13 Ideas for LED Diffusion

2022-04-08 | By bekathwia

License: Attribution Non-commercial 3D Printing

LEDs are great, but leaving them bare is so basic. Here's a list of my favorite ideas for LED diffusion!

Paper-lined shadow box

The light bounces around the inside of the box before it leaves through the paper diffusion

Woven fabric such as faux flowers

Woven fabric can be gathered, pleated, and otherwise transformed to bring shape to the light coming from the LEDs. Think of it as very flexible paper.

Knit fabric such as sweaters and scarves

Knitting is stretchier than woven fabric, and can be constructed in a way that gives the fabric more volume and varied texture.

Plush toys

While technically the outside of a plush toy is made from knit or woven fabric, I want to highlight the polyfill stuffing that can give shape to light from within.

Glass jars

Glass transmits light beautifully. Consider painting the inside with transparent glitter, fill it with transparent beads, or line it with a piece of paper.

Backlit laser-cut textile

Cutouts in an opaque surface with a strong backlight make for fun silhouetted effect.

LED underlighting/backlighting

Consider bouncing the LED light off a nearby surface, like the ground (underlighting), or backing board.

Laser-cut acrylic

You can etch clear acrylic to affect how it diffuses light.

Crinoline tubing

This sheer flexible tubular textile is just the right size for LED strip.

Ping pong balls

The soft white shell and considerable volume combine to create a very even effect.

Thermoplastic

This stuff becomes pliant when warm, so you can mold it into almost any shape. And it's translucent, at least when it's relatively thin.

Adhesives/glues

From silicone caulk to humble hot glue, your favorite adhesives may also make a great diffusion effect for your LEDs!

3D printed diffusers (optionally made from flexible filament)

The shapes of 3D printed diffusers are only limited by your imagination.

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To read more about the sample projects shared in the video above, check out my website. To follow along and build your own LED diffusion methods, check out the following Digi-Key supplies: