Backlit Graphic Overlay Development

There are many different ways that backlighting can add visual contrast and style to graphic overlays.

Backlit graphic overlays have quickly become popular options within the automotive and eMobility markets. The utilization of backlit graphic overlays within your vehicle can add a dramatic visual effect or distinctive style to the interior. Applying the correct backlighting technologies to a graphic overlay ensures the illumination of the graphics and icons meet their design intent even in low-light conditions. Typical examples of backlit graphics overlay applications within in the automotive industry include the PRNDL, the instrument cluster, or components surrounding a display.

What factors go into designing a backlit graphic overlay?

When approaching a backlit graphic overlay project, it is instrumental to define the light transmission values required on all areas of the part and the corresponding color requirements for the inks used. First, you have to determine which light engine would work best with your application. Once you have selected the desired light engine, a spectroradiometer is used to measure the light value that the light engine emits across the part in question, taking into consideration the size of the part, thickness, and clarity of the material through which the light is to pass. This is a significant step, because every light engine varies depending on the construction and which backlighting technology is used.

After the light emission is measured, an ink is developed to achieve the correct color and opacity/transparency. The inks are screen or digitally printed and can be applied to materials as thin as 0.127mm (0.005") and as thick as 3mm (0.120") and on substrates that are flat or have a compound radii. Common materials for graphic overlays on include polyester, polycarbonate,glass, or acrylic. It is important that this aspect of the process is handled with precision, so that when the light engine is engaged, the desired light color and emission value is achieved.

在Boyd，我们全面的内部内部功能允许我们涵盖从墨水开发和沉积中执行背光图形覆盖结构所需的一切，以支持通过完整组装从概念中支持背光技术。我们的行业领先的背光技术产品允许您选择最适合您的应用的背光技术，包括LED，导光膜，电致发光等。我们可以测量产生的每个背光图形覆盖，以确保其符合所需的发光值，在单个或多个参考点处。我们的内部化学家可以制定定制油墨（常规或紫外线），以确保在整个生产中均正确实现排放的颜色和值。

如果您想了解更多关于我们的背光覆盖功能，请访问我们的websiteor schedule aconsultation with our experts.