looking for all of your expert opinions on how to do this

[WOLFMANmike]

ok so i know most times i dont like to copy other peoples things but this is just so wild i fell in love with it and i need help on how you think it was done and how one could do this at home on my truck 65 10 fleet long bed .. here is the pic of what i need help figuring our how to make it ... lol im sure i dont need to say this buts its the tail gate Happy Truckin

[oem4me]

I'll guess it's a clear acrylic panel with lettering and borders routed/machined into it, inside surface red film or paint, and lighted from the perimeter.

[jayoldschool]

I'd 100% agree with that. If you want to get it made for you, a custom audio place will likely have experience, this treatment is very popular for custom amp installs.

Google "lighted plexi amp install" to get started...

[BR3W CITY]

If you want to do it yourself, start with some thick acrylic or plexi (one doesn't yellow, but I forget which), and start planning your design. Most of these that "glow" are etched and then lit from the side or behind.

You can stencil and image on the plexi and use chemical etching or blasting to haze the surface. When your project light onto it, roughened area reflects the light while the clear area passes it along when lit from the proper angle.

I agree with the others; car audio guys do this stuff everyday.

[WOLFMANmike]

ok ty guys so much .... so if the plexi is red and you etch it then what ever you etched into it will light white like that ?

[63longfleet]

The plexi is prolly clear to begin with and a red tint or film added AFTER it is etched or blasted with your design.

[BR3W CITY]

clear plexi lit with a red LED or red neon. You don't have to tint the plexi itself at all. The only reason to use tinted plexi first is if you wanted a "main color", and then a relief color.

Variable color LED's and clear plexi will get you halfway there. If you youtube it, you can see how some guys use thick stuff and chamfer holes into it from the side. That will project the light THROUGH the piece (think like a fiber optic line). The light isn't reflected until it hits the etched portion, which scatters the light outward and provides the glowing portions.