Ultimate beam diffuser?

[Max]

I was browsing the web for alternatives to WriteRight as a beam diffuser. I found that there is a company (and I knew there had to be at least one), Physical Optics Corporation, that specializes on making plastic films that efficiently scatter light.

HOLOGRAPHIC LIGHT SHAPING DIFFUSER (LSD®)

Too bad their product is so expensive in small quantities.

 

[lightlover]

Max,
that stuff actually improves the transmissivity of polycarbonate !!
(If I read it correctly ... )

But, the price is horrendous.

lightlover

 

[McGizmo]

I sent an inquiry to them about a year ago and they kindly sent me a couple 2" square samples gratis (different diffusion angles) It does a nice job but is expensive. You'd think they would come up with a better acronym than LSD though.....POC sells LSD?

 

[Max]

This company seems to make this film for a lot of uses, like as diffusers for exit signs, car instrument panels, back-lights on LCD displays, and and for screens in rear-projection TV sets. I wonder if it would be possible to salvage some from these items. Like, anybody see somebody throwing out a broken rear-projection TV? Bet you could cut a lot of flashlight-head-sized little circles from just one TV.

 

[McGizmo]

I notice that Surefire's beam shaper mentions holographic in the description. I suspect that the beamshaper may consist of LSD film. Anybody know if this is the case?