lighting and frosting

raptorkid · 08-19-2008, 02:39 PM

i was thinking of renovating my case (obviously), and i was wondering if leds/cathodes behind a pane of frosted perspex/acrlic would produce a more or less solid block of colour. if so, does anyone know, or can hazard a guess as to how far apart the light source and window would have to be to create this effect?

thanks,

Raptorkid

**WereBo** · 08-19-2008, 03:48 PM

An interesting concept and yes, in theory, a cathode tube or 2 should provide an even block of light. I'm not right sure how tubes of different colours might mix, I imagine it would depend on the angle and distance of the tubes as to the position of the 'mixing' area.

Off the top-of-my-head, I think the main 'spread' of light would be dependant on the degree of frosting on the acrylic (size and shape of the 'granularity' or patterning), the distance is rather limiting really, just a few inches across the width of the case - so the lights would need to be as far as possible to reduce any 'bright' areas.

Alternatively, it might be an idea to experiment with 'edge' lighting - It should be possible to get some interesting effects that way, too. It might need some sort of reflective shielding, to direct the light spread from around the tube into a slot pointed to the edge of the acrylic/perspex.

Of course, you could use the same techniques with LED's to give focussed bands, patches and spreads of colour, as opposed to large areas

In fact, I can easily imagine a UV frosted sheet with red, green and blue LED's scattered around the edge and case, to give coloured splodges dotted around - that could be really beautiful

raptorkid · 08-20-2008, 04:14 AM

ooh, i like that idea. ill have to try that when i have the cash and/or time to do so. thanks

raptorkid · 08-20-2008, 12:03 PM

where would you recommend buying the materials for this, exactly?

**WereBo** · 08-20-2008, 12:32 PM

That depends on which country you're in

If you're outside the UK, I don't know the suppliers, but there's members here from all around the globe who can help you out with this.

You could try a local Google search for 'PC modding' or 'customising' in your local(ish) area, you should get some results. Failing that, there's always Ebay, if you pick a buyer with a good reputation, they can usually send around the world too.

raptorkid · 08-20-2008, 12:56 PM

... didnt think of Ebay. cheers!

and yes, i am in the UK...

i was only going to do a solid block because it means that my ageing hardware would be hidden

Temp. Edit: would this do?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5mm-Frosted-Wh...d=p3286.c0.m14

**WereBo** · 08-20-2008, 01:29 PM

That looks good, although I'm not sure what thickness would be needed - I don't think it would need to be too thick, but too thin might not be strong enough to provide protection against getting knocked out through flexing too much.

Are you cutting the hole out of the side-panel? or just fitting it inside to cover existing spaces?

raptorkid · 08-20-2008, 01:37 PM

cutting a hole, hopefully.

adding to your idea, how about red and blue led units like http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Red-LED-Laser-...d=p3286.c0.m14 in all four corner, in a formation of :

R B

B R

behind the acrylic? im not an expert in light physics, so i dont know if that would work...

out of interest, how do you make LEDs sound-activated, or are the units used for that bespoke?

Edit: sort of like this:

**WereBo** · 08-20-2008, 01:47 PM

That combination should look very cool, but then again, I'm a bit biased cos I adore those deep vibrant colours

You could always 'blu-tack' the lights temporarily to find the best position, then fix them permanently when satisfied.

I've seen people here posting about sound-operated control units, but I can't remember which threads they were, I think the control-panel was bay-mounted or something.

raptorkid · 08-20-2008, 01:57 PM

same with the pretty colours

ill have to look for those units at some point...

thanks for the help, and ill post back if/when i get to doing this...

EDIT: me being a cheapskate, d'you think that 'frosting' clear acrylic with sandpaper would work?

thanks again

**WereBo** · 08-21-2008, 07:08 AM

Hmmmm, it could be an expensive experiment. It would need great care to get a perfectly even texture across the sheet - any imperfections would stand out like a sore thumb. Also, it's hard to sand something without getting streaks and patterns, even if using a rotary sander.

raptorkid · 08-21-2008, 08:00 AM

ok then, ill jsut buy a sheet of frosted off've ebay. thanks for the help!

ill pm you when i start the project, and when i finish if you like..

**WereBo** · 08-21-2008, 03:52 PM

Please, and some pics would be nice, if possible

raptorkid · 08-22-2008, 02:03 PM

ok - i'll probably buy the parts soon, otherwise ill have to wait till half term

**WereBo** · 08-22-2008, 02:52 PM

Hehehehe... I hear ya

No rush, at least you've now sourced the materials

raptorkid · 08-22-2008, 03:52 PM

I had- i got dragged to morcambe for the day, and i missed the LEDs

Still, i can order the acrylic now...

08-19-2008, 02:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
raptorkid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Biddulph, UK Posts: 91 OS: xp sp2 My System	lighting and frosting i was thinking of renovating my case (obviously), and i was wondering if leds/cathodes behind a pane of frosted perspex/acrlic would produce a more or less solid block of colour. if so, does anyone know, or can hazard a guess as to how far apart the light source and window would have to be to create this effect? thanks, Raptorkid

08-19-2008, 03:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,490 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: lighting and frosting An interesting concept and yes, in theory, a cathode tube or 2 should provide an even block of light. I'm not right sure how tubes of different colours might mix, I imagine it would depend on the angle and distance of the tubes as to the position of the 'mixing' area. Off the top-of-my-head, I think the main 'spread' of light would be dependant on the degree of frosting on the acrylic (size and shape of the 'granularity' or patterning), the distance is rather limiting really, just a few inches across the width of the case - so the lights would need to be as far as possible to reduce any 'bright' areas. Alternatively, it might be an idea to experiment with 'edge' lighting - It should be possible to get some interesting effects that way, too. It might need some sort of reflective shielding, to direct the light spread from around the tube into a slot pointed to the edge of the acrylic/perspex. Of course, you could use the same techniques with LED's to give focussed bands, patches and spreads of colour, as opposed to large areas In fact, I can easily imagine a UV frosted sheet with red, green and blue LED's scattered around the edge and case, to give coloured splodges dotted around - that could be really beautiful __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

08-20-2008, 04:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
raptorkid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Biddulph, UK Posts: 91 OS: xp sp2 My System	Re: lighting and frosting ooh, i like that idea. ill have to try that when i have the cash and/or time to do so. thanks

08-20-2008, 12:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
raptorkid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Biddulph, UK Posts: 91 OS: xp sp2 My System	Re: lighting and frosting where would you recommend buying the materials for this, exactly?

08-20-2008, 12:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,490 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: lighting and frosting That depends on which country you're in If you're outside the UK, I don't know the suppliers, but there's members here from all around the globe who can help you out with this. You could try a local Google search for 'PC modding' or 'customising' in your local(ish) area, you should get some results. Failing that, there's always Ebay, if you pick a buyer with a good reputation, they can usually send around the world too. __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

08-20-2008, 12:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
raptorkid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Biddulph, UK Posts: 91 OS: xp sp2 My System	Re: lighting and frosting ... didnt think of Ebay. cheers! and yes, i am in the UK... i was only going to do a solid block because it means that my ageing hardware would be hidden Temp. Edit: would this do? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5mm-Frosted-Wh...d=p3286.c0.m14 Last edited by raptorkid; 08-20-2008 at 01:22 PM.

08-20-2008, 01:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,490 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: lighting and frosting That looks good, although I'm not sure what thickness would be needed - I don't think it would need to be too thick, but too thin might not be strong enough to provide protection against getting knocked out through flexing too much. Are you cutting the hole out of the side-panel? or just fitting it inside to cover existing spaces? __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

08-20-2008, 01:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
raptorkid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Biddulph, UK Posts: 91 OS: xp sp2 My System	Re: lighting and frosting cutting a hole, hopefully. adding to your idea, how about red and blue led units like http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Red-LED-Laser-...d=p3286.c0.m14 in all four corner, in a formation of : R B B R behind the acrylic? im not an expert in light physics, so i dont know if that would work... out of interest, how do you make LEDs sound-activated, or are the units used for that bespoke? Edit: sort of like this: Last edited by raptorkid; 08-20-2008 at 01:55 PM.

08-20-2008, 01:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,490 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: lighting and frosting That combination should look very cool, but then again, I'm a bit biased cos I adore those deep vibrant colours You could always 'blu-tack' the lights temporarily to find the best position, then fix them permanently when satisfied. I've seen people here posting about sound-operated control units, but I can't remember which threads they were, I think the control-panel was bay-mounted or something. __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

08-20-2008, 01:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
raptorkid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Biddulph, UK Posts: 91 OS: xp sp2 My System	Re: lighting and frosting same with the pretty colours ill have to look for those units at some point... thanks for the help, and ill post back if/when i get to doing this... EDIT: me being a cheapskate, d'you think that 'frosting' clear acrylic with sandpaper would work? thanks again Last edited by raptorkid; 08-20-2008 at 01:59 PM.

08-21-2008, 07:08 AM	#11 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,490 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: lighting and frosting Hmmmm, it could be an expensive experiment. It would need great care to get a perfectly even texture across the sheet - any imperfections would stand out like a sore thumb. Also, it's hard to sand something without getting streaks and patterns, even if using a rotary sander. __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

08-21-2008, 08:00 AM	#12 (permalink)
raptorkid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Biddulph, UK Posts: 91 OS: xp sp2 My System	Re: lighting and frosting ok then, ill jsut buy a sheet of frosted off've ebay. thanks for the help! ill pm you when i start the project, and when i finish if you like..

08-21-2008, 03:52 PM	#13 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,490 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: lighting and frosting Please, and some pics would be nice, if possible __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

08-22-2008, 02:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
raptorkid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Biddulph, UK Posts: 91 OS: xp sp2 My System	Re: lighting and frosting ok - i'll probably buy the parts soon, otherwise ill have to wait till half term

08-22-2008, 02:52 PM	#15 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,490 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: lighting and frosting Hehehehe... I hear ya No rush, at least you've now sourced the materials __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

08-22-2008, 03:52 PM	#16 (permalink)
raptorkid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Biddulph, UK Posts: 91 OS: xp sp2 My System	Re: lighting and frosting I had- i got dragged to morcambe for the day, and i missed the LEDs Still, i can order the acrylic now...