Are there any preferred vinyl letter colors?
On some surfaces, yes, certain vinyl colors work better.
Cut vinyl comes in a variety of different standard colors and specialty colors from your regular black, white, brown, etc. to more unique colors like reflective lettering or etched glass lettering. And typically while most any color is sufficient for all sorts of vehicle lettering, window lettering, wall lettering, sign lettering, etc. there are some exceptions to the rule in certain instances. We have found, over the course of our 25 years plus, that certain vinyl letter colors work better on specific surfaces. Here is a brief breakdown of some vinyl letter colors that work better on specific surfaces...
WHITE VINYL - Window Lettering:
When it comes to windows, and that is any window, the preferred vinyl letter color would be white. White shows up the best on window surfaces because most all windows have some sort of tint, whether it's noticeable or not, with some windows being very heavily tinted. If you want a more vibrant color scheme for your window lettering it is suggested to stick with lighter colors over dark colors. Dark colored vinyls (i.e. black, red, blue) are harder to view on window and may be completely invisible at night. But if you definitely must use a dark vinyl color it is suggested to have it outlined with white to make it "pop" off the window more.
ETCHED GLASS VINYL - Window Lettering:
Etched vinyl (or frosted crystal vinyl) is another great vinyl color choice for window lettering. This particular specialty vinyl offers great visibility while being subtle and elegant. Etched glass vinyl also has a unique quality because the actual color is what we would call diffused gray that gives this vinyl color a semi-transparent quality. This particular vinyl color is widely used in business offices to create unique and appealing partitions where the building space is predominantly divided by glass walls. Etched glass vinyl is also a great for decorating glass and window surfaces around the home.
DARK VINYL COLORS - Multiple Surfaces:
If you are considering utilizing any dark color vinyls for vehicle lettering, wall lettering or other sign lettering you need to be mindful of the color of the surface you are placing them on. If your vinyl lettering will be placed on a dark surface, your dark vinyl letter color choice may make the lettering hard to decipher or see. As with window lettering, dark backgrounds call for lighter colored vinyl lettering, unless you outline the dark vinyl color in white.
LIGHT VINYL COLORS - Multiple Surfaces:
And in turn, when it comes to lighter colored surfaces, you might want to go with bolder darker colors for your vinyl lettering. Dark colors on a light surface are easy to view from a distance, as well as close-up, for a better visual impact.
REFLECTIVE VINYL - Emergency, Warning, Identification:
Any lettering that needs to be visible at night is best served by a reflective vinyl color. Reflective vinyls come in a few standard colors with white vinyl being the most popular. Reflective vinyl has properties that illuminate the vinyl when a light source is shined on the vinyl.