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Planning to design a neon sign? We’ve compiled a list of the best design tools and resources to help you create your neon sign. Whether you are a beginner or a professional neon sign creative, you can find a tool to take your skill to the next level and design resources to elevate your neon sign design, from getting ideas for your new project to choosing the right colors and fonts.
Canva is the best design tool we recommend for beginners, while experts would benefit from the range of features in Adobe Illustrator. And if you love working on your iPad, Procreate may be the perfect tool.
Criteria for Selecting the Top Tools and Resources
Your expertise in designing neon signs will depend on your experience. If you are new to creating neon signs, consider choosing beginner-friendly design tools such as Canva, which has an intuitive interface and thousands of neon sign templates to get you started.
For design resources, look for tutorials and guides targeting beginners. These may introduce you to design concepts and the basic steps of creating neon signs. Consider choosing free and low-cost solutions, especially when learning how to make neon signs.
If you are a seasoned neon sign creative, chances are you want opportunities to explore additional design tools and need more advanced design resources to keep on top of your field. In this case, choosing design tools that offer more design options is the best. Adobe Illustrator is one of the most comprehensive design tools for making professional-grade neon signs.
Choosing other tools and resources, such as color palette tools, stock images, and fonts, will depend on the project. For this, the theme and purpose of the neon sign will help you choose the most appropriate color scheme, message, and layout of your neon sign. You can also incorporate other tools, such as digital mood boards, to help you visualize the sign when designing.
Top 5 Design Tools for Neon Sign Creatives
Choosing the right design tool is the first step in creating custom neon signs. You can use various free and paid software options depending on your preferences, budget, and the type of neon sign you’re designing. Here are our top picks:
Canva
Canva is a simple-to-use graphics design software perfect for beginner and professional neon creatives. It is available on the web, Android, and iOS devices and features an intuitive and well-organized interface where design elements and tools are easy to find.
Canva offers a wide range of free, customizable templates to create a neon sign for personal or professional use. Unlike most professional-grade design software, Canva offers a free plan. Under this plan, you can access various free templates and tools but unlock additional resources by paying for a subscription.
Procreate for iPad
Procreate is one of the best digital art apps for iPad for raster graphics. It features a user-friendly interface with powerful features for designing custom neon signs. Among the available design tools are a wide selection of brushes with multiple customization options and multiple selection tools.
The user-friendly interface is built with touch in mind. It has useful features such as the two-finger “undo” and the three-finger “re-do.”
The app is available on iOS and has a one-time price that attracts lifetime access to various tools and resources to express your creativity.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a design powerhouse and one of the best in the industry. It is a versatile software that offers a comprehensive range of tools and design resources suitable for vector graphics.
As a design app, Adobe Illustrator is the go-to for professionals who want high-resolution neon signs and work. In addition to the versatile selection of design tools and resources, Adobe Illustrator has access to a library of royalty-free stock art to incorporate into your next neon sign project.
However, to access this platform's diverse library of tools and resources, you must choose a suitable subscription plan, as Adobe Illustrator lacks a free version or a free trial.
Figma
Figma is a powerful online design tool suitable for collaborative work. It allows multiple people to work on the design simultaneously, including leaving feedback on the designs.
In addition to a powerful range of tools and resources, Figma offers features to optimize the design process. This includes adding your brand colors if you design professional neon tools.
Figma is a browser-based design software with Mac, Windows, Chrome, and Linux. The software comes with a free plan suitable for creating personal projects.
Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is a vector graphics software suitable for creating custom neon signs. It is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS and iPad. The software has two purchase options: the device-based one-off payment plan or the lifetime universal license.
It has multiple features to simplify the design process, including diverse typography options, multiple file types, pencil tools, vector wrap, and non-destructive adjustments. The software has a custom shape builder that lets you experiment with various shapes for your neon sign design.
Essential Resources for Neon Sign Creatives
The right resources are a must-have for neon sign creatives. Whether you’re designing neon signs for personal use or your business, here are some of the essential resources you may need:
1. Free Neon Fonts and Typography Resources
The font is a critical element for your custom neon signs. Most design software has neon sign templates with pre-installed fonts, but you can diversify your font collection by downloading free fonts from various neon font libraries online. Popular neon sign libraries include Fontspace7, Freepik8, and Adobe Fonts9.
Some of the common neon fonts to choose from include:
- Retro neon fonts
- Handwritten neon fonts
- 3D neon fonts
- NeonScript
- Bayshore neon font
- Lamomo neon font
2. Color Palette Inspiration Tools
Not sure what color palettes to use for your project? A color palette inspiration tool is the best way to clear your creative block. You can draw inspiration from many places, including neon sign creatives on Instagram or Pinterest. Behance10 is also a good platform to explore portfolios from other neon sign creatives. And if you’d rather immerse yourself in neon signs to get inspired, consider visiting the Vegas Neon Museum.
Alternatively, consider using curated neon color palettes, which give you a collection of color palettes to help you choose the best neon lights for your project. Coolors11 and Color Hunt12 are some of the neon color palette libraries that help you choose colors that work well together for your personal and professional neon signage.
3. Neon Sign Design Tutorials
Tutorials are important whether you are a beginner or a more experienced neon sign creative who wants to perfect your technique. You can find many free neon sign tutorials online on platforms such as YouTube, blogs by neon sign professionals and creatives, and guides from graphic design software providers who offer neon sign design tools and resources.
These tutorials guide you on how to create neon signs, choose the right design software, choose the right color palette, and customize your neon sign based on your needs and the sign's purpose.
4. Stock Image Libraries
Stock image libraries are a lifesaver for neon creatives. Stock libraries provide affordable images whether you’re building your neon sign mood board, looking for inspiration, or want to incorporate creative images and shapes into your design.
Here are a few stock image libraries to browse through for your next neon sign project:
- Adobe Stock13 (paid)
- Shutterstock14 (paid)
- Envato Elements15 (Subscription, AI-generated)
- Unsplash16 (Free)
- Pexels17 (free)
- Pixabay18 (free)
In addition to these libraries, you can use in-built stock images and elements from neon sign design tools such as Canva.
Tips for Designing Your Own Neon Signs
Designing your neon sign can be fulfilling, whether you’re doing it for your home or your business. Before you start designing, think about the purpose of your sign. Neon signs in the home can be used as decor, while for businesses, they are used as advertisements or to inform customers.
Regardless, understanding the purpose behind your neon sign will help you determine the right message, color scheme, substrate, and theme.
Once you have the purpose of your neon sign figured out, determine the size of your sign, the right font, and the type of neon lights to use for the design. Readability is key for your sign, so make sure you account for the width of the tubing and legibility of the font when designing your sign.
Keep your neon sign minimalistic to avoid clutter. A minimalistic design encourages those who see the sign to focus on the message instead of being distracted by the clutter around the sign. Here are several ways to ensure a clean neon sign design:
- Use one or two neon light colors. Alternatively, use gradients of the same color for an attractive and striking appearance.
- Use a spacious layout that leaves lots of negative space.
- Use a simple design and font for your sign.
Use design software to visualize your neon sign's appearance before you commit to producing it. Make all the adjustments you need on the digital version. If you use the neon sign for your room, consider interior design tools that let you visualize the layout before committing.
Consider your lighting requirements when designing the sign. Plan for the amount of neon lights required, how they will be placed, how many connections are required, and how you will conceal the wires and battery pack during installation.
Customizing a neon sign can be fun with the right tools and design resources. Start planning your custom neon signs with Lamomoneon by uploading your inspirational photo or an image to start your free design service.
