Diffusing or polarizing plastic film?

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:03 pm

I'm making a battery powered "flame" out of random blinking LEDs. I'm thinking if I wrap the cluster of blinking LEDs in that plastic film that makes the light look like little bursts it will look more like flames than a blinking robot. I've seen the stuff used in LED toys but I have no idea where I could get a few square feet of this stuff. Anyone know a good place? Anyone know the exact name of the product I'm searching for?

Post by **Eric** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 2:13 pm

Try Canal Plastics in Manhattan: http://canalplasticscenter.com/index2.shtml

Tiny store with an amazing selection of plastic sheets. Amazing.

I know I saw lenticular film when I was there which sounds similar to what your asking for, but I'm not positive.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:51 pm

Thanks for the link. Looks like a good place to contact. I didn't see exactly what I was looking for under their products, but I need to call them.

I'm also looking for some more advice. My LEDs look good. I used 6 orange/yellow and 2 red flashing LEDs and the light from it looks very much like a natural flame, so long as you don't directly see the LEDS which look like a confused 70's robot. So what I'm thinking is reflecting the light off of a flashlight reflector into some sort of diffusing material. I'm thinking maybe a "frosted" plastic lamp shade, that material I mentioned, or something else. This is my first LED circuit and project of this nature, so I'm really just playing. I had little luck finding good commercial battery powered flame effects so I'm making my own. This is just the first. (solar tiki torches are pretty decent though)

The CO · Post by **The CO** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:56 pm

Theatrical gels. Available at your local theatre supply house.