Some kind of plastic needed

[m_c]

Changing the colour of the LEDs at this point isn't going to happen, as the only commonly available matrices use Red and Green.

I'll see how the tinted perspex samples work out first.

[Musht]

Green will appear brightest, but it`s the least reliable colour and is very sensitive to ESD.

[m_c]

The perspex samples turned up last week, but I've only just got around to setting up a panel to try.


Display Testing by mc_mtb, on Flickr

The Frosted Slate Grey works pretty well, and only becomes illegible when I shine a 670lumen lamp directly at it, so it should be good once positioned suitably out of direct light with a hood.
Only issue with the perspex is you've got to buy it in a complete sheet, which means it works out pretty expensive, especialy since I'll probably only need under quarter of a sheet, so I'm waiting for somebody to drop of some frosted vinyl samples, which I'll try on some clear perspex to see how it compares before making any decisions.

[Musht]

window tint film springs to mind....

[John S]

MC,

Only just got round to reading this thread and I may be able to help.

A few years ago i built a Shumatech DRO system which uses red LED's but in bright light you see all the variation on the led display so a 6 looks a lot like an 8.

Some one posted a link to some red film that once put over the display made it clearer.

As I couldn't get any of this film, it was US sourced I tried using some clear OHP inkjet projection film printed solid red and it worked.

Perhaps given the price of OHP film being low you could experiment with various colours ??

[Musht]

Could try theatre colour filter, gel, not self adhesive though , sandwiching in between 2 layers of clear acrylic works at a push.

[D.C.]

Could try theatre colour filter,

This stuff might work

FILTER GEL SHEET 48 X 21 STAGE LIGHTING VARIOUS COLOURS | eBay

If not you could always try rear projection film, that will definitely work.

[m_c]

I think I may have some OHP sheets around somewhere. I'm currently wondering if a layer of vinyl, then a more opaque frosted perspex would work better, as I've just been doing some searching, and it seems frosted vinyl only comes in light/pale colours.

One goal I want is an anti-glare finish, which is best acheived with a dark satin/matt/frost finish.

[cropwell]

Have you tried sheetplastic.co.uk - they cut to size. You can always phone or email for a price.