What an infinity mirror sign is, and how venues use it at reception

An infinity mirror sign is the fitting most often asked about by name. It is a flat panel, usually round or capsule-shaped, that appears to open into a tunnel of light receding into the wall. The effect is strong in person and stronger in a photograph, which is why it has become the standard reception piece for billiard halls, arcades, and gaming cafes.

How does the effect work?

The panel has a mirror at the back and a half-silvered glass at the front, with a ring of LEDs between them. Light from the LEDs bounces between the two surfaces, and each bounce produces a fainter, smaller reflection. From the front, the reflections line up as a tunnel that seems far deeper than the few centimeters of the panel.

The LED ring is RGB, so the tunnel can be any color and can run animated scenes. The effect works in daylight and in a dark room; it is simply more dramatic in the dark.

What can go inside the tunnel?

The mirror tunnel can carry artwork. A logo, a club name, or a graphic is placed inside the panel, so it appears to float at the mouth of the tunnel with the light receding behind it. This is how the sign becomes the venue’s own rather than a generic fitting. Round pieces suit a logo; capsule pieces suit a name or a longer word.

The artwork must be yours to use. A club name and logo are the usual content; characters and images from games or films belong to their owners and are not used.

Where does it go?

Reception. Behind the counter, at eye height, where it is seen on arrival and departure and is in the background of every photograph taken at the desk.

Feature wall. As the center of a wall arrangement, with wing, crescent, or ring modules around it in the same colors.

Signage. Several capsule pieces in a row can spell a name, or one piece can carry it. In a billiard hall the sign is often the only decorative fitting near the tables, because it is on the wall and its light does not reach the cloth.

Sizes and mounting

Infinity mirror pieces are standard products in fixed sizes; the customization is the artwork inside. They mount flat to the wall like a picture, with the wiring to a controller behind. Because they are flat and enclosed, they are one of the few decorative fittings that can be placed within reach without concern.

What to send

Your logo or artwork as a vector file, the words you want to appear if any, and a photograph of the wall where the sign will go. If the piece is part of a larger scheme, send the floor plan as well and it is included in the lighting plan.

See the round infinity mirror module and the capsule version, or the billiard hall solutions page for how a reception feature fits the rest of a hall.