Different types of lighting are used in signage, and the most popular lighting used is neon. Neon lights contain neon or any other inert gas at a low pressure. When electricity is applied to the gas, it glows. Glass tubing is bent by craftsmen in the required shape and made into neon lights. Neon lights are popularly used in bars, shops, and for advertisements. Different gases are used for different colours.
A blend of changed colours of neon lights is used to construct a present. By using a timer close to the neon signs, altered lighting effects can be created. The nagative-part of neon is that if one of the neon tubes fuses, the exhibit looks ugly and what’s more replacing it may take pretty some time.
For displaying names of shops and other business places, a translucent plastic board with the business name cut in different coloured plastic shapes is glued on top of the translucent sheet, and this is then installed on a frame. A set of tube lights is then installed at the back. The letters, logo etc, glow in the colours of the plastic sheets. Signs used at petrol stations usually use this type of lighting.
An added universal type of lighting that is used for signage present is to throw light from lamps on to a poster. Depending on the lighting effect essential, halogen or mercury bulbs are used to light up the display. Another type of lighting used in signage is the use of the flaming colours to make a signage, and when light is thrown on them they flame. A number of incandescent colours can also blaze without a light basis falling on them.
Neon, halogen plus mercury lighting sources are power hungry and guzzle a lot of energy. Currently, there are novel technologies being used for lighting sources. Light emitting diodes frequently known as LED’s are now becoming trendy as they consume less electrical energy and have a rather longer life. Another type of technology used for lighting signages is electroluminescent. In this, a phosphor panel is sandwiched between two panels and when energy is abounding to it, the phosphor glow. The brilliance of the glow depends on the electricity abounding to it.
LCD or liquid crystal displays are also now being used to light up signages. In this, a combination of three lights, blue, red, and green are used to create colours. The technology is the same as that used for lighting flat screen televisions and display stations. The advantage of using an LCD display is that it can be hooked to a multimedia source, and short movies and add displays can be run on it.
Halogen lights and spot lights are also used in signage. Technology is advancing, and different inert gases and other materials are being used to create signage lights. The technologies are aiming at reducing the electricity consumption in signage lights and increasing the life of the lights.
Signages are feat fancier, and now and then combination of different lights is used in them. For instance, a false board may well have common lights that switch on and off and throw a timer on its edges. The illumination source is decisive by the kind of display that is necessary.