A system and method for presenting a visual message by illumination. The system includes an LED light source and a transparent sheet. The transparent sheet is a transmission medium that includes a modified surface that refracts light in designated areas. The LED source illuminates the transparent sheet so that the LED illumination of the sheet achieves a visual effect of a neon filled glass tube lighting. The illumination system, however, is neon-free. The modified surface includes a disruption pattern or a printed ink layer, or the sheet includes two modified surfaces, one modified with a disruption pattern and another one modified with a printed ink layer. The LED light source includes multiple LED emitters on a circuit board. The LED light source projects light through the sheet in a direction that is parallel to a surface plane of the sheet.

This disclosure describes an LED sign that has the exterior appearance of a neon sign, but is much easier and less expensive to mass produce, and has none of the environmentally challenging elements of a neon sign. The sign has a frame that mounts to a background element, through which one or more channels are routed or molded. Flexible LED light tubes are laid into the channels and then closed off with heat shrink tubes. Because the LED light tubes are restrained in the channel, the sign takes on the desired shape that has been formed into the background, allowing the sign to be mass-produced economically for even small quantities, as there is no need for an expensive mold. The background can be 1-piece, or made from multiple pieces connected to each other in a removable fashion.

A system and method for presenting a visual message by illumination. The system includes an LED light source and a transparent sheet. The transparent sheet is a transmission medium that includes a modified surface that refracts light in designated areas. The LED source illuminates the transparent sheet so that the LED illumination of the sheet achieves a visual effect of a neon filled glass tube lighting. The illumination system, however, is neon-free. The modified surface includes a disruption pattern or a printed ink layer, or the sheet includes two modified surfaces, one modified with a disruption pattern and another one modified with a printed ink layer. The LED light source includes multiple LED emitters on a circuit board. The LED light source projects light through the sheet in a direction that is parallel to a surface plane of the sheet.