At 09:58 PM 5/24/99 -0500, you wrote: >You weren't kidding !! $150 bucks for a 5" x 8" sheet !! Ouch !! > >I've come to the conclusion that EL backlighting is not for hobbyists. I >talked to someone today that told me that the EL membranes were $.60 per >sq. in. Plus a $200 setup fee !! I guess the only way to make EL use >economical is in very large quantities. > >Hence, the search continues for a backlighting approach for my panels. I'm >thinking about using blue LEDs somehow .... > Try frosting one side of a piece of plexiglass, putting your diodes around the edge, and the panel in front. If you have access to someone who can plate or vapor deposit a metal film on the frosted back, even better. Not as great as a panel, but the frosting will cause the edge lighting to bounce around a lot and come out the front more or less uniformly. Cheap, and it does work. Made a lot of edge lighted signs (Exit etc.) using plexiglass and a router years ago. Light would hit the routed letters and make them glow with a nice blue-green. Really pretty. Enjoy **************************************************************************** ******** All legitimate attachments to this email will be clearly identified in the text. Please note our new address and phone numbers. William K. Borsum, P.E. DASCOR P.O.Box 462885 Escondido, CA 92046-2885 V&M&F) 760-796-7785 Direct) 760-796-7788