Back in the days, lighted signs represented a kind of wonder. People stopped by the road just to look at those flashing symbols better. The history of neon lights is fascinating, and you can find out more about it on the link below. History of Neon Signs.
Bright, radiant colors have always been fascinating the audience. They attract attention and serve the promotional purpose. But somehow, people didn’t care to know more about these signs. But they are way more than just an ordinary commercial mean.
Shine Bright like a Neon Lights
These signs are a glass tube system, designed according to the wishes and needs of the client. They got the name from the gas inside the tube. And the truth is different. This gas is found only in pipes emitting red and orange light, while other gases are deserved for other colors (green is obtained from argon, golden from argon and helium, blue is derived from mercury, and so on). But most colors on neon signs are the result of the tube glass color and special coatings on those tubes.
But the light this noble gas emits is colorless. Our eye actually perceives red and orange. When we turn the ad on, electricity runs through the tube. Atoms of neon are ‘waking up’ when their electrons get a certain amount of energy. On returning to normal, each electron releases a particle of light called a photon. When they hit our eyes, we see red.
Neon Signs Are Hand-Made
If you sometimes need a neon sign, keep in mind that each of your ideas is feasible. With the mix of noble gases in different proportions, a Calgary sign company made it possible to get about 150 different colors that you can use in commercials. Also, the glass tubes, where gases are located, can get any shape you want – letters, numbers, symbols, etc.
Manufacturers of these signs do most of the job by hands. Machines can do some simple cuts and bending, but mostly these signs are made manually. All these curves and overlaps are made by heating the tubes. Under the influence of heat, the glass becomes flexible. It is necessary to work very quickly because as soon as it starts to cool down, these tubes become stiff and begin to crack.
More Purposes than Promotional
The neon light has the ability to ‘fight’ against fog particles. Apart from being a good thing for a job, because your ad is noticeable in bad weather conditions, this feature of flashing signs is also noticed by traffic experts. In places where essential visibility is a must, such as highways or airports, these signs found their positions so that traffic can go smoothly and safely.
Neon vs. LED
The progress of technology brought LED lights. For many, this is a superior choice than neon, due to lower costs, less power consumption, and more possibilities. However, it seems that the popularity of old-fashioned flashing signs can’t be endangered, although functionality is on the side of the new technology. The light they emit is somewhat more subtle and warmer and gives some pleasant atmosphere.
The LED technology is too formal and pushy, as these displays reflect way brighter than neon lights. But no other lighting technique provides a similar aesthetic experience to the observer as a dynamic, continuous neon light.
Durability
The maximum duration of these flashing signs depends on two factors – maintenance and whether it’s indoor or outdoor. Some flashing signs inside the facilities can last up to several decades. Usually, tube coatings start to decay after 7, 8 years.
After about a decade, the light is fading because the transformer weakened, or the amount of gas decreased. This depends heavily on how the sign is used, whether it blinks or not, whether it’s on 24/7, etc. However, all the parts can be replaced and the gas refilled, so your flashing sign can last for quite a while.
A great, memorable ad sign is everything. From the time before the Internet, it was necessary to point out and make your company/brand/product visible. Neon signs have become an indispensable part of every commercial. This is the case even today, although some other means and techniques are used for advertising.
