R.D. Wing Co., Inc - Backlight Images

Lighting
Types of Lighting

T8 Fluorescent:

Best for communicating bright, bold lighting depending on color and temperature of the actual fluorescent bulb, i.e., cool white versus warm. Low heat emission. You may need to vent excessive heat if you use an enclosed light box with four 25-watt tubes or more. Keep tubes a minimum of 2” away from the back surface. Some fluorescents are dimmable depending on the electronic ballast.
Turning fluorescents 90 degrees to the backside of the image and allowing the light to wash over the surface prevents lighting “hotspots”. This is best achieved when the light box is built into a wall space and the lighting/mounting surface is extended larger than the actual image size.

Incandescent:

This is used for softer, more subtle lighting. These work very well in an open Backlight™ Stand with a reflector shield. 40 to 60 watt bulbs are recommended. Less than 40 watt is too dim, over 60 watts is too hot. Bulbs should be placed back away from the image to radiate a bath of light. Too close will create a “hot spot” of light on the image and the heat from the bulb can damage the image.

CeeLite™:

Utilizing the first commercially-viable Light Emitting Capacitor (LEC) technology, CeeLite™ has essentially created the first flat light bulb. As thin as 1/8” thick, when combined with a Backlight Image™, the total thickness can be a mere 3/8”. CeeLite™ LEC technology can fully illuminate a Backlight Image™ up to 3’ x 6’ and can be programmed to strobe on and off or set to be sound sensitive and strobe on and off on beat.

[ Click for larger image ]

Natural light:
Outdoor or natural lighting, such as a sign or in a window, provide smooth even lighting. Of course, at night the image goes to an abstract sculptured art look without secondary lighting.

Colored bulbs:
40 to 60 watt incandescent colored bulbs work well to generally change the original color of the image. However, utilizing our Colorizing process by applying colored studio film gels to the backside of the image allows the image to be colorized in specific locations and is more widely used.

Spotlights:
Natural or colored spotlights can be used to emphasize part of the image over other areas. Be careful to stay far enough away from the back so as not to damage the acrylic backing with the heat from the spotlight.

Miscellaneous:
Backlight Images™ can be installed in walls where lighting fades in and out and is wired to motion sensors. Because Backlight Images™ are made exclusively from DuPont™ Corian®, they are 100% ultraviolet stable and will not yellow over time.

Most light box designs are specific to the installation. R.D. Wing Co., Inc. can assist in describing the light box choices and determining what design may be best for a particular application. The .pdf examples represent typical light box designs and can be manipulated to meet the installation requirements. Because all light boxes are custom, the examples below are just a handful of ways to illuminate a Backlight Image™.

Desktop Design [ view specs ]
In this design, a small single incandescent light bulb is used. The box can be made of either wood or sheet metal design. The minimum distance from the bulb to the back of the image or glass should be 3.5”. Use UL approved pre-wired fixtures.

In-Wall Lightbox for Slide-In Application [ view specs ]
The lightbox is typically made of sheet metal, but can be made of wood. Fluorescent single light bars are mounted on their sides on the inside walls to increase the distance from the edge of the bulb to the edge of the image. This helps reduce any “hot spots” behind the image. The overall thickness of the lightbox should be 4.5” not including the Backlight Image™. The fixtures should be UL approved and will need a certified electrician to daisy chain them together and hard wire them to a switch or plug. The image will be mounted to the lightbox and have quick release pins to remove for servicing.

In-Wall Lightbox with Standoffs [ view specs ]
Cut an undersized hole in a preexisting wall (on only one side), frame it in with 2” x 4”s to create a lightbox. Paint the newly made lightbox white. Using fluorescent single light bars, mount them on their sides on the inside walls to increase the distance from the edge of the bulb to the edge of the image. This helps reduce any “hot spots” behind the image. A certified electrician will be required to wire the fluorescent light fixtures. The Backlight Image™ will come predrilled with holes in the corners and a set of 1/4” to 1” high standoffs. Mount the standoffs around the undersized lightbox hole. The image will mount on the standoffs and be offset from the wall the height of the standoffs. When turned on, the Backlight Image™ will be fully illuminated and the area around the standoffs will “glow”.

CeeLite™ Illuminated Backlight Image™
Utilizing the first commercially-viable Light Emitting Capacitor (LEC) technology, CeeLite™ has essentially created the first flat light bulb. As thin as 1/8” thick, when combined with a Backlight Image™, the total thickness can be a mere 3/8”. With the two pieces attached utilizing VHB tape, a picture frame can be applied around the outside of the Backlight Image™ to dress it up. The frame can be made of wood or extruded aluminum. The CeeLite™ panel will have a flat cord extending out of the bottom and can be plugged into a standard 110V electrical outlet. For more information about CeeLite™, please refer to their website at www.ceelite.com.

On-The-Wall Hanging Lightbox
This design requires no cutting into walls or need for additional electrical work. The lightbox can be made of sheet metal, wood, acrylic, Corian®, or any other medium resistant to heat. The lightbox is designed to have fluorescent single light bars mounted on their sides on the inside walls to increase the distance from the edge of the bulb to the edge of the image. This helps reduce any “hot spots” behind the image. The overall thickness of the lightbox should be 4.5” not including the Backlight Image™. The image will be mounted to the lightbox with a servicing entrance located on the back. In this design there can be keyhole slots or French cleats to hang the lightbox and image. A cord will extend out the bottom of the lightbox to plug into an electrical outlet (110v).

In-Wall Flush Mounted Lightbox
Similar to an In-wall Lightbox with Standoffs, the idea here is make the Backlight Image™ flush with the wall and allow no light to escape around the image. First you will need to cut an undersized hole in a preexisting wall on the face, frame it in with 2” x 4”s to create a lightbox. Paint the newly made lightbox white. Using fluorescent single light bars, mount them on their sides on the inside walls to increase the distance from the edge of the bulb to the edge of the image (see Figure 1and Figure 2 ). This helps reduce any “hot spots” behind the image. A certified electrician will be required to wire the fluorescent light fixtures. The Backlight Image™ will come predrilled with holes in the corners. Using Figure 3 as reference, the image will sit on a 2”x4” lip with no sheetrock on it. The lip will be .5” thick which is also the thickness of the .25” Backlight Image™ and .25” acrylic backer. Thus the image appears flush with the wall when installed. [ Figure 1 ] [ Figure 2 ] [ Figure 3 ]

Using Common Household Cleaning Agents:
Ammonia based liquid cleaner (not window cleaner) may also be used. Always rinse surface thoroughly and wipe dry. Corian® is unaffected by common household and commercial cleaners such as:

Ammonia Strong detergents
Oxalic acid solutions
Dilute hydrochloric acid solutions
Dilute trisodium phosphate solutions

Painted or non-Corian® surfaces such as wood frames or colorizing gel may be adversely affected by the use of common household cleaning agents. Please contact R.D. Wing Co., Inc. should one of those areas become soiled and we will instruct you on a proper cleaning technique specific to your needs.

Denatured alcohol for more stubborn marks and mars:
Denatured alcohol can be purchased in the paint department at a local hardware store. Following the instructions on the can, apply a small amount to a cotton rag and wipe on the Corian® surface. Some light scrubbing is acceptable assuming the Backlight Image™ is not being flexed so hard it will break. This method should remove most stubborn marks or mars.

Repairing a damaged Backlight Image™:
The only way to revitalize an image that has deep scratches or gouges is to sand out the affected areas. This assumes that the scratches are on the frame, border, or edge of the material. This should only be completed by R.D. Wing Co., Inc. or a certified Corian® fabricator specified by R.D. Wing Co., Inc. (1-877-988-8400). If the scratch or gouge is in the 3-D relief, please contact R.D. Wing Co., Inc. as this may not be an area that can be sanded. Having a non-certified R.D. Wing Co., Inc fabricator attempt to repair an image can result in a broken image, trapped sanding dust, discolored images, or misaligned contrasts in the graphics. R.D. Wing Co., Inc. is not responsible for any Backlight Image™ repaired without its knowledge or expertise.

Backlight Images™ is a Patented 3-Dimensional photo engraved imaging process into the surface of translucent shades of DuPont™ Corian® Solid Surface material. The image is expressed in a grayscale format once the image is properly illuminated from behind. R. D. Wing Co., Inc. is the sole manufacturer of the Patented Backlight Images™ process.

R.D. Wing Co., Inc., does represent that this product is manufactured exclusively from DuPont™ Corian® Solid Surface material. DuPont™ Corian® colors used in the Backlight Images™ process are Non-Porous, NSF 51 Food Service Compliant, Odor Free, and UV Stable.

R. D. Wing Co. Inc., has manufactured this image to meet any and all specifications and design criteria as provided to us. R. D. Wing Co., Inc. guarantees that this image is free from defects in material and workmanship.

Should the image break or become damaged in any way, R. D. Wing Co. Inc., will review the situation, may require the return of the product, and at our sole discretion replace the image if it is deemed that no outside factors contributed to its failure.

Backlight Images™ should be treated and handled with the same care and respect as given to glass. Please refer to our cleaning instructions for proper care, maintenance, and cleaning of any Backlight Images™ product.

Thank you for your purchase. If we can be of further assistance do not hesitate to contact us directly at toll free 1-877-988-8400.