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This time, a restaurant from Sopot ordered external signage in the form of a light box from our company. I recommend this cuisine to everyone :)
Our project - Light cassette, silver dibond with spatial letters encourages you to enter the restaurant :)
2019.05.24
Pretende
Classic glass neon signs – gas-filled, full of noble nostalgia and characteristic light – have ruled the streets for years. They still impress with their charm. But the world changes, and so do our needs. Not everyone can afford the delicacy of a glass tube, especially in lively spaces like food trucks, festivals, or dynamic retail and hospitality settings. In such places, we start looking for alternatives. That’s how LED neons were born – durable, flexible, and just as eye-catching.
But “LED neon” is too broad a term today. In reality, we are talking about two entirely different worlds: acrylic LED neons and flex LED neons. Although they may look similar at first glance, the difference in craftsmanship, durability, and aesthetics is vast and hard to ignore.
Acrylic LED neons use an impressive technology: we start by precisely milling shapes from acrylic – letters, icons, symbols, even the tiniest details. Then we fill them with LED light – high quality, even, soft. The result? Perfectly clean edges, depth, and precise project reproduction. You can also choose where the light goes – front, side, back, or all around. Play with color – RGB, RGBW, transitions, halo effects. This gives the designer full control.
And flex neon? Well, it’s simply a flexible LED strip embedded in silicone. Its only real advantage – you can bend and install it quickly. But only if you don’t expect much. The strip can’t handle tight curves or fine details and always ends up simplified. It looks bulkier, less precise, and with less “wow.” As a commercial neon – flex doesn’t hold up in daylight (literally or figuratively). In professional spaces, it just looks cheap.
The acrylic neon’s strength lies in accurate shapes – refined, clean-cut letters and symbols. Durability? Unmatched. Acrylic resists impacts, doesn’t break like glass, and – importantly – it’s not flexible like flex. Its rigidity is a major advantage: acrylic neon is solid, stable, and doesn’t bend or deform under temperature changes.
Acrylic also acts as a light diffuser. This means letters and logos are illuminated smoothly and evenly – easy on the eyes. The light is soft and natural – comfortable even at close range.
Flex neons are the opposite. The silicone used doesn’t diffuse light evenly – especially blue tones become harsh and irritating. It strains the eyes and ruins the visual appeal.
What’s more, flex neon is unreliable – it’s made from cheap roll LED strips. Connections short, LEDs burn out. White flex turns pink, then dies. Dark spots appear – ugly up close.
From afar? Still bad – the glow is harsh and artificial, letters blur together, readability drops.
Acrylic LED neons simply look professional. With flame-polished surfaces, they shine and feel refined. The result is premium – evoking both elegant glass neon and luxurious 3D lettering. A branding upgrade.
Flex? Just a bent tube – often cut with a knife, glued by hand, full of imperfections. Far from professional. Not suitable for premium projects. Doesn’t inspire.
Sure, LED neon tape has its place – it’s cheap, quick, and decorative. But if you want more – quality, durability, standout aesthetics – acrylic LED neons have no rival.
This is next-gen lighting: combining modern tech with elegance. If you want your space to truly stand out – choose the solution that deserves it.
2025.07.17
PRETENDE
There are installations that catch the eye… and then there are those that completely capture your attention. Infinity mirror belongs to the latter group. It is an illusion in which light seems to disappear into infinity, creating a mesmerizing tunnel – even though, in reality, it fits into a structure only a few centimeters thick.
The effect is achieved by combining an optical mirror with perfect reflection clarity and a semi-transparent reflective glass. Between them works a precise LED lighting system, programmable to create smooth color transitions, geometric patterns, or dynamic animations.
The light reflects multiple times, with each reflection becoming softer – creating the illusion of infinite depth. Our brain interprets it as an open portal to another dimension, where light moves to its own rhythm.
Infinity mirror can become more than just a “window into infinity.” With the right configuration, it is possible to incorporate holographic elements that appear to float within the tunnel. This could be a three-dimensional logo, an abstract form, or even an animated projection that changes over time.
The infinity mirror structure does not have to be a rectangular frame. It can take any shape – from a perfect circle, through waves and polygons, to complex forms inspired by a logo or unique artistic design. The only limit is imagination – the light tunnel can be given a look of classic elegance or a futuristic, sculptural form.
The entire structure is made from high-quality anodized aluminum, stainless steel with a satin or mirror finish, and tempered optical glass with hand-polished edges. Every element is refined to ensure a pure, deep effect that impresses from every perspective.
2025.08.14
PRETENDE
The Hotel Katowice neon was never just an ordinary sign. It was a symbol of an era — the characteristic blue glow above the city center and a visual element of the city’s identity that accompanied residents for decades. When the time came to revitalize the entire building, the investor faced a key decision: how to bring back a neon that everyone remembered, yet one that could no longer be restored? That was the moment when the Pretende team stepped in.
Despite its cultural value, the old neon had no chance of a second life. The metal sheeting crumbled in our hands, the structure was eaten by rust, and the glass tubes were cracked and incomplete. Technically, it was impossible to save it in a way that would meet modern safety standards and deliver the quality expected by the investor.
This was not meant to be a simple renovation. It was about preserving the spirit of Katowice. That’s why we decided to recreate the structure from scratch — maintaining full fidelity to the original, centimeter by centimeter.
In Pretende’s workshops and laboratories, a neon was created that is both new and deeply familiar to all residents. Every letter was reproduced exactly as in the original — preserving proportions, angles, characteristic curves, and the routing of the neon glass along the outline.
The color was crucial. The iconic blue shade that lit up the Katowice skyline for decades was recreated through a digital pigment analysis. The result? A blue tone that looks exactly like it used to — only clearer and more saturated.
Although the visual effect recalls the past, the new structure was built from materials ensuring durability for decades. The aluminum letters — about 1.5 meters tall — are corrosion-resistant and stable even in strong winds. The painting process took place in our workshop, where the letters filled the entire working area; two layers of coating were applied to withstand weather conditions and retain color intensity over time.
The greatest artisanal challenge was the neon glass. It was hand-bent by a master craftsman with 35 years of experience, using classical techniques rarely seen today. Thanks to this, the neon preserved its characteristic lightness, rhythm, and the unique glow that LEDs simply cannot replicate.
Installing such a large neon in the center of Katowice required exceptional precision and specialized equipment. The letters, stretching over thirty meters, were mounted using a crane with an extended boom — the only one available in the city capable of reaching such height.
Each movement had to be perfectly aligned so that the entire sign would form a straight line and be visible in the city skyline exactly as it once was. When we performed the first lighting tests at dusk, it became clear that the neon had returned to the city in full form — as if it had never gone dark.
Today, the Hotel Katowice neon lights up the rooftop once more and catches the eye just as it did decades ago. It appears familiar, yet behind its glow stands modern technology, a solid structure, and craftsmanship that will allow it to shine for many years to come.
This project not only recreates history — it preserves it. It is not a reconstruction, but a continuation of a symbol that has belonged to the city for generations.
2025.12.02
PRETENDE