Difference between revisions of "Building a Tune-To Sign"
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ErnieHorning (talk | contribs) (Reorganized the community-contributed Tune-To sign ideas into logical categories (painted signs, backlit coroplast, diffuser panels, foam board/banner signs, and commercial options) for improved readability while preserving each member's original contribution. Added a brief introduction describing the purpose of the page, included a note recognizing modern pixel and LED matrix Tune-To signs as additional alternatives, and made minor formatting and grammar improvements without changing the intent) |
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| − | + | ''There are many ways to build an effective '''Tune-To''' sign. The ideas below were contributed by DIYChristmas community members and range from simple painted signs to fully illuminated RGB displays. Choose the approach that best fits your budget, display style, and available materials.'' | |
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Simple Painted Signs == | ||
| + | |||
| + | * A simple idea that I thought about using is just a painted plywood sign on an H-frame and a flood to light it up. Another idea was kind of like the old Lite-Brite, but with lights sticking out of the board instead of holes for light to come through. Both will work and the cost should not be a whole lot, I would think under $50. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * I have tried something new each year from a simple wooden sign with white "97.5 FM" painted on a red background to my LED Matrix Gift Boxes to an even more elaborate ornament sign pixel element. I really think the simple painted sign was the most effective. I just put a little front spotlight on it. The truth is every year someone admits they didn't even know I used music in the show. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * 1 2'x4' piece of plywood, cover plywood with white paint, acquire a package of letters from an office supply store, attach letters to the plywood, paint the plywood black, then remove the letters to expose the white lettering. Attach the sign to a wooden stake and light it with a floodlight on a timer. I built mine 11 years ago intending to replace it, but it still looks good and does the job. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * My very first Tune-To sign was a piece of white coroplast. I bought a set of large stencils from an office supply store, traced the lettering in pencil, filled it in with a permanent marker, and illuminated it with an LED spotlight. It doesn't get much cheaper than that. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Backlit Coroplast Signs == | ||
| + | |||
| + | * You could go with white coroplast, cut out the letters on paper, attach them to the coroplast, spray the board black, then remove the letters. The coroplast is thin enough to backlight with either mini lights or RGB strips. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * A sign doesn't have to be fancy. Paint a board white and apply self-adhesive vinyl letters. Put it somewhere a spotlight can illuminate it, or build a PVC or wood frame and mount a sheet of white coroplast. Add vinyl letters and illuminate it from behind. You can even build a shallow box from 1x4 lumber, mount coroplast on the front, place a string of lights inside, and control it from a single channel. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * I went with clear coroplast. I cut out the letters, attached them to the coroplast, spray-painted the panel black, removed the letters, framed it with 2x2 lumber, and mounted RGB strips around the inside of the frame. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Diffuser Panel Signs == | ||
| + | |||
| + | * I did basically the same thing but used a fluorescent light fixture diffuser rather than coroplast. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Mine consists of a vinyl mask applied to a fluorescent diffuser panel mounted in a plywood box. It's backlit with dumb RGB strips. I told the local sign shop what I was building and they thought it was so neat they cut the mask for free. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * I did the same except I covered the diffuser with inexpensive adhesive shelf paper. I projected the text onto it, traced it with a marker, cut it with a razor knife, peeled away everything except the lettering, painted the background flat black, then removed the lettering. A string of C9 bulbs behind the panel completed the sign. I've been using it since 2006. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Foam Board and Banner Signs == | ||
| + | |||
| + | * I used a piece of craft-store foam board and stick-on foam letters for my first three years. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * My first Tune-To sign was made from a clear shower curtain liner with the letters and numbers created using black electrical tape. It was mounted on my garage door and worked very well. The only drawback was needing weights along the bottom to keep it from flapping in the wind. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Make a frame from PVC to fit the size of a banner and illuminate it with a small light bulb. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:SIGN1.JPG|400px]] | ||
| + | [[File:SIGN2.JPG|400px]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Commercial Coroplast Sign == | ||
| + | |||
| + | * HolidayCoro offers a pre-cut coroplast Tune-To sign that can be illuminated by inserting lights through the holes. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:CORO_TUNE_TO1.JPG|400px]] | ||
| + | [[File:CORO_TUNE_TO2.JPG|400px]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Other Modern Options == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Today many displays use pixel matrices, P5/P10 LED panels, or small LED displays as Tune-To signs. While these provide greater flexibility and animation, the simple techniques above remain inexpensive, reliable, and easy to build. | ||
Latest revision as of 14:19, 21 July 2026
There are many ways to build an effective Tune-To sign. The ideas below were contributed by DIYChristmas community members and range from simple painted signs to fully illuminated RGB displays. Choose the approach that best fits your budget, display style, and available materials.
Simple Painted Signs
- A simple idea that I thought about using is just a painted plywood sign on an H-frame and a flood to light it up. Another idea was kind of like the old Lite-Brite, but with lights sticking out of the board instead of holes for light to come through. Both will work and the cost should not be a whole lot, I would think under $50.
- I have tried something new each year from a simple wooden sign with white "97.5 FM" painted on a red background to my LED Matrix Gift Boxes to an even more elaborate ornament sign pixel element. I really think the simple painted sign was the most effective. I just put a little front spotlight on it. The truth is every year someone admits they didn't even know I used music in the show.
- 1 2'x4' piece of plywood, cover plywood with white paint, acquire a package of letters from an office supply store, attach letters to the plywood, paint the plywood black, then remove the letters to expose the white lettering. Attach the sign to a wooden stake and light it with a floodlight on a timer. I built mine 11 years ago intending to replace it, but it still looks good and does the job.
- My very first Tune-To sign was a piece of white coroplast. I bought a set of large stencils from an office supply store, traced the lettering in pencil, filled it in with a permanent marker, and illuminated it with an LED spotlight. It doesn't get much cheaper than that.
Backlit Coroplast Signs
- You could go with white coroplast, cut out the letters on paper, attach them to the coroplast, spray the board black, then remove the letters. The coroplast is thin enough to backlight with either mini lights or RGB strips.
- A sign doesn't have to be fancy. Paint a board white and apply self-adhesive vinyl letters. Put it somewhere a spotlight can illuminate it, or build a PVC or wood frame and mount a sheet of white coroplast. Add vinyl letters and illuminate it from behind. You can even build a shallow box from 1x4 lumber, mount coroplast on the front, place a string of lights inside, and control it from a single channel.
- I went with clear coroplast. I cut out the letters, attached them to the coroplast, spray-painted the panel black, removed the letters, framed it with 2x2 lumber, and mounted RGB strips around the inside of the frame.
Diffuser Panel Signs
- I did basically the same thing but used a fluorescent light fixture diffuser rather than coroplast.
- Mine consists of a vinyl mask applied to a fluorescent diffuser panel mounted in a plywood box. It's backlit with dumb RGB strips. I told the local sign shop what I was building and they thought it was so neat they cut the mask for free.
- I did the same except I covered the diffuser with inexpensive adhesive shelf paper. I projected the text onto it, traced it with a marker, cut it with a razor knife, peeled away everything except the lettering, painted the background flat black, then removed the lettering. A string of C9 bulbs behind the panel completed the sign. I've been using it since 2006.
Foam Board and Banner Signs
- I used a piece of craft-store foam board and stick-on foam letters for my first three years.
- My first Tune-To sign was made from a clear shower curtain liner with the letters and numbers created using black electrical tape. It was mounted on my garage door and worked very well. The only drawback was needing weights along the bottom to keep it from flapping in the wind.
- Make a frame from PVC to fit the size of a banner and illuminate it with a small light bulb.
Commercial Coroplast Sign
- HolidayCoro offers a pre-cut coroplast Tune-To sign that can be illuminated by inserting lights through the holes.
Other Modern Options
Today many displays use pixel matrices, P5/P10 LED panels, or small LED displays as Tune-To signs. While these provide greater flexibility and animation, the simple techniques above remain inexpensive, reliable, and easy to build.