
Light Bleed: Here’s What You Need to Know

Formats

Mounting Options
because light sources can be attached to devices in a range of ways, there are multiple options to accommodate those design decisions:
- Press-fit – rigid light pipes are mechanically attached to the front panel (chassis)
- Board mount – these light pipes are attached to the circuit board where the LED fits inside the flexible or rigid design.
- Surface mount – flexible light pipes can be mounted to the control panel of the device

LED Specifications
- Type (surface mount, through-hole)
- Color
- Intensity
- Lens type
- Size
- Viewing angle
But First, What’s Light Bleed?

LED Light Bleed’s Negative Impacts
- Various LED colors shining over each other on the interface
- An unwanted glow where there shouldn’t be one
- Colors mixing together to create a new color not used in the visual vocabulary
- False readings



Avoid Light Bleed with These Tips
Light bleed can pose challenges for a variety of devices and industries. Fortunately, there are design techniques that minimize or eliminate light bleed. To help ensure the best possible outcome in regard to performance, end-user experience (and sometimes costs), design decisions should be made as early as possible. Approaches to reduce light loss include:
Use the optimal LED viewing angle for your design


Adjust the distance between your light pipe and LED
Choose the appropriate light pipe for the job
