Bayan Signage makes edge-lit light boxes from 15 to 35 mm thin for receptions, retail walls, lit menus, hotel corridors and hanging signs. We cut each light guide panel to the exact graphic size, choose how many edges to light from the panel's dimensions, and test every panel for even light from edge to centre before it leaves our Ajman factory.
An edge-lit light box puts its LEDs in the frame around the edge of a clear acrylic light guide panel instead of behind the face. Light travels inside the sheet by total internal reflection, the same effect that carries light along an optical fibre, and a graded pattern of tiny dots or grooves on the back releases it evenly through the front. With no LEDs behind the graphic, the box can be 15 to 35 mm thick, light enough for partitions and suspended signs, and free of hot spots.
Everything depends on the dot pattern. Dots must get denser the further they are from the lit edges, so the centre glows as brightly as the border. Trim a stock panel to fit and you cut away part of that pattern; light it from one edge when it needed two and the far side turns grey. We size every panel to the job, match the lit edges to the panel dimensions, and run each one at full brightness with a white test graphic to check edge-to-centre evenness.
Bayan Signage is the production arm of Bayan Advertising, which has been in the UAE market for 15 years, and our Ajman factory has made illuminated signs since 2016. Acrylic is cut on our CNC routers and laser cutters, backlit graphics are printed on our own UV printers, and LED strips are assembled and tested in-house. More than 500 clients across the UAE, including national retail groups and international brands, have worked with our team.
Trusted by 500+ UAE businesses, including
All of these use the same light guide principle. They differ in frame, graphic change and how the panel is mounted.
A thin frame with rails that open by hand, so staff can swap printed posters in minutes. The usual choice for pharmacies, estate agents and gyms.
View details →Two graphics on one light guide, hung from the ceiling on wires. Light and thin for aisles, corridors and clinic waiting areas.
View details →A clear or frosted acrylic panel with a UV-printed or CNC-cut logo glowing from the edges, on stand-offs behind a reception desk.
View details →Even, glare-free menu boards for cafes and food courts, with magnetic or snap frames so prices and dishes can change.
View details →Thick clear acrylic letters lit from their own edges, so the outline glows. A related technique for logos without a panel behind.
View details →When a position is too bright or too large for edge lighting, a 50 to 90 mm direct-lit box gives far more light.
View details →We look at the wall, the ambient light and any glazing nearby, because daylight decides whether edge lighting will work. The site visit is free in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.
Our draftsmen set the panel size, decide how many edges to light from the distance to the centre, and draw the frame, fixings and cable exit for approval.
Clear cast acrylic is CNC-cut to size to ±0.1 mm and the dot pattern graded for that exact panel and those lit edges. Edges are polished so light enters cleanly.
High-density LED strip is pressed against the polished edges inside the aluminium profile, with a white reflector behind the panel and a diffuser in front.
Each panel is run at full brightness with a white test sheet to check edge-to-centre evenness, then the printed graphic is fitted and checked against the approved artwork.
Panels go on a concealed rail, keyhole fixings or stand-offs, or hang on wires. The driver is hidden in a void or nearby cabinet, and we check the panel lit before handover.
Our standard build for an indoor wall-mounted panel. Double-sided, hanging and frameless versions use the same parts in different frames.
| Component | Our standard | Upgrade options | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light guide | 6 mm clear cast acrylic, pattern graded to size | 8 mm for large panels, CNC-cut clear logo panels | Cast acrylic carries light further and resists yellowing near the LEDs. |
| LED strip | High-density SMD strip on two opposite edges | Four-edge lighting, tunable white, RGB | Two edges keep large panels even; four edges suit big wall graphics. |
| Diffuser | 1 to 2 mm opal sheet over the panel | Graphic printed directly on the diffuser | The diffuser hides the faint dot grid so the eye sees a smooth surface. |
| Frame | Slim aluminium profile, silver or black | Snap or magnetic opening, powder-coated RAL, frameless | The profile is also the heat sink, so it keeps the LEDs at the edges cool. |
| Reflector and back | White reflector sheet with aluminium back | ACP back, double-sided build | Light escaping backwards is sent forward again instead of being wasted. |
| Driver | Constant-voltage, outside the frame | Dimmable driver, timer | A driver kept outside the thin frame stays cool and can be replaced easily. |
Edge lighting is clever and limited. These are the rules our technicians use to decide when it is the right answer and how to build it well.
As a working rule, keep the distance from any lit edge to the middle of the panel below about 600 to 750 mm. A 1,200 mm tall panel lit top and bottom works well; the same panel lit only from the top looks visibly dimmer at the bottom. With LEDs on four edges, panels of around 2 m become practical. Beyond that, two panels side by side or a direct-lit box is the better build.
Edge-lit panels give a fraction of the output of a good direct-lit box. That is ideal in a lobby with 300 to 500 lux of ambient light and weak behind a shopfront window with afternoon sun. If the panel faces glazing, we look at it at the brightest time of day. Where daylight is strong, we suggest four-edge lighting or a slim direct-lit box instead.
Pre-dotted panels are graded for their original size and lit edges. Trimming one removes part of the pattern, so the new edges are badly lit and the brightness falls off unevenly. It is a common shortcut on cheap edge-lit signs and the main reason they look grey on one side. We pattern every panel for its finished size.
Large black or deep-coloured areas absorb most of the limited light, and the graphic looks flat. Light backgrounds, white space and bright colours work best. If your artwork is mostly dark, we print a small test on the actual panel first so you can see the result lit before the full run is printed.
When changing a graphic in a snap frame, grease from fingertips on the bare light guide can show as bright marks when lit. Handle panels by the edges, wipe with a soft, damp microfibre cloth only, and never use glass cleaners or solvents on acrylic. If one edge dims, it is usually an LED strip or connector, which we can replace without a new panel.
Send the panel size, quantity, whether the graphic will change and a photo of the wall, and we will send an itemised quote, usually within 24 hours.
Larger panels need thicker light guides and more lit edges. A panel lit on four sides uses roughly twice the LED strip of one lit on two.
One-edge lighting suits small menus and door signs; two or four edges for larger panels add LED strip and frame work.
A fixed frame is the most economical. Snap or magnetic opening frames, powder-coated colours and frameless stand-off mounts each add cost.
Double-sided hanging panels need two graphics, two diffusers and a deeper frame, and each face gets roughly half the light.
A printed backlit film is standard. UV printing directly on the diffuser and CNC-cut clear logo panels add setup and finishing work to the job.
Matching panels across several branches are cut and patterned in one batch, which reduces the cost of each panel.
Most edge-lit boxes go indoors, so a municipality permit is rarely needed. Malls and managed towers still control what tenants fix to walls and show to the corridor. Tenant criteria may set brightness, colour temperature and the position of anything visible from outside the unit, and building management usually wants a drawing and a method statement before electrical work. We prepare both.
If an edge-lit panel faces the street through a shopfront window, or is mounted under an outdoor canopy, it can count as a sign and need approval from Dubai Municipality, Sharjah or Ajman Municipality or the relevant free-zone authority. Requirements vary by location, so we confirm what applies at the survey and handle any submission.
Every light guide is cut and graded for its finished size and lit edges, so the centre is as bright as the border.
If a position is too sunny or a panel too large for edge lighting, we tell you and recommend a direct-lit box instead.
Acrylic cutting, edge polishing, LED assembly and backlit printing all happen in our Ajman factory, with no outsourcing.
Each panel is run at full brightness with a white test sheet and signed off against the approved artwork.
Panels, frames, graphics and installation are listed separately, so you can compare like for like and see what each option adds.
Our own crews install in all seven emirates, and the same team returns for graphic changes or LED strip replacement.
Edge-lit boxes put LEDs along the edges of a light guide panel, while backlit, or direct-lit, boxes place LEDs on a tray behind the face. Edge-lit boxes are much thinner, lighter and very even, but less bright. Direct-lit boxes are deeper and brighter, which suits outdoor and sunlit positions.
Most are 15 to 35 mm deep including the frame. The light guide itself is usually 4 to 8 mm thick, and the rest is frame, reflector and cover. Double-sided hanging versions are typically 30 to 50 mm. Very large panels need a little more depth for stiffness.
Only in limited cases. Under a deep canopy, in a covered walkway or a shaded courtyard, a suitably sealed edge-lit box can work. In direct sun it is usually too dim to be effective, so for street-facing signs we normally recommend a slim direct-lit or weatherproof lightbox instead.
With LEDs on two opposite edges, panels up to about 1.2 to 1.5 m across the light path work well. Lit from four edges, panels of around 2 m are possible. Beyond that the centre drops off, and several panels side by side or a direct-lit box give a better result.
It depends on panel size, how many edges are lit, the frame type, single or double-sided and quantity. A small one-edge menu panel costs far less than a 2 m four-edge wall graphic. Send us sizes and a photo and we will send an itemised quote, usually within 24 hours.
Yes, if it has a snap or magnetic frame: open the frame, slide out the old backlit print and fit the new one, handling the light guide by its edges. Fixed frames are made for permanent graphics but our team can still open them. We can print replacement graphics on our own UV printers.
Usually the dot pattern does not match the panel size or the lit edges, often because a stock panel was trimmed, or an LED strip on one side has failed. Cheaper light guide material yellowing near the LEDs causes uneven colour too. A replacement panel made to size normally solves it.
Indoors, edge-lit boxes usually last eight to ten years, and the LED strip we use is typically rated for around 50,000 hours. Heat build-up behind sunlit glass and low-grade light guides that yellow at the edges are what most often shorten that. Strips can be replaced without changing the panel.
Send your logo, the fascia size and a site photo. Our estimating team replies with options and an itemised price, usually within 24 hours.