The rapid advancement of LED-illumination technology over the course of the past two decades has allowed for incredible innovation within the signage industry, especially in Europe.

在過去的二十年里，LED照明技術(shù)的飛速發(fā)展為標(biāo)識行業(yè)帶來很多難以置信的創(chuàng)新方式與創(chuàng)新效果，尤其是在歐洲。

From LED-illuminated letterforms milled from translucent cast block acrylic to trim-less fabricated aluminum letters that have seamless “infinity” edges (face flush to returns), designers love the opportunity these technologies offer to stretch the possibilities of typographic and experiential graphic design intent.

從半透明的亞克力樹脂制式，到邊緣平齊無縫的鋁制式，LED發(fā)光字的制式非常多樣。但無論是哪種技術(shù)，都給設(shè)計師們帶來更多的創(chuàng)意機(jī)會和更大的施展空間，并且能夠更好實現(xiàn)他們印刷和體驗式圖形等設(shè)計的意圖。

And in the post-COVID world, where e-commerce, online banking, and work-from-home practices are trending everywhere, it is all the more important than in any time in history for brick-and-mortar retail stores, banks, and branded office environments to offer more than just a place to transact but rather pivot to additionally offer an intimate environment to experience.

目前世界正處于后疫情時代，這樣的大環(huán)境下，電子商務(wù)、網(wǎng)上銀行和在家辦公等逐漸成為一種新常態(tài)。因此，原先人們經(jīng)常前往的實體零售店、銀行和辦公環(huán)境，如今不僅僅只是提供交易的場所，更是成為當(dāng)下的人們?yōu)閿?shù)不多可以產(chǎn)生親密社交體驗的環(huán)境。

This is why many retailers are going more and more toward small pop-up retail store concepts that precisely offer that intimate experience.

這就是為什么許多零售商越來越傾向于小型快閃式零售商店概念的原因，這些概念恰恰提供了上述的親密社交體驗。

Leveraging the latest in low-profile, trim-less, LED-illuminated signage that looks like jewelry when viewed close up is a big part of that placemaking trend.

利用*新的技術(shù)，LED發(fā)光字標(biāo)牌從遠(yuǎn)處看變得更為低調(diào)、去裝飾化，近距離觀察起來時卻如珠寶一般華麗——這正是當(dāng)前趨勢的重要特點與組成部分。

Yet when we look at the European technology platforms that lead innovation in this space, the landscape can be very daunting to understand. That’s because European illuminated signage technologies that are now increasingly being called out within signage design standards are based upon German nomenclature that can be very confusing.

然而，在**了LED發(fā)光字領(lǐng)域創(chuàng)新的歐洲技術(shù)平臺，有些情況卻變得讓人難以理解，非常困惑。這是因為，現(xiàn)在標(biāo)牌設(shè)計標(biāo)準(zhǔn)中越來越多使用的歐洲照明標(biāo)牌技術(shù)幾乎采用基于德語的命名法。

For example, how does one differentiate a Profile 5S face-lit letterform (fabricated aluminum letter without trim), from Profile 5 (fabricated aluminum letter with trim), Profile 8 (fabricated acrylic letter), or Profile 11 (cast block acrylic with embedded LEDs)?

例如，我們該如何區(qū)分Profile5S表面發(fā)光字制式（無裝飾的人造鋁字母），和Profile5（帶裝飾的人造鋁字母）、Profile8（人造亞克力字母）以及Profile11（帶嵌入式亞克力LED）之間的區(qū)別呢？

The following summary will describe the most common European LED-illuminated signage standards of which North American designers and fabricators should be aware.

以下的文章的主題，就是其他國家的設(shè)計師和制造商應(yīng)了解的*常見的歐洲LED照明標(biāo)牌標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。

Profile 3: Halo-lit Fabricated Aluminum or Stainless Steel Letterform

Profile3：采用光暈化處理的鋁或不銹鋼發(fā)光字制式

Profile 3 is simply a halo-illuminated letterform that is fabricated from a thick-gauge stainless steel or aluminum.

Profile3的構(gòu)造比較簡單，使用厚實的不銹鋼或鋁制成，照明具有光暈般特點的發(fā)光字。

LEDs should be pointed toward the inside of the face for the best halo effect, avoiding the reflection of diodes on the mounting surface.

在這種制式中，LED被放置在發(fā)光字表面的正背面，這樣能避免光線在安裝表面上反射，獲得*佳光暈效果，

Common configurations include traditional halo-lit with stand-offs or flush-mounted to the mounting surface with a partial side-lit return toward the back of the letter.

常見的配置包括帶支架的傳統(tǒng)光暈照明或齊平安裝在墻面或其他安裝面上，側(cè)面偏光朝著字母的背面。

Profile 5: Trim-capped Aluminum Channel Letters

Profile5：飾條鋁制發(fā)光字

Designers don’t like trim that serves the functional purpose to attach the face of the sign to the returns, while covering up any potential illumination leakage points. These days, there are plenty of trim-less fabrication alternatives that eliminate the need for unsightly trim.

一般來說，設(shè)計師都不會喜歡用過多的裝飾物來起到功能性的作用，之所以會用到是為了擋住潛在的漏光而必須加上遮擋。如今，有許多去裝飾的替代方案，可以從根本上消除對難看裝飾的需求。

That said, this is still the most common letter form in the world. European trim cap has an “F” profile for improved form versus American “P” profiled trim cap.

但是這也表明，Profile5仍然是世界上*常見的發(fā)光字制式。相對于美國的“P”型飾條，歐洲更普遍采用的是“F”型飾條，可顯著改善外觀。

Profile 5S: Trim-less Aluminum Channel Letters

Profile5S：去裝飾化鋁制發(fā)光字

This is a great letter form for achieving a trim-less, clean-designed look that balances economy with design intent.

這是一種絕佳的發(fā)光字形式，可實現(xiàn)簡潔的設(shè)計外觀，從而在經(jīng)濟(jì)性與設(shè)計意圖之間取得平衡。

Fabricators often “step route” the acrylic face with edges that extend beyond the aluminum “can” to prevent light leakage in colder climates (in particular, where the acrylic face and aluminum returns expand and contract at different rates).

制造商通常會對亞克力面進(jìn)行“逐步走線”，知道其邊緣延伸到鋁材料之外，以防止在較冷的溫度下出現(xiàn)收縮而漏光（特別是亞克力材料和鋁材料的膨脹和收縮速率不同）。

But European technology, when properly applied, avoids the need for this trade-off so returns are truly flush to the face. For outdoor applications, weep holes vent light toward the back of the letter, hiding weep holes during the day and preventing light leakage at night.

但是，如果正確應(yīng)用了歐洲技術(shù)，那么就無需在這方面進(jìn)行權(quán)衡取舍，因此回報確實是顯而易見的。對于戶外應(yīng)用，有專門的預(yù)留孔洞將光線朝發(fā)光字的背面排出，白天孔洞則會被遮蓋住，并且能防止夜間漏光。

Profile 8: Combination Face- and Halo-Lit Fabricated Acrylic Letterform

Profile8：組合面光暈制式發(fā)光字

Profile 8 fabricated acrylic letters with face and returns made of translucent acrylic are a great economic solution for maximum radiance at an economic price point.

Profile8是完全由半透明亞克力制成的發(fā)光字，是一種經(jīng)濟(jì)實惠的解決方案，可以在經(jīng)濟(jì)的價位獲得*大的光照度。

Designed for longer viewing distances, Profile 8 is probably the most common commercial signage standard for big box retail stores in Europe and is increasingly becoming more common in North America for retail storefront signage applications in airports and shopping malls in particular.

專為更遠(yuǎn)的觀看距離而設(shè)計的Profile8可能是歐洲大包裝零售商店*常用的商業(yè)標(biāo)牌標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，并且在北美尤其是機(jī)場和大型購物中心的零售店面標(biāo)牌應(yīng)用中變得越來越普遍。

Make sure cast acrylic is used rather than extruded acrylic, in order to optimize light diffusion quality. An overlay of translucent vinyl in a variety of color palettes can result in a stunning look.

該制式的發(fā)光字需要確保使用澆鑄型亞克力而不是擠出型亞克力，只有前者的光擴(kuò)散質(zhì)量才能達(dá)到要求。各種調(diào)色板上的半透明乙烯基覆蓋物可產(chǎn)生令人驚嘆的外觀。

Profile 11. Gibson photo courtesy of Albrecht Sign Company, a regional sign company in Fridley, Minnesota.

Profile 11: Cast Block Acrylic Letterform with Individually Embedded LEDs

Profile11：帶有獨(dú)立嵌入式LED的亞克力發(fā)光字制式

For precision illumination in premium branded environments, signs are often viewed up close. In that context, there is nothing that beats the “Cadillac” European letterform, Profile 11, milled from translucent cast block acrylic with individually embedded and resin-sealed LEDs.

為了取得更優(yōu)質(zhì)的品牌環(huán)境以及**照明，近距離觀看的標(biāo)識不可缺少。在這種情況下，沒有什么能比得上堪稱歐洲發(fā)光字中的凱迪拉克：Profile11了。它是由半透明的亞克力中獨(dú)立嵌入LED并進(jìn)行密封制成的。

While Profile 11 is often the highest price point signage solution, there is no other technology that can convey precision and high quality when viewed up close for letters less than three inches tall. These letters are practically like jewelry.

雖然Profile11通常是*高價位的標(biāo)牌解決方案，但是也沒有其他技術(shù)可以在近距離觀察不到200px高的發(fā)光字時傳達(dá)出超高的精度和質(zhì)量。這種制式的發(fā)光字實際上就像是珠寶一般。

This is also one of the most versatile LED-illuminated letterforms, with multiple lighting configurations (face-, halo-, side-lit, and partial side-lit configurations or any of these combinations).

這也是*通用的LED發(fā)光字制式之一，具有多種照明配置（正面、側(cè)面、部分側(cè)面或這些組合而成）。

In addition, Profile 11 (if manufactured by a reputable wholesale letter manufacturer) should be IP 68 water-submersible.

此外，Profile11（如果由專業(yè)的發(fā)光字廠商生產(chǎn)），那么應(yīng)達(dá)到IP68的防護(hù)級別。

Finally, because this letterform is completely sealed with the highest quality LEDs to properly manage heat diffusion, it is low maintenance. There is no static electricity-generated dust and debris that can enter the letterform, making it completely maintenance-free.

*后，由于此制式的發(fā)光字已完全用*高質(zhì)量的LED密封以正確控制熱量擴(kuò)散，因此維護(hù)成本也很低。另外，IP68級別的防護(hù)讓靜電產(chǎn)生的灰塵和碎屑無法進(jìn)入發(fā)光字內(nèi)部，從而使其完全無需維護(hù)。

Additionally why do designers love this letterform? Because with face-lit letter strokes and serifs as narrow as only 1mm wide, face-lit letter heights down to 1-inch, face-lit depths down to 20mm (just over 1/2-inch), and halo-lit depths down to 10mm deep (just over 1/4-inch), this letterform simply stretches the possibilities of design.

另外，從設(shè)計師的角度來說，之所以會喜歡這種制式的發(fā)光字，還是由于其表面的線條和襯線 只有1mm款，當(dāng)發(fā)光字高度低至62.5px時，其深度低至20mm，而光暈的深度卻向下達(dá)到10mm深，這種**的品質(zhì)讓擴(kuò)展設(shè)計的可能性變得更大。

The Profile 11 letterform platform includes faux neon, which is trending in a big way in North America, for good reason. The reasons are simple: Five to ten times lower power consumption versus legacy neon; environmentally friendly: and no noxious gases released into the environment during the production process or in the field.

Profile11的平臺包括人造霓虹燈，這一類型的產(chǎn)品在北美市場有很大的發(fā)展趨勢，這是有充分理由的。原因很簡單：LED的功耗比傳統(tǒng)霓虹燈低五到十倍，并且更環(huán)保，在生產(chǎn)過程中或在安裝現(xiàn)場都不會向環(huán)境釋放有害氣體。

There is minimal maintenance: virtually no breakage and lower maintenance because faux neon letterforms are completely sealed (as mentioned earlier, IP 68 water submersible), which means that water, dust, and debris cannot penetrate faux neon elements.

另外，該制式的維護(hù)成本也極低，由于人造霓虹燈發(fā)光字完全密封（如前所屬，達(dá)到IP68的防護(hù)等級），幾乎沒有破損且維護(hù)成本較低，這意味著水、灰塵和碎屑無法穿透人造霓虹的元件。

And last but certainly not the least, faux neon simply presents a cleaner, crisper look that designers and brand owners love. That is why American institutions like Krispy Kreme, DePaul University, Westmoreland Casino, and the Solhem Group of Companies are moving to faux neon.

*后需要說明的也是比較重要的一點是，人造霓虹燈能夠呈現(xiàn)出設(shè)計師和品牌擁有者所鐘愛的更干凈、更清晰的外觀。這就是為什么越來越多的企業(yè)都將企業(yè)標(biāo)牌轉(zhuǎn)向人造霓虹燈的原因。