3D fabricated letters give depth to a logo that usually lives on paper and screens. Boldmedia Print Zimbabwe works from the same artwork we print your marketing material from, so the letters match your brand exactly. Faces can be painted, vinyl-wrapped or printed in full colour.
3D fabricated letters are individual letters and logo shapes built up from sheet material — a face, returns forming the sides, and sometimes a back — rather than cut from a single solid block. Fabrication allows large letters to stay relatively light, creates space for LED illumination inside, and gives a crisp, deep profile that reads well from a distance. They are used on shopfronts, building façades, reception walls and monuments.
Compared with flat-cut letters, fabricated letters can be much bigger and deeper without becoming heavy, and they can be lit from the front, the back (halo) or both. A good set has clean, consistent returns, tight joins and fixings sized for the wall it is going onto. Material choices range from aluminium and stainless steel to acrylic faces, each giving a different look and level of durability outdoors.
Where it works well
- Shopfront and fascia lettering
- Building names on façades
- Corporate reception feature walls
- Entrance monuments and boundary walls
- Shopping centre tenant signs
- Showroom and dealership branding
Materials and finishes
- Aluminium faces and returns, painted or powder-coated
- Stainless steel in brushed or mirror finish
- Acrylic faces with metal returns for illumination
- Brass or copper-look finishes
- Vinyl-wrapped faces for brand colours
Lighting options
- Non-illuminated
- Front-lit through acrylic faces
- Halo-lit (back-lit) onto the wall
- Combination front- and halo-lit
What affects the price
- Letter height, depth and number of characters
- Material and finish
- Complexity of letter shapes and logo
- Illumination type
- Mounting method and wall surface
- Installation height and access
Supplying measurements
Measure the wall area available and the surface it is made of, and photograph it straight on. Let us know the viewing distance so letter height and depth can be recommended.
Artwork requirements
Send your logo or wordmark as vector artwork (PDF, AI, EPS or SVG) with fonts converted to outlines. Very fine details may need to be simplified for fabrication; we will flag this on the proof.
Survey and installation
Letters are usually fixed with studs or stand-offs using a paper template for accurate spacing. Large or illuminated sets on a façade normally need a site survey, and power connections are made by a qualified electrician.
Maintenance
Dust and wash letters with a soft cloth and mild detergent, avoiding abrasive pads on metal finishes. Check fixings and seals during annual maintenance, especially on outdoor illuminated sets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between fabricated and flat-cut letters?
Fabricated letters are built hollow from a face and returns, so they can be larger, deeper and illuminated. Flat-cut letters are cut from one solid sheet.
Can fabricated letters be used outdoors?
Yes, with suitable materials and finishes such as powder-coated aluminium or stainless steel.
How deep should the letters be?
Depth is usually chosen in proportion to the letter height and the lighting method; we recommend this on the drawing.