During the 80s, neon was still a design trend. There was a neon sign on just about every corner in many big cities and advertising firms were flocking to get their brand in neon. The 80s were also known as the “Do It Yourself Decade” so people who couldn’t afford to have an actual neon sign company create one for them, would buy these “Do It Yourself Neon Kits” that was sold at nearly every hardware store around. This resulted in a lot of cheesy 80s signs being made that look very ugly by today’s standards. But still, they have their appeal to retro lovers and kitsch fans!
There are several different versions of 80s neon signs, but the most common ones have two variations:
The first one is the neon light tubes that are stuffed into a shaped plastic sign frame. The second one is a plastic or metal sign that has the neon light tube(s) hiding on the backside.
The latter type of sign, where the tube(s) are hidden on the backside, is called “Neon Injection Sign”. These types of signs are also called “Neon Hidden Sign” or “Neon Concealed Sign”. They were usually made in 3D form using 3D printing technology but they can also be made in 2D form using digital printing technology. A lot of them even had a switch for changing between different colors (or flashing modes). The latter version could be either hung on a wall or stood on its own like a sculpture and they were very popular in Japanese restaurants!
What makes these signs so interesting for retro lovers is their unique look and feel. They have an 80s look and feel that’s hard to find anywhere else! And their prices are high enough to make it worthwhile collecting them! That’s why I decided to do a guide on them!
So let’s start with the first 80s neon sign type, the neon light tubes that are stuffed into a shaped sign frame.
Neon Light Tube
The most commonly used neon light tubes are straight or curved but you can also find ones with other shapes such as an 8-sided star and lightning bolts! These signs were frequently made for restaurants and bars because they look good in these environments.
Another use for these signs is to turn them into a night light or wall art display for your home or office because they will add some nice warm mood lighting to your space! You can even use it as a “nightlight” for kids who still want to have some sort of nightlight in their room! They’re pretty cheap too, so you won’t have to spend a lot of money on them! You can also get creative with these signs and arrange them in many different ways, either on their own or together with other retro 80s signs. They make great decorations for any room or office space! It’s worth collecting some of these simple but stylish neon light tubes during your 80s neon sign hunt!
Neon Injection Sign
The second 80s neon sign type is what I like to call the “Neon Injection Sign” because the neon light tubes are hidden on the backside of the sign. They were made in several different forms and shapes but they all have one thing in common: Their neon light tubes are hidden on the backside. It is a simple yet stylish way to create a neon sign. The standard shapes for these signs were diamonds, triangles, squares or rectangles but you can also find other shapes like stars or hearts. They were usually made using 3D printing technology but there are also 2D versions around as well that look just as good!
These types of signs make excellent decorations for any room or office space because they are eye-catching and come in many different styles, colors, and sizes! There are so many options for these signs that you can even find them made out of wood, metal (stainless steel), plastic (acrylic) or glass! Some of them even had a switch for changing between different colors (or flashing modes). These signs were frequently used in Japanese restaurants because Japanese restaurants have always been known to be creative with their interior designs and the neon injection signs fit perfectly into this category.
The most common shape for these signs is the triangle but you can also find them in other shapes such as a diamond, square or rectangle! They all have different variations in their design. Some have a glow-in-the-dark effect or are made with other materials such as wood, metal or glass. But they all have one thing in common: The glow of the neon light is hidden on the backside of the sign. That’s what makes them so interesting for retro lovers!
There are also some different versions of these injection signs. Some of them have a switch that lets you change between effects such as normal glow, fast flash, and slow flash! Some of them even come with batteries to display a glowing effect without having to plug it into an outlet! There are many versions around with different features and designs so you have lots to chose from while looking for one for your collection!
Some of these neon injection signs were made in 3D form using 3D printing technology but there are also 2D digital printed versions available. So there should be no problems when it comes to finding these signs at a decent price! And if you want to get creative with them, you can arrange them in many different ways, either on their own or together with other retro 80s signs. They make great decorations for any room or office space!
