Optical Filter In Front Of LED Display...Where to Find?

[TheRuler8510]

RE: Optical Filter In Front Of LED Display...Where to Find?

I am trying to find cheap plastic filter to put in front of numerical LED displays, but I cannot find where to buy them. Any Ideas?

I don't even know what they are called so i can't search for them. I have looked under names like, optical filters, gel, plastic, led filters, all to no avail.

Help on what they are called and where to find them would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

[george graves]

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[edavid]

The original color code for transparent red Plexiglas was 2423, so that's a good keyword to look for.
A couple of examples that were found that way:

http://www.plasticproductsinc.com/2423-Red-Acrylic-Prodview.html
http://www.eplastics.com/ACRY24230-060PM24X48

Note that it's pretty difficult to get the thin sheets that you want for this purpose (0.03" to 0.05").

[Andreas]

http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en/optoelectronics/bezels/524327
plastic bezel red transparent

With best regards

Andreas

[ajb]

If you just want the bulk material, just about any plastics supplier will have a variety of tinted translucent plastics to choose from.  Since you're in the US, TAP Plastics, US Plastics, and even McMaster-Carr would be good places to try. 

If you want more of a film, lighting gel from manufactures such as GAM, Rosco, or Lee would do.  They have a LOT of options, though, so you'll want to get one of their sample books to figure out what will work best for you.  Probably only worth the effort if you really need a thin film, or you have very specific spectral requirements.

[rdl]

Go to eBay and search "transparent acrylic sheet". Plenty of sellers offering small sizes in various colors. If you can tolerate the longer shipping time the China sellers are pretty cheap.

[kripton2035]

I bought this one some times ago
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Transparent-Red-Acrylic-Perspex-Plastic-210mm-x-300mm-x-3mm-One-1-A4-Sheet-/300906933804?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:FR:3160

[edavid]

If you just want the bulk material, just about any plastics supplier will have a variety of tinted translucent plastics to choose from.  Since you're in the US, TAP Plastics, US Plastics, and even McMaster-Carr would be good places to try. 

I think you'll find that none of them sell display filter thicknesses (1/16" or thinner).

[TheRuler8510]

There's a dealer on eBay from Taiwan--I think I'll try them. 

I am looking for green and blue in addition to red. Is it just me or is 3mm too thick? 2mm or 1 mm seems more practical.

Thanks for all inputs.

Regards,

[george graves]

I'd also try theatrical lighting supply. 

[ajb]

If you just want the bulk material, just about any plastics supplier will have a variety of tinted translucent plastics to choose from.  Since you're in the US, TAP Plastics, US Plastics, and even McMaster-Carr would be good places to try. 

I think you'll find that none of them sell display filter thicknesses (1/16" or thinner).

You know, I could swear I'd seen much thinner at all of those places in the past, but now that I look again you're correct.  I expect that some of the bigger suppliers could special order it for you, but you'd probably need to buy a full sheet, which would cover a LOT of displays--unless maybe you're doing scoreboards or something.

[cosmicray]

I'd also try theatrical lighting supply.

+1 They sell gel type filters in a multitude of colors. Those filters are intended to go in front of 500-750-up lighting elements, so the exact shade (for LEDs) may be a bit lighter than what you would want for stage lighting.

ETA: This is one manufacturer ... http://www.rosco.com/filters/index.cfm

You might want to buy one of the sample gel color booklets, then see what works best before buying a big sheet.

[edavid]

I'd also try theatrical lighting supply.

+1 They sell gel type filters in a multitude of colors. Those filters are intended to go in front of 500-750-up lighting elements, so the exact shade (for LEDs) may be a bit lighter than what you would want for stage lighting.

ETA: This is one manufacturer ... http://www.rosco.com/filters/index.cfm

You might want to buy one of the sample gel color booklets, then see what works best before buying a big sheet.

Gels are not a good choice for display filters... they are too floppy, and the resulting curved surface makes the reflections very distracting.

[kripton2035]

another idea : buy the box, eat the inside of the box, then use the red box for your displays...

[digsys]

When I used to make huge LED displays, this is the "trick" I used -
I find a printing company, select the "base" material, thin/thick lexan/etc, chose a colour dye of the characteristics I need and have them print
whole sheets. Sometimes I have them made to size, with/without border and sometimes I just made large sheets and cut them to suit.
You have total control of transmissivity, single/multiple filter, thickness etc etc