Halo-lit letters are hands down one of the classiest options out there. When they're on the right wall, they look incredible. But throw them on a framework or a batten wall? That's when things get tricky.
I'd like to add that this isn't a sign we produced and I'm sure the signie who fabricated it fought hard against it, but I drive past it every day on the commute home and it unfortunately stands out quite a bit!
Here's the problem: Halo letters need a canvas to work. When you mount them on a framework, the light shooting out the back doesn't have a nice flat surface to bounce off. Instead, it catches every bar and rail of the frame. Instead of a smooth glow, you get this messy, illuminated skeleton behind your letters. It makes the text super hard to read because your eyes are fighting between the letters and the lit-up frame behind them.
Batten walls or slats are just as tough. You end up with a zebra stripe effect behind your sign. The light hits the high points, shadows fall in the gaps, and suddenly you've got a busy background fighting for attention with your actual branding. It's just visual noise.
If you want that premium halo look, you really need a flat, clean surface. A smooth wall or panel lets the light spread out evenly, giving you that sharp silhouette that makes halo signs pop.
For our halo letters, we use a 20mm acrylic backing that seals the whole unit up. It keeps the bugs and water out and lets us mount them directly to a wall without needing standoffs. It's a great system, but it can't fix a bad background.
If your client is dead set on a framework or a textured wall, honestly? Steer them towards Front-Lit or Side-Lit letters. They'll be legible, they'll look professional, and you won't have to explain why their expensive sign looks messy at night.