near-endless design possibilities, custom-made lightboxes can help you showcase your brand identity in a way that stands out amongst the rest. In terms of wayfinding, illuminated lightbox displays can prove useful, conveying important information in a way that’s easy to spot in low-light or high-traffic environments.
While lightbox signage is well known for its use in branding and advertising, there are a number of creative ways to apply this vibrant technology. Restaurants, bars, parlours, and cafés use lightboxes to display menu options and for thematic décor too. Theatres and cinemas use lightboxes to display text and posters for featuring films and plays in a truly eye-catching way. Artists occasionally use lightboxes in their artworks and exhibitions, harnessing the internal LED lighting to bring out the detail of their designs and creating a unique atmosphere.
All in all, lightboxes offer a highly effective, visually appealing signage solution for a wide range of applications across a spectrum of industries, from advertising and branding to artistic or aesthetic displays and more. Whether you’re looking to attract customers to your business or enhance the atmosphere of your venue, lightboxes are a cost-effective, durable, low-maintenance, and energy-efficient way to do so.