Light-box signage
Light-box signage and illuminated panels.
- Shanghai Xionglan Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (brand: Xionglan Art)
- Shanghai-based workshop · delivery in 67 Chinese cities
- 10 capability groups / 102 individual techniques · design, fabrication and installation in-house
- Phone +86 156 0163 6249 · Mon–Sun 09:00–18:00 (CST)
A light box gives an even, bright face that reads at distance and works in low light. The visible quality depends on the diffuser and the spacing of the LED modules rather than on the brightness alone.
Commissioned work in light-box signage normally runs from 1 to 16 m², with 5–11 working days in production from approved drawings. The reference range for this technique is CNY 200–1200 per m², quoted itemised. It sits within our Signage & Wayfinding capability, alongside 9 related techniques, and the 4-point deliverable below is what a commission includes as standard.
When light-box signage is the right answer - and when it is not
Light boxes and illuminated panels are chosen where a message must be clearly readable in poor light over a large area - wayfinding, retail graphics, transport, advertising. They give even, consistent brightness that individual illuminated letters cannot, and they work at sizes where other methods become impractical. They are the wrong answer where a softer, more architectural appearance is wanted, because a light box reads as a light box.
How the work is actually carried out
The face material and the diffusion are chosen together, since the evenness of the light is what the whole product is judged on. Depth is set against the face size: a shallow box on a large face produces visible hotspots no matter how good the LEDs. Modules are laid out to a calculated spacing, and every unit is lit and inspected before it leaves the workshop. Access for replacing a failed module is designed in, along with the driver and its ventilation, and exterior units are specified with the IP rating the location demands.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Construction | Aluminium frame, acrylic or polycarbonate face, LED modules |
|---|---|
| Depth | 60-200 mm depending on face size and evenness required |
| Illumination | Edge-lit for slim boxes, backlit for large faces |
| Lead time | 2-4 weeks |
| Capability | Signage & Wayfinding |
| Reference range | CNY 200–1200 per m² |
| Techniques in this capability | 10 |
| Coverage | Shanghai base, nationwide delivery, overseas projects on request |
Reference price bands for Light-box signage
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for light-box signage. A firm price follows a site survey and an itemised quotation split into material, labour, finishing, packing and freight.
| Scope | Typical area | Reference total | Unit rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small area | 5–13 m² | CNY 1,000 – CNY 15,600 | approx. CNY 1200/m² |
| Standard area | 13–35 m² | CNY 2,600 – CNY 42,000 | approx. CNY 700/m² |
| Large area | 35 m² and above | CNY 7,000+ | approx. CNY 200/m² |
Build tiers for light-box signage
Light-box signage is not one product at one size: the table below is the same scope ladder we quote on, so you can see where your project sits before asking for a price.
| Build tier | Typical area | Production days | What changes at this tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 2–30 m² | 5–12 | Up to 30 m², one substrate and one access setup, 5–12 days in the workshop. |
| Tier 2 | 1–20 m² | 5–10 | 1–20 m² across two or more faces, 5–10 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 3 | 0.5–6 m² | 4–8 | 0.5–6 m² across two or more faces, 4–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 4 | 1–15 m² | 7–15 | 1–15 m² across two or more faces, 7–15 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 5 | 1–10 m² | 6–12 | 1 m² and above, multiple substrate types and phased access, 6–12 days with a join and numbering plan. |
What we deliver
- Wayfinding strategy, message schedule and sign-location drawings
- Illuminated letters, light boxes, totems and directory boards
- Code-compliant safety, evacuation and public-notice signage
- Electrical coordination, installation and maintenance access
Faults we see most often in light-box signage
Each of these is a field failure rather than a workshop one, and each is cheaper to prevent at enquiry stage than to correct after installation.
- Putting a shallow box behind a large face, which produces hotspots that cannot be corrected after manufacture.
- Sealing the unit with no access to the LEDs or driver, turning a five-minute replacement into a full rebuild.
- Ignoring ventilation, since heat is what actually shortens the life of the LEDs and the driver.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Face size and depth available | Send the dimensions and the depth the location allows. The two together determine whether even lighting is achievable. |
|---|---|
| Environment and IP rating | Interior, sheltered or fully exposed. It decides the housing, the seals and the driver specification. |
| Service access | Confirm who will service it and how. Access must be designed in, and the driver needs ventilation. |
Working with us from overseas
Enquiry to installation, one point of contact. Export packing, shipping, commercial terms and quality control →
Design intent and what drives the cost
| Technique | Light-box signage |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Light-box signage and illuminated panels. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 1–16 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 5–11 working days from approved drawings |
| Main cost drivers | Area and repetition; substrate preparation; detail and modelling time; surface finish; access and working hours |
| What we quote separately | Material, labour, finishing, packing, freight and site measures - each as its own line |
Representative work
Signage & Wayfinding projects photographed on completion.
Signage & Wayfinding — Gateway monument & entrance sign
Signage & Wayfinding — Scenic-area signboards
Signage & Wayfinding — Gateway monument & entrance sign
Signage & Wayfinding — Hospital wayfindingCommon questions
How do you avoid bright spots on the face?
How is the graphic changed?
Can you do illuminated letters in a listed or heritage building?
Discuss light-box signage
Send photographs, drawings or a 3D file with approximate dimensions. You will get a technique recommendation, a reference price band and a production schedule.