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Idea for colored transparency film to turn 2015 Prius cluster in 2016 colored cluster

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Toyonka, Sep 14, 2015.

  1. Toyonka

    Toyonka Junior Member

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    I hope this turns out to be worth asking, in case there are any designers or makers lurking among us.

    [​IMG]

    As you'll know the 2016 Prius has a nice looking colored instrument cluster.

    [​IMG]

    My idea is a sheet of transparency film or acrylic, that has different colored sections spread across it. Some gradient sections. Some red. Some green. Some blue.

    [​IMG]

    End result being, when you drop it over the 2015 Prius cluster, it breathes new life into it and colors everything up to dazzle!

    [​IMG]

    I imagine some gradients over the battery, and other fun niceties.

    [​IMG]

    And for LHD vs RHD, just turn the sheet around ;)
     
  2. E Risch

    E Risch Junior Member

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    Not sure I know of any options with gradients. I have changed my vw cluster from OEM to red using Rubylith. there are several flavors available of 'lith. I choose lith over cellophane because of the richness of color and thickness of the material.
     
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  3. Toyonka

    Toyonka Junior Member

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    Interesting. Where do you buy yours from? Will it just sit there without air bubbles?

    Thanks!

    "Recordar es vivir"
     
  4. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Just a short, somewhat off topic comment, but with all the criticism of the Gen 4 release, I would say that I like the movement towards more color in the instrument cluster.

    Even with the initial release of the Gen 3, I've thought the display looked dated and far too colorless.
    This is an area I think Toyota could improve significantly...even now. Better....but I think it could be even better.

    Don't know how much success might be possible in trying to make a Gen 3 display more colorful. Good Luck.

    If you come up with anything, that is worth taking a picture of? Please share.
     
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  5. E Risch

    E Risch Junior Member

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    Yes, the thickness of a Lith will allow it to sit ontop of a display with no distortion at all, even with air behind it. on my VW cluster I just slide it in place and didnt have to attach it. Something to keep in mind with doing something like this is the combination of colors, white lights with rubylith come out very red, where as a blue light with rubylith will be a purple.
    Lith is superior to cellophene or acetate because it is optically clear, using acetate or others, will give a slight blur or fuzzyness.

    I purchased a roll from Amazon, available in many flavors, roll, sheet, tapes, ect. should be readily available in any local art supply/photo supply as well. Thinking a tape may be able to make a gradient maybe.

    if I can tonight I will take some pics of my VW cluster and try some scrap rubylith over my Prius gauges to give you an idea.
     
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  6. DavidSpivey

    DavidSpivey Junior Member

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    One of the problems I see with this is the gas gauge and that area. It does not come from "behind" the glass, like the touch tracking buttons do. It actually is a reflection. In order to change the color, you would need to coat the area underneath the glass to change the color of this gauge.

    Another problem is the lack of pure white light. Even the best try you could make is going to be greenish somehow because it is a green light. Red + green usually ends up yellow.

    All right, so I tried this tonight, just to see what would happen. I had some cellophane in red and blue left over from present wrapping.

    Cellophane.jpg

    I tried red, 2 layers of cellophane first. It came out a little fuzzy, but the basic idea did work. I did get a lower brightness, but it's red. I don't care for the color.
    red two ply.jpg

    Then I tried 2 layers of blue, and one layer of blue, respectively.

    blue two ply.jpg

    blue one ply.jpg
     
    #6 DavidSpivey, Sep 15, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2015
  7. Toyonka

    Toyonka Junior Member

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    Nice work David. I'd probably do the left hand blue, right hand red, to mix things up a bit.

    E Risch, can't wait to see your version too.

    Thanks!

    "Recordar es vivir"
     
  8. E46Prius

    E46Prius Active Member

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    If some company manufactured a high quality replacement cluster that plugs and plays, I'd spend up to $300 for it.
     
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  9. Toyonka

    Toyonka Junior Member

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    Looking forward to it

    Thanks!

    "Recordar es vivir"
     
  10. E Risch

    E Risch Junior Member

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    Here is my MFD & Tach with the Rubylith in place & a stock pic of the cluster. Havent had much time to monkey with the Prius as it is being wraped.
    You can see I trimmed a little too much in the Gas Gauge area. I basicly had to make and Omega shape so as to not change the colors of the warning lights in the center of the gauge
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Toyonka

    Toyonka Junior Member

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    Interesting!

    If anyone can try this on a 2012> Prius I'd love to see it.

    @E Risch can you send an Amazon link to the correct materials to buy so I make sure it's the right thing. Maybe I'll be the first to try it with the Rubylith.
     
  12. E Risch

    E Risch Junior Member

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    I have to look on my tube tonight for the vendor & spec (I believe it is 3mil), I swear I got it off Amazon, but not in my archive.
     
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  13. Toyonka

    Toyonka Junior Member

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    I think it's time to check in and see if you had any luck?

    Thanks!

    "Recordar es vivir"
     
  14. bobzchemist

    bobzchemist Active Member

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    Doesn't seem to be on Amazon any more.

    To get small sheets and not large rolls, you need to go to astronomy or photography sites.

    Amberlith may also work for this, but I can't find it in small sheets:

    OPT Rubylith Red Masking Film - 15" X 20" Sheet | OPT Telescopes

    ScopeStuff

    McLogan Supply Company : Ulano Rubylith (UV Blockout film) [URM3] - $146.82

    I remember working with this stuff 25 or 30 years ago. I feel very old now.
     
  15. Dylan Doxey

    Dylan Doxey Senior Member

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    I did some work like this using RoscoLux photography Gels.
    Blue led dash conversion | Page 7 | PriusChat

    I purchased them on Amazon: www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=roscolux+gel
     
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