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Backlit Control Panel Idea

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Xiaou2:

 I was just going to recomend that.   heh

  If you are trying to light up artwork... make the very bottom layer frosted on the underside.  All other layers wont need sanding - as you are just trying to keep the inside from bing see-thru.  

  I suggest using a florescent light because it gives much more even lighting... like Trimoor said " like a marquee ".

  The mouse pad was pretty cool tho!   The airflow idea would be great for sweaty hands.   Although... you could just pop the fans near the surface of the panel - right near the monitor bezel area... either making it look like a speaker grill... or using many hard to see blow holes drilled close to the surface of the control panel.

 Btw-  they do sell spray paint that resembles frosted glass... thought Im not sure how well it works on plexi. (which would illiminate the need for the sanding)

 And... if you use enuff layers of plexi... you may not even need to sand or frost... as the plexi creates a blury-ness from all the layers the deeper you go.   And of course... if the entire bottom is lit artwork - then you do not need to frost either.
 
 Be aware that the bubble effect will weaken the plexi as well as shrink and distort it.  Its a tough process to get right.  I never tried a large sheet either - just a small section.

  If fiber optics wernt too expensive - they could make some wicked twinkle effects as well!   (imagine a twinkling mame logo that shines in the control panel center... and changes colors... ooooo  perty  : )

 Ohh - and lets go way over the top...  imagine a way to change audio 'bass drops'   to turn on a strobe light or strong led...to simulate a sort of 'lightning effect every once in a while.

 Could also run a visible laser in the panel using many mirrors to create an internal light pathway...
 

patrickl:
On the topic of crazy ideas ... you could use the led lighting from the keyboard leds so MAME would control (part of) the light effects. Have your Out Run brake lights turn the CP red when you brake.

BTW would glowire work for this or doesn't that give enough light?

Trimoor:

--- Quote --- Btw-  they do sell spray paint that resembles frosted glass... thought Im not sure how well it works on plexi. (which would illiminate the need for the sanding)
--- End quote ---
I'm afraid this wont work.  The plex needs to be sanded to scatter the light traveling through it, otherwise you would only see it at the edges.

Glow wire gives nice even illumination, but it doesn't produce nearly as much as CCFL or regular fluorescent.  What would work is to put and EL panel under the CP.  This would provide lighting even more uniform than sanded plex, but would be very expensive.

Many EL kits include a sound activated module, maybe you could use one of those.

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