Updated for 2010, this guide covers how to estimate, warranties and quantity discounts, an estimate form, design and engineering fees, service and installation hourly rates, a letter footage chart, and ...
Illuminated signs in tradeshows
Tradeshows have their own rules. Companies that are preparing to exhibit sometimes design, engineer and construct their own booths, but, in most cases, they rely on advertising firms and sign companies to design and build them. Successful tradeshow-booth design requires many different tasks, but I’ll focus on a few lighting aspects, especially illuminated-sign design and construction for tradeshows.
Well-lit booths
Light attracts insects – and human beings. Psychologically, we hesitate to enter a dark room, because we don’t know if surprises lurk there, whereas a brightly lit, open space announces safety. Applying this principle, most tradeshow booths must be brighter than their environment, the exhibit hall and the light level from surrounding booths.
Most exhibitors follow this principle, which creates a “brightness” competition. Consequently, the overall light level in the exhibit hall’s aisles ranges between 800 and 1,500 lux, while the booth spaces are lit within a 1,000 to 4,000-lux range. Spots that highlight new or exhibited products range from 5,000 to 10,000 lux to attract attention.
Often, signs must draw a visitor‘s general interest to a booth in such an environment. To be effective, these signs, which are generally illuminated internally or by spotlights, must not only be brighter than the surrounding light but also emit unusual bright, saturated colors. A harsh color contrast does attract attention.
In a tradeshow’s bright environment, many LED signs seem to be barely lit, if at all. Normally, LEDs installed to the usual manufacturer’s recommendations don’t provide sufficient light flux to stand out in such a bright environment. To make a channel letter bright enough with LEDs, you have to “stuff” as many LEDs as possible into the letter (always keep in mind the heat dissipation – see ST, February 2009, page 38).
Neon or custom-made, hot-cathode fluorescents (if the letter size permits their use) produces the best color variety, saturation and brightness. If the glass is fastened on flexible supports to a rigid sign body, it will easily survive rough handling.
Again, for colored, acrylic, sign-face materials, don’t be misled by the phrase “put white behind to make it really bright” (see ST, February 2008, page 52, and March 2008, page 52). Instead, use spectrally matched colored light sources.