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Backlighting Onyx, Stone, Quartzite & Glass Made Easy
back·light·ing [bak-lahy-ting] noun
a controlled technique of lighting, used in photography or the theater, in which a light is placed behind or at right angles to an object, person, or scene to produce such effects as depth or separation of subject and background.
Backlighting in an architectural setting can take two general forms, each producing a specific effect.
Rear projecting light ("Halo lighting") is used to increase the separation between the front presentation material and the rear mounting surface. This can add increased visual depth without consuming any actual real estate. This increased depth and contrast accentuates the presentation material.
Permeating light applied to a translucent presentation material allows us to view the material in all 3 dimensions, not just on the surface, to expose depth and intricacies normally hidden from view. This is the most common form of backlighting request we receive.
Backlighting using traditional lighting methods can be tricky. Hotspots and shadows are major issues when using point-source lighting. Light boxes and diffusers can only go so far and consume precious living area. Modern trends to illuminate new, innovative materials and designs demand new concepts in lighting. Our flat lighting answers this demand.
LumaPex™
A flat, edge-lit acrylic that produces intense light over it's entire surface for denser, translucent materials.
Electroluminescent Panels (EL)
A flat polyester, no thicker than a credit card, that produces moderate, even lighting over its entire surface for more transparent materials.
Both light sources are custom formed to fit your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I have to purchase a special stone in order to backlight it?
- How thick can my material be?
- What materials can I backlight?
- How bright is the light?
- How much power does the backlight consume?
- Do the backlights generate any heat?
- How do I install the backlight?
- Can the backlighting be dimmed?
Do I have to purchase a special stone in order to backlight it? |
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| Virtually any translucent or transparent material can be backlit. Onyx and Quartzite are two excellent stone examples. For materials that are naturally opaque, many companies sell stone and wood veneers with a resin backing to make them easy to illuminate. 3form and Lumonyx are two excellent examples. | ||||
How thick can my material be? |
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| The allowable thickness of the material is determined by its visual density. Most translucent stones, such as Onyx or Quartzite can be 2-3cm thick and still allow sufficient light permeability when backlit with our LumaPex™ product. | ||||
What materials can I backlight? |
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| Any material that allows light to permeate it can be backlit. Natural stones such as Onyx and Quartzite are commonly used. More transparent materials such as Stained Glass or Glass Tiles can be backlit as well, although the use of an optional diffuser over the LumaPex™ is recommended. When mounting space is limited, these transparent materials benefit from our Electroluminescent Panels (EL) since their even, consistent light requires no diffuser. | ||||
How bright is the light? |
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How much power does the backlight consume? |
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Do the backlights generate any heat? |
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| The EL panels generate no heat. The LumaPex™ generates no heat on the surface, but does generate heat along the edge where the LEDs are applied. This heat is dissipated using our heat sink construction method. | ||||
How do I install the backlight? |
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| Our LumaPex™ product is load bearing and rigid, so the presentation material can usually be set on top of the LumaPex™ or mounted directly to it for vertical installations. LumaPex™ can be cut or drilled in the field to accommodate sinks or mounting hardware (or we can have it pre-drilled/cut for you). The major installation restriction is that you cannot use adhesives of any kind, even clear, on the emissive surface of the LumaPex™. Anchors, edge-clips, and standoffs are all great alternatives. | ||||
Can the backlighting be dimmed? |
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| Our LumaPex™ light panels can be installed with a Magnetic DC Driver that can be dimmed using popular dimmers (see a list of Compatible Dimmers) | ||||
