For Tri-LED Adegan Silver users: brightness and lighting improvement help

[HeartbreakOne]

Hello, my fellow Jedi. This is my first forum post, effective immediately.

I purchased an Adegan Silver Tri-Cree saber with color discs, and I love how it changes colors, but I do acknowledge the loss of brightness. I've been doing some research on improving the lighting of the blades and colors, and before I purchase anything else, I'd like some opinions on this.

•Clear polycarbonate tube with clear cellophane inside
•Clear polycarbonate tube with colored cellophane or translucent shrink gift wrap paper inside
•Colored blade with clear cellophane inside
•Clear polycarbonate tube spray painted with translucent colored paint

I do plan on using LEE filter paper as my color discs next. I want to maximize as much brightness as possible that the AS Tri-Cree can offer for other colors. Which of the above ideas do you think would be best?
 
-HBRK1 💔

[Sean107]

Hello, my fellow Jedi. This is my first forum post, effective immediately.

I purchased an Adegan Silver Tri-Cree saber with color discs, and I love how it changes colors, but I do acknowledge the loss of brightness. I've been doing some research on improving the lighting of the blades and colors, and before I purchase anything else, I'd like some opinions on this.

•Clear polycarbonate tube with clear cellophane inside
•Clear polycarbonate tube with colored cellophane or translucent shrink gift wrap paper inside
•Colored blade with clear cellophane inside
•Clear polycarbonate tube spray painted with translucent colored paint

I do plan on using LEE filter paper as my color discs next. I want to maximize as much brightness as possible that the AS Tri-Cree can offer for other colors. Which of the above ideas do you think would be best?
 
-HBRK1 💔

I just received my Lee filters today. Ordered them on Tuesday. Going to toy around with them and post some pics for you to see. As for your other options, I'm not to familiar with them.

[Sean107]

This is a much darker version of purple from Lee.

[HeartbreakOne]

Are you using an Ultraedge Midgrade blade? Because that's what I have, and this saber is my very first from US. First one from those custom lightsaber shops online. If you're using midgrade, then the results differ.

2nd question: how does the lighting of the LEE purple compare to a purple disc?

[Obese Wan Kenobese]

Are you using an Ultraedge Midgrade blade? Because that's what I have, and this saber is my very first from US. First one from those custom lightsaber shops online. If you're using midgrade, then the results differ.

2nd question: how does the lighting of the LEE purple compare to a purple disc?

The discs are more faded pink. Most of the discs were not intensely colorful. Basically, LEE has many options for more definite colors, but the stronger the filter, the dimmer the blade. UE tends to make any color more pale.

Yellow, green, pale blue and pale orange can stay bright. Red, purple, deep blue and deep orange will be dark. I've made dayblades with color cellophane. It doesn't do more or less color than a filter would. It just makes the color remain visible in a bright room, as a dayblade would. More layers of color cellophane makes it deeper and deeper, until you've lost the light. Clear cellophane is about scattering light without losing it. Spraying the blade on the outside will get you a surface that will scuff and scratch. A blade that has color will get you the best dayblade, but again, the deeper the color, the dimmer the blade will be. The physics of filtering(making white light into color) will be the same for a blade, a disc, a filter or anything. These blades and filters don't add light. They remove frequencies so the desired frequency stands alone.

That said, enhanced blades can make the blades brighter with their special reactions. But, it's expensive and only one color at a time. I don't have any for this reason.

[Sean107]

Are you using an Ultraedge Midgrade blade? Because that's what I have, and this saber is my very first from US. First one from those custom lightsaber shops online. If you're using midgrade, then the results differ.

2nd question: how does the lighting of the LEE purple compare to a purple disc?

I know Lee's swatchbook makes the color alot brighter than color discs. I have the Heavy Blade. Non Ultra, because I wanted a brighter blade and a blade I could beat the crap out of it.

[HeartbreakOne]

I am most likely going to make my own midgrade blade by ordering a 1 inch OD clear thin walled tube and 1 inch OD clear round tip off TCSS, which totals to $15 with the cheapest shipping, compared to Ultrasabers which is $30 plus $13 for the cheapest shipping available.

I heard midgrade blades (just a clear tube with clear film inside) maximize the brightness (which I really care about the most since I don't actually duel with people anyways) That, plus Lee filter, and I get what I'm probably looking for.

[StarWarsForce]

The color disks from US are really only good for light blues, greens, yellows, and pinks, and even then I still prefer the colors that filters give. Yes, like OWK said, red, purple, dark blues, and dark oranges will still be a challenge, but I still think filters give you a whole range of colors you couldn't get otherwise. From most visible to least visible, I would say purple and medium blues are more visible than darker oranges and red when using filters. In all, the filters are worth the slightly larger investment.

The color cellophane in the clear blade is a neat idea (I think a couple people on the forum have done that), but unless you are planning on using that cellophane as a day blade, you could save yourself purchasing a lot of cellophane by just putting that cellophane (or filters, for that matter) in front of the LED. I assume the effect would be similar.

I wouldn't recommend getting colored day blades with clear film inside. Day blades are just that, to be used in the day time, and really only work well with a matching LED (aka red day blade with red LED).

I don't know about the spray paint idea....

In all, I'd recommend getting some color filters like Lee, Rosco, or Apollo.

Having both Ultraedge and Regular Midgrade blades, I wouldn't say one blade is "brighter" than the other. UE blades give the blade a fuller look as the light goes all the way to the edge, but regular silver blades give a better depiction of the LED color. UE blades give a more pastel color to the LED. I personally wouldn't buy another blade unless if you're looking for a different hue.

If you are planning on buying another blade, I would recommend getting a grab bag blade from US ($10 + shipping). If you are planning on buying from TCSS, it's going to be a tad more expensive than you say because I think you are forgetting to buy blade film (as I did when I ordered some day blades from them). That's the stuff that's going to refract the light inside the blade to create the "beam" of light. From TCSS, 1" OD clear thin walled tube ($7.99) + round tip ($3.50) + double wrapped blade film (that's what I'd recommend) ($7.50)=$18.99 + shipping.

Hope this helped!

[Obese Wan Kenobese]

I got a clear 1 inch diameter tube on Ebay. 1/16th inch thick(mid grade). Clear cellophane from Dollar Tree(for a dollar). A tip from TCSS. But, it comes out close to the same price as a grab bag blade. The grab bags might be 32" or 36", might be UE or clear. Just options.

[HeartbreakOne]

The color disks from US are really only good for light blues, greens, yellows, and pinks, and even then I still prefer the colors that filters give. Yes, like OWK said, red, purple, dark blues, and dark oranges will still be a challenge, but I still think filters give you a whole range of colors you couldn't get otherwise. From most visible to least visible, I would say purple and medium blues are more visible than darker oranges and red when using filters. In all, the filters are worth the slightly larger investment.

The color cellophane in the clear blade is a neat idea (I think a couple people on the forum have done that), but unless you are planning on using that cellophane as a day blade, you could save yourself purchasing a lot of cellophane by just putting that cellophane (or filters, for that matter) in front of the LED. I assume the effect would be similar.

I wouldn't recommend getting colored day blades with clear film inside. Day blades are just that, to be used in the day time, and really only work well with a matching LED (aka red day blade with red LED).

I don't know about the spray paint idea....

In all, I'd recommend getting some color filters like Lee, Rosco, or Apollo.

Having both Ultraedge and Regular Midgrade blades, I wouldn't say one blade is "brighter" than the other. UE blades give the blade a fuller look as the light goes all the way to the edge, but regular silver blades give a better depiction of the LED color. UE blades give a more pastel color to the LED. I personally wouldn't buy another blade unless if you're looking for a different hue.

If you are planning on buying another blade, I would recommend getting a grab bag blade from US ($10 + shipping). If you are planning on buying from TCSS, it's going to be a tad more expensive than you say because I think you are forgetting to buy blade film (as I did when I ordered some day blades from them). That's the stuff that's going to refract the light inside the blade to create the "beam" of light. From TCSS, 1" OD clear thin walled tube ($7.99) + round tip ($3.50) + double wrapped blade film (that's what I'd recommend) ($7.50)=$18.99 + shipping.

Hope this helped!

Which color filter brand is best out of all 3: Lee, Rosco, or Apollo?