Metal signage, logos and facade letters
Short answer
Metal signs and logos in Tbilisi are cut on a CNC fiber laser directly from sheet — stainless steel, aluminium, mild steel or brass — to ±0.1mm positional tolerance. Flat letters are cut in one pass from 1–3mm sheet; the side return on volumetric letters is formed and joined at a partner workshop. Minimum order is 1 piece, quotes take 24 hours and production runs 3–10 working days.
A metal sign or logo on this page means one specific thing: a mark cut from real metal sheet on a CNC fiber laser — not a graphic file, not a vinyl print. Craftarea cuts stainless steel, aluminium, mild steel and brass to ±0.1mm positional tolerance, from flat logo panels to volumetric facade letters. A design studio hands you a file; an acrylic shop hands you letters that yellow in sunlight. What you get here is metal that holds its colour and shape outdoors. Below: which metal suits which job, how a volumetric letter is actually assembled, how a sign is mounted on a facade, and what the price is built from.
Key facts
- Materials
- 4 types — stainless, aluminium, mild steel, copper/brass
- Sheet thickness range
- 1–10mm, by material
- Typical letter gauge
- 1–3mm in stainless and aluminium
- Positional tolerance
- ±0.1mm
- Minimum order
- 1 piece
- Quote turnaround
- 24 hours
- Production time
- 3–10 working days
- Mounting
- 3 options — adhesive, standoff pins, brackets
What kinds of metal signs and logos do we make?
Four types of sign get cut from sheet on the fiber laser: flat logo panels — a single layer cut to an exact contour; facade letters, flat or volumetric; directional and wayfinding signs for offices and industrial buildings; and interior branding elements such as reception logos, wall marks and department plates. The starting file is always a vector: DXF, AI, EPS or SVG. Minimum hole diameter equals the sheet thickness — in 2mm stainless, the smallest hole is 2mm. The machine cuts the contour in one pass: nothing is printed and no separate letters are glued together. The result is a solid, even-thickness metal part whose edge does not fray or peel years later.
- Flat logo panels
- Facade letters — flat or volumetric
- Directional and wayfinding signs
- Interior branding elements
Which metal is best for facade letters?
For exterior facades stainless steel is the most durable option — it does not rust and handles rain and humidity. Letters are normally cut at 1–3mm; we cut stainless sheet up to 6mm. Aluminium is lightweight and equally rust-free, which suits large or back-lit letters, also at 1–3mm, with sheet up to 5mm. Mild (carbon) steel is the cheapest and cuts up to 10mm, but outdoors it must be painted or otherwise coated. That coating work is not done in-house — it goes to a partner finisher or is handled by the client. Copper and brass are decorative choices up to 3mm and develop a natural patina over time.
How is a volumetric (3D) metal letter assembled?
A volumetric letter consists of a front face, a side return (the depth) and often a back panel. We cut the front and back faces on the fiber laser to ±0.1mm positional tolerance so the two match exactly — that stage is entirely ours. Forming and joining the side return happens at a vetted partner workshop: we do not run a press brake in-house, and we say so plainly. In practice this means a volumetric letter takes a few days longer than a flat one. The depth of the return also lets us build the shell with room for an LED strip, if that is planned into the project from the start; the lighting installation itself is agreed separately.
How is a metal sign mounted on a facade?
Light, flat letters — aluminium or thin stainless — mount directly to the wall with silicone adhesive. For a halo effect, where light spills from behind the letter onto the wall, standoff pins hold the letter a few centimetres off the surface. Heavy stainless or large-format structures sit on metal brackets pre-installed on the facade. Installation in Tbilisi is arranged and coordinated on site; outside Tbilisi, delivery and local fitting are agreed separately. The mounting method is always chosen from the letter's weight and the facade material, and it needs to be settled at the ordering stage, because a bracket solution changes the letter's construction too.
Why metal instead of acrylic or PVC?
Metal signage is often confused with two different services: a graphic-design studio that only supplies a digital logo file, and an acrylic (plexiglass) shop that builds volumetric letters from PVC or acrylic. The outcomes differ. Acrylic yellows in sunlight and turns brittle over time; PVC cracks in cold weather. Metal sheet does not react to UV and keeps its shape through temperature swings — and stainless and aluminium need no coating at all. The trade-off is weight: for anything thicker than 1mm or larger in format, the mounting method has to be planned in advance.
What does a metal sign cost, and what makes up the price?
We do not publish a fixed price, because no two signs are alike. The figure is built from four components: material — sheet area and thickness (brass costs more than stainless, mild steel is cheapest); total cutting length in millimetres, which follows directly from letter count and typeface complexity; volumetric assembly, if you need more than a flat version; and mounting hardware plus any coating. This is why we ask for a vector file — within 24 hours of receiving it we calculate the exact amount. Minimum order is 1 piece, so a single letter or a single logo is a job we will take.
Metal options for facade letters and signs — thickness, resistance and typical use
| Material | Letter thickness (mm) | Max sheet thickness (mm) | Corrosion resistance | Coating needed? | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel (inox) | 1–3 | 6 | High | No | Facade letters, outdoor signage |
| Aluminium | 1–3 | 5 | High, does not rust | No | Large letters, halo lighting |
| Mild / carbon steel | 1–4 | 10 | Low | Yes — mandatory outdoors | Painted or interior letters |
| Copper / brass | 1–2 | 3 | Moderate, develops patina | No (patina is natural) | Premium branding, decorative logos |
How it works — step by step
- 1
File and consultation
Send a vector logo file (DXF, AI, EPS or SVG) or a sketch; we confirm letter height and whether you need a flat or volumetric version.
- 2
Material and thickness selection
We choose stainless, aluminium, mild steel or brass based on the installation site, letter size and budget.
- 3
Quote within 24 hours
Within 24 hours of receiving the file we calculate the exact price from material, cutting length and assembly.
- 4
CNC laser cutting
The letter or logo contour is cut on the fiber laser to ±0.1mm tolerance, straight from sheet. This stage is done in our own production.
- 5
Edge finishing and volumetric assembly
Flat letters need only edge finishing; on volumetric versions the side return is formed and joined to the panels at a partner workshop.
- 6
Delivery and installation
Mounting hardware — standoff pins, adhesive or brackets — is prepared, and the sign is delivered or installed on site in Tbilisi.
Frequently asked questions
What metal are facade letters and signs made from?
Most often stainless steel, for outdoor durability, or aluminium when the letter is large and weight matters. Both are cut at 1–3mm. Mild steel suits painted or interior letters, and brass works for decorative logos up to 3mm.
Can you make volumetric (3D) letters from metal?
Yes. We cut the front and back faces on our laser to ±0.1mm tolerance in-house, while forming and joining the side return happens at a partner workshop — we do not have a press brake. Lead time is a few days longer than for a flat version.
How is a metal sign mounted on a facade?
Three methods. Light flat letters mount to the wall with silicone adhesive; standoff pins hold a letter a few centimetres clear for a halo effect; heavy stainless structures sit on metal brackets pre-installed on the facade.
How long does a metal sign take to make?
A quote is ready within 24 hours of receiving your file. Production takes roughly 3–10 working days depending on quantity and complexity, with volumetric letters sitting nearer the top of that range.
How much does a metal sign cost?
The price is built from four components: material and thickness, total cutting length, volumetric assembly, and mounting hardware. We publish no fixed price — the exact figure is calculated within 24 hours of receiving a vector file. Minimum order is 1 piece.
Can the letters be back-lit (halo effect)?
Yes, if the letter has side depth — meaning a volumetric build. We build the shell so an LED strip can sit inside it; the lighting installation and electrical work are agreed separately at the project stage.
Does a metal sign need painting?
Stainless steel and aluminium need no coating — neither rusts. Mild steel must be painted or otherwise coated outdoors. That work is not done in-house; it goes to a partner workshop or is handled by the client.
What file should I send?
A vector file — DXF, AI, EPS or SVG — with closed contours. If you only have a sketch or a photo, vectorisation is a separate step and is included in the quote. Minimum hole diameter equals the sheet thickness.