No. Flashing and fading are modes you choose on the remote, not something the sign does on its own. Set it to a solid color and it stays there, including after a power cut.
This is the single most common worry about RGB, and it is unfounded.
How the remote works
An RGB sign ships with a remote that offers a range of solid colors, brightness control, and a set of dynamic modes: fade, jump, strobe, and usually a speed control for them.
The dynamic modes are opt in. Pick a solid color and the sign holds it indefinitely. Most owners choose two or three favorites, settle on one, and never use the flashing modes at all.
Three things people confuse
| You are thinking of | Which is | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Different words in different colors, permanently | Multi color, fixed tubes | No extra cost |
| Changing the whole sign's color when you feel like it | RGB | Plus 50 percent |
| Two colors blended across the sign | Gradient | Quoted individually |
RGB shows one color at a time across the whole sign. It cannot hold your first word pink and your second blue. If that is what you pictured, you want multi color, and it is free.
Practical notes
- ✓ The remote is infrared, so it needs a reasonably clear line of sight to the receiver on the cable.
- ✓ Keep the receiver accessible when routing the cable, not buried behind a wardrobe.
- ✓ A smart plug still works for scheduling on and off, and the sign returns to its stored color.
- ✗ Do not buy RGB purely for brightness control. Every standard sign already includes an in line dimmer.
If flashing was your only reservation, set it aside; nobody ends up with a strobing sign by accident. The real question about RGB is whether you will use the remote after the first month. In a room with one settled mood, usually not, and the 50 percent buys more sign in a color you love instead.
Frequently asked questions
Will a color changing neon sign always flash?
No. Flashing, fading and strobing are modes you select on the remote. Choose a solid color and the sign holds it indefinitely. Most owners settle on one favorite color and never use the dynamic modes at all.
Does the sign remember its color after a power cut?
Yes. The controller stores the last setting, so switching off at the wall or losing power brings it back in the same color rather than in a default mode.
Can an RGB sign show two colors at once?
No. RGB changes the whole sign together, one color at a time. For different words in different colors you want multi color with fixed tubes, which costs nothing extra and looks sharper because each tube emits one true color.
Do I need line of sight to use the remote?
Roughly, yes. The remote is infrared and talks to a receiver on the cable, so keep that receiver reachable rather than burying it behind furniture when you route the cable.
Should I get RGB just to control brightness?
No. Every sign we make already includes an in line dimmer, RGB or not. If brightness is the real reason you were considering it, you do not need to pay the extra 50 percent.
We have made neon since 1998, and we still make it ourselves. If something here does not answer your question, ask us.
