Category: Neon signs

We recently had the opportunity to participate in a fascinating project, which will certainly remain in our memories for a long time. It concerns the design and execution of a double-sided neon sign in the shape of the 'Lidl' logo and the word 'Welcome' on the façade of a shop for a well-known German shop chain, which opened its next branch in Warsaw on Tamki Street. Why was this project special for us? Well, designing and creating neon signs is not only our job, but also our passion. We have been doing this for years, and it started with learning about the history of creating traditional glass neon signs and falling in love with this unusual craft. This time we were able to design and make a traditional neon, double-sided perpendicular semaphore one of a kind!

1960s-style neon sign for Lidl

Working on this project brought us great satisfaction, especially as the result is truly unique. Our neon sign not only reflects the Lidl logo, but also alludes to the aesthetics of the communist era. You will not find another one like it in Poland, or even in the whole world! This one is one of a kind, as it is made of original hand-moulded glass neon. The colour scheme of the sign has been carefully thought out and harmonises perfectly with Lidl's visual identity. The neon double-sided semaphore mounted perpendicular to the façade has impressive dimensions — 1.5 m × 1.5 m — making it highly visible and eye-catching. The design and personalisation of this neon sign was cautious, capturing the spirit of the 1960s with a modern twist. We went to a lot of trouble to ensure that the double-sided perpendicular neon semaphore blends harmoniously with the architecture of the building, creating a coherent entire. In addition to the neon Lidl logo, we also made the spatial neon sign 'Welcome'. It was a big challenge, but the effort paid off, and the result meets the highest quality standards.

We made no secret of the fact that we were working under a lot of time pressure. The shop had a strict opening date, which introduced a certain amount of nervousness.

Nevertheless, we managed and can now rejoice in our joint success. We are proud that such a reputable company as Lidl trusted the Pretende brand. For years, we have been recognised on the market all over Poland and have successfully carried out various sign commissions.

The greatest reward after a completed project is always positive feedback from the client. In this case, there was no shortage of praise and words of appreciation. Such feedback gives a great sense of satisfaction and fulfilment, which drives me to take on more challenges. We look to the future with this attitude. We are ready for new projects for the 21st century.

The remarkable story of traditional neon signs

Creating traditional neon signs is a true art that requires precision, skill, and patience. The process began with design, where the creator would prepare an accurate drawing of the lettering or graphics in actual size. This was followed by the bending of glass tubes, made from sodium or borosilicate glass. The tubes were heated over a gas burner until they became flexible, and the craftsman manually formed them into the correct shapes according to the design. Once formed, the tubes were thoroughly cleaned inside to remove any impurities. The next stage was to fit electrodes to the ends of the tubes, which were then connected to a vacuum pump. This removed the air from inside the tube, creating a vacuum, after which the tubes were filled with a suitable gas, usually neon (which gives a red light) or argon (which gives a blue light). Once filled, the tubes were sealed and tested for leakage and proper illumination. The finished neon tubes were mounted on special frames or panels using acrylic brackets and insulators, then installed at the target site and connected to a transformer that provided the correct voltage to power the neon lights.

Thanks to the precision and dedication of craftsmen at every stage, traditional neon signs became a popular advertising element and aesthetic symbol of the 20th century, and now, thanks to new design possibilities, neon signs are thriving into the futurism of the 21st century. And this is our goal — Pretende is growing and taking on more and more new challenges, and the greatest reward for us are orders from well-known and reputable companies because they testify to the trust we have earned with our presence on the market for many years. Thank you!

Neons play a significant role nowadays. They are visible in the streets of big cities, small towns and villages. These neon lights can take the form of artistically curved shapes and letters. They add a colourful, glowing effect to each item that is made of them. A glowing logo, banner, sign on a restaurant, cinema or clothing store attract the attention of passers-by and encourage them to use the services or make pur-chases. Neon lights are an eye-catching idea that has been perfect for the advertis-ing industry from the very beginning.

The beginnings of the neon career

The very word "neon" is derived from the word "neos" and means "new gas". Neon occurs naturally in the atmosphere, but in negligible amounts. Neon gas was dis-covered in 1898 by William Ramsay and Morris Travers. However, it was George Claude who was the first to create the neon. He combined electric gases and then passed an electric current through them. The result of this experiment was dis-charge, visible in different colours. When the neon maker realized that glass tubes can be twisted in different ways, into different positions, he took part in an exhibition in Paris in 1910. It was the beginning of the glory of neon lights.

What is neon? How is it made?

Neon lights are glass tubes filled with inert gases. This fact means that the neon lights do not react with other chemicals. As soon as the gas fills the tube, several electrodes are connected to the end, at which point the energy transported by the volts contributes to the boiling of the atoms inside the gas.

What is the process of making neon lights?

The very process of creating neon lights consists of several significant steps and is a time-consuming and long-term process. As the first step, we always choose the project that we want to create. The next step is to print it on white, fireproof paper, on which we carefully mark the places where the material will need to bend. Then we can start shaping our tubes. This process takes place at a temperature of 800 ° C - 900 ° C, which is possible thanks to a tool called a ribbon burner. As soon as the glass becomes soft, and this happens after approximately 30 seconds, it is time to bend the glass to the desired shape. Then, after the melting and bending process, we start joining the electrodes at the end of each tube. Now we're hitting each of the tubes with a 20,000 volt electron bombarder. Towards the end, we must not forget to inject the gas used to make the element, and then we must stick the neon to another element made of wood or plastic. What else needs to be done? Turn on the light and enjoy the completed task. This is the last stage that allows us to verify the order we have made.

What colour is the neon?

Classic real neon is orange-red in colour. Red is visible in its pure form and in a transparent glass tube. Neon, whose colour is not classic red, informs us that it does not contain gas neon. It is generally known that noble gases glow in their own col-our when exposed to high voltage. So helium glows pink, krypton turns yellow-green, xenon turns lavender, and argon then turns light blue. Radon is also a noble gas, but it is the only one that does not react to electricity by shining with colour, and thus it is the only noble gas not used in neon.

More neon shades can be obtained by applying a variety of glass coatings that are used for the pipes. Therefore, when switched off, neon lights are white or colourful - in the latter case they are coloured. When delving further into the topic of neon col-ours, it is worth noting that classic red and classic blue neon are made of transpar-ent glass and, respectively, neon glass, as well as argon. However, all other colours can be obtained by manipulating the glass using fluorescent powders such as pink, purple or green neon as well as by tinting the glass.

Neon is an art in itself

Ever since the nineteenth century, neon lighting has spread around the world, many artists have become interested in its use in art. Neon lights began to be used in movies, TV programs and in modern art. Julia Bickerstaff, a famous neon design-er, has gained great popularity in the world. She made signs for Star Trek movies and for the famous hotel in Dubai. Bruce Nauman is another famous personality, a veteran among neon artists. He created dozens of designs and collections that he presented as his art in renowned, famous museums around the world.

Neons are certainly more than just "lights". It is real art, which nowadays also occu-pies an excellent position in the advertising industry.

Neon signs are one of the most popular advertising elements in marketing.

We use the highest quality glass neon lights

Our company is characterized by market knowledge, many years of experience and careful selection of materials and accessories appropriate for the implementation. We pay attention to the smallest details, which are extremely important in the entire process of creation and assembly. Therefore the whole realization takes on style and full precision. We use the highest quality neon glass from European and American producers. It is in the USA, the cradle of neon lights, which is associated with brightly lit Las Vegas, that the highest quality elements necessary for the production of this type of lighting are created. Therefore, the service life of our products is very long and pleases the eye even for several years of use. In addition, we have a properly adapted workshop, which is perfect even for the most demanding orders. This place is facilitated by the process of creating unusual compositions and interesting combinations for our clients. Highly specialized staff performs tasks that affect the final appearance and quality of our products.

Which neon to choose - led neon or glass neon?

Often, customers ask us about the specificity of neon lights, their way of creating and their durability. Due to the fact that we are supporters of glass neon, we often emphasize that the very process of creating glass neon influences their quality and durability. Glass neon lights are a tradition in itself. Over the years, they have been refined in terms of production techniques, they are made of more and more durable components. Therefore, they are more resistant to failures. They have been fulfilling their role perfectly for a century, enjoying great support among people choosing proven and original products. Various shapes and sizes are created from glass neon, while maintaining the authenticity of the colours. Contrary to an ordinary light bulb, glass neon lights can be easily formed into various shapes, because they consist of a thin tube, and the light in the neon is generated by the process of electric discharge in gases.

Where can glass neon lights be used?

Mainly glass neon signs have been used for years as a form of advertising and providing information to many companies towards their potential customers. Recently, glass neon lights are also increasingly used to create various types of interior decorations, in particular lamps. They are also often used to illuminate furniture, stairs or ceiling spaces. They are also gaining more and more popularity in gardens, especially near ponds. This form of lighting is also extremely popular in bars and hotels. Illuminated rooms in entertainment spaces not only illuminate the rooms, but also give them a unique character. The atmosphere created by neon lighting allows you to achieve the intended effects. These traditional forms of neon lights are appreciated by supporters of interesting and extraordinary designs.

Choose professional traditional neon signs by Pretende and enjoy the quality and professionalism!

Four years ago…. I remember it like it was yesterday, in mid-October 2016, I received a mysterious phone call asking me to take pictures of several spatial advertisements in the Tri-City. My first thought was - "I should take pictures of billboards and store advertisements… It makes no sense". But on the other hand, as a photographer, I always value gaining photographic experience in undiscovered areas. After the first meeting with the boss of the Pretende company, I knew that they would not be just some hanging advertisements, but creative, modern and elegant, unique and eye-catching spatial advertisements. Not only are there spatial letters decorating various entrances, but also LED illuminated letters, exclusive golden letters or futuristic inscriptions made of wooden and stainless steel letters. However, none of them delight me as much as neon ads!

This is how my four-year-long adventure with various neon signs all over Poland began. And all of them came from one studio located between Gdańsk and Sopot - Pretende.pl. And there is no neon sign among them to repeat.

Most of you might say that you would have gotten bored with taking another neon photo a long time ago (after all, 4 years is a long time). However, let me tell you that each new order is even more interesting than the previous one. It is related, among other things, to the development of neon ads over the past few years. During this time, the forms that neon advertisements took have changed completely. We used to be able to watch simple neon signs above the entrance to a shop or a fitting room. Now, neon signs have taken on completely new shapes of company logos, inscriptions several meters long on the walls of office buildings (inside and outside), people and objects. I would never have expected that neon lights would become such a universal creative and unique form of advertising. Over the years, they have found their way to the windows of branded salons. They decorated the walls of restaurants and cafes, and now they advertise the largest music festivals. The material from which they are made (I cannot reveal too many details) is so plastic that you can create almost any shape from it, and the availability of their colours is limited only by our imagination.

Interestingly, I see neon lights decorating the walls of… our apartments more and more often. Because there is no better way to create the atmosphere of a modern industrial interior than to order an original, glowing neon, which, illuminated in the evening, attracts the attention of all household members and guests. In addition, neon is a great gift idea! Each of us would like his apartment to be unique but in the style in which we feel best. Thus, the neon hanging on the wall will suit any interior - you just need to think what it is supposed to represent, choose its colour and the right place ...

During these few years of cooperation, I have visited over 150 places in our country where there are advertisements made by Pretende. Most of them have neon lights. There are still many places ahead of me that I have not managed to visit with my camera yet, including foreign ones, because recently the Pretende company has also sent neon signs abroad. One of them was, among others, at the opening of the first LPP store in London, which was hosted by the well-known top model Kate Moss.

And let me tell you that in my work as a Pretende photographer there is no time for boredom. Each new advertisement, especially the neon one, brings delight, a large dose of curiosity and the desire to have your own neon on the bedroom wall. But this is only after the next renovation ... although the idea for shape and colour is already here!

One of our recent projects was the implementation of lighting decorations for the newly established Rocotillo restaurant, located in the largest business and office centre in the Tri-City.

For the purposes of the arrangement, we made a coffer with retro-style light bulbs and an aquamarine neon beautifully matching the interesting interior design of the restaurant.

At the request of one of the largest development companies in Poland, Echo Investment, we have realized the largest neon sign in northern Poland. Hand-bent neon glass creates the inscription "I'm from Gdańsk", which emphasizes the local character of the new investment - the Tryton Business House office building. The new neon light is turquoise. The width of the neon sign is 12 meters and its height is 4 meters - it is the largest neon in northern Poland. Many European cities have neon lights for which they are famous. Gdańsk deserves its new neon symbol. The thickness of the hand-bent neon tube is 18 mm.

We invite you to watch a short promotional film presenting the process of creating neon:

We produced two external neon signs, which were installed in Warsaw at Krucza Street. One of them is a two-sided circular semaphore, tinted glass. The neon lights effectively illuminate the entrance to the premises, the more so as it is another neon sign on Krucza Street.