Less is more. It’s a simple mantra that has been repeated for years, mainly because of its proven effectiveness. “Don’t overthink things” is another way of phrasing it. No matter how it is articulated, the practice of making a product functional and easy to use, without the unnecessary complications, is a benefit in the sign industry.
少即是多。这是一个简单的咒语已经被重复了很多年，主要是因为它的有效性。“不要过度思考事物”是另一种措辞方式。无论如何表达，使产品功能化、易于使用、不要复杂的实践在标识行业中都是有益的。
Edge lighting fits this description. It provides an excellent, inexpensive way to enhance a simple display using proven lighting technology and straightforward installation methods.
LED侧发光技术很适合这种描述，它是一个极好的，很实惠的方式来美化标识，并且它的安装方法极其简单。
“Edge lighting is a low-cost way to make a sign 20 times better and more eye-catching than what it would be without it,” says Dan Parks, a sales representative with Principal LED. This type of lighting is very common, in fact, everyone has probably encountered it at some point in their everyday lives.
LED销售代表丹帕克斯说“LED侧发光技术是一种低成本的方式，可以增强一个标识20倍的美化效果，更引人注目。”这种类型的技术非常普遍，事实上，每个人都可能在日常生活中的某个时刻遇到过。
“Edge lit technology comes from LCD monitor backlighting technology, and that’s how your computer and LCD TV can be seen,” says Hanna Huang, VP of business development at LEDCONN, a company that makes its own LED tape from scratch at the diode level.
LED半导体公司ledconn业务发展副总裁韩娜皇说“LED侧发光技术来自于液晶显示器的背光技术，这就是你的电脑和液晶电视可以看到。”
Despite being an attractive, small-investment type of lighting option, there may be several questions that arise when considering edge lighting. In what situation is this type of lighting useful? How can it be implemented to reach its maximum effectiveness? How do the other signage display parts intermix with the lighting?
尽管它是一种有吸引力的、小投资类型的照明选择，但在考虑LED侧发光技术时可能会出现几个问题。这种照明在什么情况下有用？怎样才能达到最大的效益？其他标牌显示部分如何与灯光混合？
“There are several ways to ‘edge’ light signage, depending on the application and need,” says Fritz Meyne, Jr., vice president sales, Bitro Group, Inc.
Bitro Group公司销售副总裁Fritz Meyne说：“根据应用和需要，有几种方法可以制造‘侧发光’标识。”
Applications and Benefits
应用与效益
The need for edge lighting is dependent upon a few factors. Sign makers should identify what type of display is being used in the project and determine how edge lighting elements would enhance the overall appearance.
LED侧发光技术的需要取决于几个因素，标识制作者应该确定在项目中达到什么样的效果，并确定LED侧光源将如何增强外观整体效果。
Meyne outlines a couple areas saying, “Edge lighting a very thin five millimeter advertising panel would typically be accomplished with a very small profile linear LED.”
Meyne概括了几个领域说：“LED侧发光技术非常薄的5毫米广告面板将典型地完成一个非常小的轮廓线性LED。”
The space required for the LED and the mounting location is minimal, “This would also include the depth for the LED, the space and the distance the light has to travel. And don’t forget to consider the power supply location and any potential code requirements,” adds Meyne.
这种LED侧光源所需的空间和安装位置不需要很大，Meyne补充说“这也包括LED的深度，空间和光必须行进的距离。别忘了考虑电源位置和任何潜在的要求。”
So, the size and thickness of the display will impact which LED solution to include. Meyne continues by addressing the result of the added illumination, explaining that, “Edge lighting, like a halo effect, could be accomplished with individual modules or linear LED bars.”
因此，标识牌的尺寸和厚度会影响LED解决方案的内容。Meyne继续讨论附加照明的结果，解释说，“LED侧光源，像光晕效应，可以用单独的模块或线性LED条来完成。”
Joe Reis, director of LED signage at International Light Technologies, points to some of these same factors when confronted with choosing an edge light solution. “Edge lighting is most effective in shallow applications,” he says, “six-inches and less, double-faced sign cabinets, P.O.P. edge light acrylic signs, snap-frame poster signs, and many more shallow applications.”
国际光技术公司LED标识主管乔·里斯（Joe Reis）指出，在选择LED侧光源解决方案时，也存在一些相同的因素。“LED侧发光技术在浅层应用中最有效，”他说，“6英寸以下，双面标识，P.O.P. 侧发光丙烯酸标识，海报框标识，以及许多更浅层应用。”
Because LEDs can be used in so many sign projects, edge lighting’s niche currently resides in these shallow applications as channel letters and light boxes use LED illumination a little differently. However, that isn’t to say that edge lighting won’t see an oncoming growth period.
由于LED可用于许多标识项目，LED侧光源的利基目前存在于这些浅层应用中，因为发光字和灯箱使用LED照明略有不同。然而，这并不是说LED侧光技术不被看好，不会拥有未来的增长期。
“Over the past couple years, we’ve seen more people adopt to edge light signage,” says Huang. “It's not as popular as P.O.P. displays for retail light boxes, but not everyone is going to be the first one to buy the newest Apple iPhone when it first comes out either. So, we are doing a lot of educating in the industry to infuse the idea. Still, there is a lot of room to grow and improve.”
黄说：“过去几年，我们看到越来越多的人采用了侧发光标识。”“它并不像零售灯箱的P.O.P.展示屏那么流行，但并不是每个人都会在苹果iPhone首次上市时第一个购买它。”所以，我们在这个行业做了大量的营销来灌输这个想法。尽管如此，仍有很多增长和改善的空间。”
The real benefit to adding edge lighting to a display is its ability to ramp up the overall look—especially with engraved acrylic signage. “Edge lighting makes a point-of-purchase sign pop, where before it was a plain, drab acrylic sign,” explains Parks. After adding LED edge lighting, “It essentially glows from within," he says. "People can see it at night when you couldn’t before.”
向标识牌添加侧光源的真正好处是它能够提高整体外观，尤其是带有刻有丙烯酸标识。Parks 介绍说“侧发光是使这类标识十分流行，在它之前是一个瓶颈，单调的丙烯酸标识。”在添加LED侧光源后，他说“它基本上从内部发光，”人们晚上看不见。
And since there are many situations where edge lighting is applicable, it is useful in a number of different environments.
由于有许多情况，侧发光技术是适用的，它在许多不同的环境中是有用的。
“It can really be used in any indoor application, whether in the lobby of a hospital, directional signage in an airport, or P.O.P. edge lighting is incredibly versatile,” says Parks. On top of that, it is an inexpensive option that dresses up a sign in an effective manner and, again, keeps the overall configuration simple.
帕克斯说：“它确实可以用于任何室内应用，无论是在医院的大厅、机场的导向标识，还是P.O.P.侧发光展示牌，都是非常通用的。”除此之外，它是一种节省成本的选项，它以一种有效的方式修饰一个标识，并且整个安装过程十分简单。
“Compared to other options,” adds Huang, “edge lighting aesthetically looks nicer. From a fabrication side, it saves cost on the labor and materials, and it’s also helping to make the sign much more even. Plus, wiring is much simpler.”
“与其他产品相比，”黄补充说，“LED侧发光技术从美学角度看起来更好。”从制造方面来说，它节省了劳动力和材料的成本，也有助于使标识更加均匀。另外，布线要简单得多。
LECONN products have etch dot patterns that allow for light guide technology. (Image courtesy of LEDCONN)
LeCon产品具有蚀刻点阵图案，允许导光技术。（图片来源：莱德康）
Advancements
进步
Technology frequently plays a part in how products can be improved in various settings. Even something as seemingly fundamental as edge lighting can be boosted to include state-of-the-art features.
技术经常在产品如何适应各种环境下得到改善并起到关键作用。甚至像LED侧发光技术一样，很普通的产品也可以被提升到不可思议的美感。
“We try to optimize the lighting performance and provide a turnkey solution for the client—that’s our forte,” says Huang. “Sign fabricators like to make things on their own, they are so crafty and creative, but what we are doing is providing a turnkey solution. The acrylic in our products is an optical grade acrylic, it’s a Mitsubishi brand. On the back of the acrylic, we etch a dot pattern. That dot pattern is the light guide technology. Those little sign dots reflect light to your eye so you see the light in uniformity.”
黄说“我们试图优化照明性能，并为客户提供交钥匙解决方案，这是我们的强项。”“标识制作者喜欢自己制作东西，他们是如此狡猾和富有创造性，但我们正在做的是提供交钥匙解决方案。”我们产品中的丙烯酸树脂是光学级丙烯酸树脂，是三菱牌。在丙烯酸的背面，我们蚀刻点图案。点图案是导光技术。这些小点点反射了你眼睛的光，所以你看到了光的均匀性。
With this type of product, a viewer sees a finer, widely-spread light when standing close to the display, then as he or she moves away from it, the light grows in size and intensity.
使用这种产品，当观众站在标识牌附近时，可以看到一种更精细、分布更广的光，然后当他或她离开标识牌时，光的大小和强度都会增加。
“We are able to help the sign makers make their signs much more glamorous,” says Huang.
黄说：“我们能够帮助标识制造者使他们的标识更加迷人。”
Color changing is also a big difference maker. It holds an advantage of switching the edge light from blue to red on-the-fly, for example, or simply creating a color scheme for a specific occasion.
颜色变化也是一个很大的差异。例如，它具有动态地将侧光源从蓝色切换到红色的优点，或者只是为契合特定场合颜色创建。
“You can find RGB options, remotes, and dimmers for edge lighting applications, so you can accomplish whatever you envision,” says Parks. “We’ve seen users change colors for special holidays and months, like turning accent lighting pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.”
帕克斯说：“你可以为边缘照明应用找到RGB选项、遥控器和调光器，这样你就可以完成你想象中的任何任务。”“我们已经看到用户在特殊节日和月份改变颜色，比如在10月份的乳腺癌宣传月中将灯光颜色调成粉红色。”
Having the capability of making these changes with a remote or even a motion sensor helps to capture attention in highly trafficked areas such as tradeshows or point-of-purchase locations.
通过远程或甚至运动传感器就能够进行操控，这有助于在交易会或购物中心等交通高度拥挤的地区吸引注意力。
A display’s light “can be (controlled) by dimmers, and/or DMX giving you a number of options for timing, brightness, dimming, and more,” Meyne says.
Meyne说，标识牌的光“可以通过调光器（控制）和/或DMX为您提供许多定时、亮度、调光等选项”。
Principal LED’s RGB Light Tape illuminates this edge-lit restroom sign. (Images courtesy of Principal LED)
主LED的RGB光带照亮这个侧发光洗手间标识。（由主要LED提供的图像）
“You can add motion sensors that get brighter or dimmer, or allow color changing,” explains Huang. “Take a piece of white acrylic, when it’s not lit you won’t see anything, but when it is lit, you see an image popping up. Coupling that with a motion sensor, you get the 'wow' effect that’s really in your face. The image lives in our dot pattern. It’s all about how you apply that.”
黄介绍说：“你可以增加运动传感器，使其变亮或变暗，或者允许颜色变化。”“拿一块白色的丙烯酸树脂，当它没有被点燃的时候，你什么也看不见，但是当它被点燃的时候，你会看到一个图像弹出。与运动传感器耦合，你就可以得到“哇”的效果。图像存在于我们的点模式中。这都是关于你如何运用它。”
Of course, the quality of the lighting is what really impacts the display, and sign makers should focus on the impact of the actual LEDs with edge lit signage.
当然，照明的质量才是真正影响标识牌的因素，而标识制作者应该把重点放在侧发光LED对于标识效果的影响上。
“I would say that the biggest advancement would be the efficacy of the LEDs,” says Reis. “I am able to get the same lumen output from 6.2 watts per foot as I was getting from 9.5 watts per foot. This also cuts the cost down in the quantities of power supplies needed.”
赖斯说“我认为，最大的进步将是LED的功效。”“我能从每英尺9.5瓦得到同样的流明输出，每英尺6.2瓦特。这也降低了所需电力供应量的成本。
Principal LED’s Project Manager Jordan Rhodes and VP of Customer Service Kevin Noland stand next to the company’s edge-lit acrylic monument in their booth at the 2018 ISA Sign Expo. They used P-LED’s high-density Light Tape 600 to light it. (Image courtesy of Principal LED)
2018年ISA标识展览会期间，LED首席项目经理乔丹·罗德斯和客户服务副总裁凯文·诺兰德站在公司边沿照明的丙烯酸纪念碑旁边。他们用P- LED的高密度光带600流明。
Meyne too points to the efficiency of LED products saying, “LED options only get better relative to performance/illumination, white K temp options, colors and even RGB.”
Meyne也提到了LED产品的效率，他说：“选择LED可以从性能/照明、白色K温度、颜色，甚至RGB等方面考虑。”
He also suggests that there is an energy-saving aspect to LEDs that helps both the sign maker and end user feel comfortable, however, both parties should learn about any local or federal rules.
他还建议，LED有一个节能的方面，帮助标识制造商和最终用户感到舒适，但是，双方应该了解任何地方的联邦规定。
“Energy savings with most LEDs today are far superior to conventional options,” Meyne says. “However, there are some stringent WPF requirements in states like California, as an example, so that always needs to be understood.”
Meyne说：“当今大多数LED的节能远远优于传统的选择。”然而，以加利福尼亚州为例，有些州对WPF有严格的要求，所以总是需要理解的。
Enter the Real World
进入真实世界
It always helps to hear about actual examples when talking about potential projects that involve electrical components and general fabrication. When analyzing projects on the market and how they are assembled, sign makers can apply the fundamentals and add their own personal touches.
当谈到一些具体的工程项目或者如何实现更好的测发光效果时，多了解一些实际的案例总是有帮助的。当分析市场上的项目以及它们如何结合时，标识制作者可以应用基本原理，并添加他们自己个人的风格。
Technology can help edge lighting projects in remotely changing the color of the LEDs to keep the attention of viewers. (Images courtesy of Bitro Group)
技术可以帮助侧发光项目远程改变LED的颜色，以保持观众的注意力。（图片由BITro集团提供）
Reis recalls a monument sign job for Boston Scientific. “Edge illumination was the only application that would work to illuminate a one-inch thick by four-foot-tall by 24-foot-wide curved acrylic monument sign,” he recalls.
赖斯回忆起波士顿科学院的纪念碑标识项目。他回忆说：“LED侧发光技术是唯一能够照亮一个1英寸厚、4英尺高、24英尺宽的弯曲丙烯酸纪念碑标识的解决方案。
For projects that include edge lighting, Reis describes the process from a sign maker’s perspective. “Usually the sign makers would ask the LED manufacturer to suggest a product to correctly illuminate their sign cabinet,” he explains. “As an LED manufacturer, I look at the sign makers application and suggest the proper product for the desired illumination.”
对于LED侧发光的项目，赖斯从发光字制造商的角度描述了这个过程。他解释说：“通常，标识制造商会要求LED制造商推荐一种产品来正确地点亮他们的标识牌。”作为一个LED制造商，我先了解标识制造商的需求，并建议选择适合的产品，作为此项目理想的照明。
As mentioned earlier, the tradeshow world is where many edge-lit applications can be seen. Principal LED recently used this type of lighting as an attention-grabbing element at its booth at a high-profile event.
如前所述，TraceSeWork世界是可以看到许多LED侧光源应用的地方。首席LED最近使用这种类型的照明技术在其展位作了一次引人注目的展示。
“Our trade show booth at ISA 2018 featured an edge-lit acrylic monument,” says Kayla Kling, a member of Principal LED’s marketing team. “We used P-LED’s high-density Light Tape 600 to light it, and it turned out beautifully. Show attendees walked up to it in wonder, asking how it was lit. The piece was a great conversation starter.”
凯拉·克林作为LED营销团队的成员（Kayla Kling）说道“我们在ISA 2018的展位上展示了一个侧边发光的丙烯酸标识牌。”“我们用P- LED的高密度光带600流明，结果非常漂亮。参观者惊奇地走到它面前，问它是如何点燃的。伟大的对话愉快的就开始了。
Describing the process of creating an effective edge lit display, Parks explains, “The LEDs need to point toward the sign, so sign makers need to etch a groove along the edges of the sign so the LEDs can lay flush and face inward.”
帕克斯在描述创建有效侧发光标识牌的过程时介绍说：“LED需要指向标识，因此标识制作者需要沿着标识的边缘蚀刻凹槽，以便LED可以平放，面向内。”
Edge lighting produces a halo effect around a display for added effect. (Images courtesy of LEDCONN)
侧发光技术在标识牌周围产生光晕效应以增加效果。（由莱德康恩提供的图片）
Another way to achieve this look is to mount the lights externally to the frame and point them inward. “This second option lets you bypass etching a groove, since the LEDs are housed—and hidden—inside the frame instead,” Parks concludes.
实现这种外观的另一种方法是将灯外部安装到框架并指向内部。帕克斯总结道：“第二种选择可以让你绕过蚀刻凹槽，因为LED是隐藏在框架内部的。”
Sign makers should know that they have choices with these displays. There are ways to set projects apart using even the slightest alterations. And of course, don’t overthink things.
发光字制造者应该知道他们可以选择这种光源来做标识牌。即使是最细微的改变。当然，不要过度思考事物。
