Sign types
- Cabinet or lightbox sign
- An enclosed sign body with an illuminated or non-illuminated face.
- Channel letters
- Individually formed letters or logos, often internally illuminated and mounted directly or on a raceway.
- Monument sign
- A low freestanding sign supported at or near ground level, commonly used at property entrances.
- Pylon sign
- A taller freestanding sign mounted on one or more poles or a structural support, intended for longer-distance visibility.
- Electronic message centre (EMC)
- A programmable exterior display that changes text or graphics electronically.
- Wayfinding sign
- A sign that helps people navigate through a property or building.
Fabrication and mounting
- Raceway
- A narrow mounting enclosure that can hold wiring and support channel letters, reducing the number of wall penetrations.
- Backer panel
- A panel installed behind letters or a logo for support, contrast or visual organization.
- Return
- The side wall of a channel letter.
- Face
- The visible front surface of a sign or letter.
- Halo illumination
- Light directed behind a letter or logo to create a glow on the mounting surface.
- Direct or face illumination
- Light emitted through the front face of a sign element.
Project and quote terms
- Site survey
- A visit or documented review used to confirm dimensions, surfaces, power, access and installation conditions.
- Shop drawing
- A detailed drawing showing proposed dimensions, materials, colours, construction and installation details.
- Authority having jurisdiction
- The local body responsible for interpreting and enforcing applicable requirements.
- Allowance
- A provisional budget amount for work that is not yet fully defined.
- Exclusion
- Work, material or responsibility specifically left out of a quotation.
- Change order
- A documented change to the agreed scope, price or schedule after the original agreement.
Digital signage terms
- Content management system (CMS)
- Software used to schedule and publish content to one or more displays.
- Media player
- Hardware or embedded software that receives and displays digital content.
- Nit
- A unit of display brightness. Outdoor and window-facing displays generally need different brightness planning than indoor screens.
- Total cost of ownership (TCO)
- The purchase price plus software, installation, support, energy, content and replacement costs over a defined period.