Solution for "somewhat" backlit reel strips... (RESOLVED!!!)

[Yoeddy1]

So I picked up some backlit reel strips.  They have the gray backing on them and are in great shape cosmetically.  Unfortunately, I threw them in my machine and when I hit a winning combo, the light for some reason is not only lighting the symbol, but also the white area around the perimeter of the symbol.  Ugh.  It sucks because they are REALLY nice strips, so I'm in a bit of a dillema.  Use old strips that had a few cosmetic flaws, but work great with back lighting, or use these perfect on the outside strips, and look into another solution for back lighting.

Brian's video below at 0:55 will show you what I'm talking about:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/27hc-qw2uos&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/27hc-qw2uos&rel=0</a>

Staz posted up some kind of light guards in the photo of the reel on the right as seen below.  Would these be a solution and does anybody have them?  Or did I just end up getting strips that were just not made for back lit reels?  The strange thing is that the backing of the new ones and the old ones look the same...gray in color, not white.

Thanks,
Jason

[brichter]

I don't think the ones with the gray backing are backlit strips, I'm pretty sure the backlit strips have black backing.

[Foster]

I also do not think the gray strips are back lit but are vision strips/
Who knows maybe a different back lighting system was in the works when they designed the gray ones.

My Wild Cherry strips are the same way.

The only thing I can suggest is to get a thin black film cut to the size of the strips and cut holes in the film that match the symbols but make sure to allow some trap (overlap) since the borders of most all symbols is black anyways.

[MrBellMan]

There "are" gray backlit strips, BUT not all gray strips are backlit. I have seen IDOJ, MUMMY, etc in backlit gray version from IGT.

[Yoeddy1]

Man, that totally blows.  Well, I guess the old ones go back into the game since they are true backlit strips.  I can live with a few scars on the strips if I don't have any issues with backlighting.  

Here's a question...anybody know if EI can do anything about it?  I know they don't make IGT strips anymore, but would they take a current set of strips and put a black layer over the back side?

The photo of IFFV's are exactly what mine do.

Thanks,
Jason

[stayouttadabunker]

Eddy,
Your particular strips are not back-light strips.
Bellman is correct about some of the gray strips not being back-light strips.

There IS a way to correct this and turn ANY set of strips into back-light strips.
How?
With a strong light on the front of the strips, outline with a fine magic marker:
the part of the symbol that you want the light to shine through.
Now, when all 11 symbols are outlined, go around each fine line with a thicker black marker.
Then using a Sharpie Paint marker, paint the entire rest of the strips black or gray or
whatever dark color you want - as long as it's opaque paint.
Once dry, slip the strips onto the reel baskets and you will have a perfect set of back-light strips!

Look at what I did to my strips.
It took me about 15 minutes to do this to one strip.
Carefully watch the 1st left-most reel.
That reel strip I painted the back dark blue.
Reel strips 2 and 3 are untouched and non-Back-lighted strips.
This method is painstaking but works for ANY set of non-back-light strips.
Look at the difference...

The 1st photo is the painted backsides of the strip.
Looks like crap huh? All I had was a blue paint marker...so what huh? God awful?
At least it was paint...lol
Anyways, that's not we'll be looking at when it's installed on the reels.
The 2nd photo uh video clip is what it turns out like when it's installed on the 1st reel...lol
Oh it's backwards... ah check it out anyways...lol>>>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/kzYU9MkZPz8&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/kzYU9MkZPz8&rel=0</a>

[Yoeddy1]

Bunker, the project is on for tomorrow.  I don't have the time, nor the desire to cut film and apply to the back of the strips, etc, but I can sure wield a paint pen for an hour or so.  Won't even need a light since the symbols are already exposed and appear to be cut out on the back side.  The strips are worthless to me at this point, so I don't have anything to lose!  Thanks a bunch for the suggestion, I'll report back.

Jason

[staz]

i have a few of those backlite reels with the covers if you want them let me no....i always thought backlite strips were black on the back like these......

[stayouttadabunker]

The color of the back-lighting cover doesn't have to be black Staz.
What does matter is whether or not the paint is opaque or transparent.
Did you notice the paint I used was blue?
It worked. Why? Because it was an opaque paint color.

[cowboygames]

Could a guy tape off the symbal area on the back and spray paint those black? Just a thought

[stayouttadabunker]

Could a guy tape off the symbal area on the back and spray paint those black? Just a thought

Sure! Why not?
You'd have to be pretty good with an Exacto knife to make tiny little letters for the "BAR".
Just make sure the paint sticks and doesn't fly off all over around inside your machine...lol

All I did was outline the symbols then paint the rest.
Not that easy either ...
I'm going to try and make small symbol templates and try it it that way.
My guess is I'm going to have to use some double-side tape
to hold the templates onto the symbols.
Or rubber cement and then roll it off.

[Yoeddy1]

Bunker, I owe you a beer brother.  Got about 3.5 hours invested, but I now have brand new strips for backlit reels.  I took your advice and bought the large Sharpie paint pen in your photo above.  Using the paint pen for the entire project would have been murder.  Instead, I used the paint marker to outline every symbol.  That pen is perfect for making a single pass between the triple bars, and a double pass between the double bars.  After I outlined everything, I ended up using some Olympus Interior Latex black semi-gloss that I had used on my MAME cabinet, S2000 and Game King for the remainder of the backside of the strips.  I used a fine tipped paint brush to do that.  After the paint was applied, I ran a hair dryer over the strips to ensure that they were dry.  I then used Fantastic to remove any paint that made it's way to the edges and front sides of the strips...it came off easily.  I then installed the strips to the baskets and polished them with Windex. 

Moment of truth.  They played perfectly and I cannot tell one bit of difference from IGT manufactured backlit strips and these strips.  They came out beautiful.  My OCD is satisfied. 

Thanks for the tip Bunker, I would have developed a twitch over this one, but you saved the day!

Jason

[stayouttadabunker]

I would love to see your reel strips in action Eddy!
It's not easy isn't it!?!  
It takes time and patience!  
When you get a chance, you MUST show us how they look.
I know I really like how mine turned out.
The back of the strips look like crime scene but when I put them in - they look *pristine*
Congrats on trying out my idea!  

Oh..The beer tastes great! lol  

I'm working on a pattern with my paint program and see if
I can make some sort of a template for one of my strips.
I pretty much hand drew out all these symbols and used
the reverse action on the paint program to flip them around.
Check it out!>>>

[Yoeddy1]

Yeah, the detail is in making sure the outlining goes smooth and that the Sharpie doesn't ever spill over into the colored area.  If that happens, you're history becuase the Sharpie REALLY colors and stains once applied.  Getting it off would be impossible.  The painting part isn't too bad.  It's like applying tar to a roof.  Glop it on and make sure it's all covered.  I tried to make it as even as possible.  For the rest of the gang reading this, refer to Bunker's photo above with his blue coloring.  Mine was applied a bit thicker, and was black in color, but the idea is the same.  I'll shoot a photo or video of the front with it in action later tonight.

Thanks,
Jason

[stayouttadabunker]

You're right...
I did mistaken slip a short line into the white area and it's very noticeable on one of my "BAR" letters.
I had to take an exact knife with a very new blade and gently scrap it out.
So, caution guys...don't spill into the white area you want light to go through!

[Foster]

Try to ovarlap (trap) onto the black outline of the symbols.
If it was me I would overlap just the outline of the symbols and between the BAR's but no more than 1 to 2 points
I would not paint the inside black lines, etc.

[cowboygames]

I like my painting idea Spray paint is more flexible

[Yoeddy1]

Here's a video and photo.  Any glare is from the camera, not the strips.  Enjoy!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/3qge0fb0HsE&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/3qge0fb0HsE&rel=0</a>

[Yoeddy1]

Holy crap!  Bunker, I just looked at your photo of your blue paint again.  Did you have to fill in all of the black area around the lettering for each "bar" by hand as well?!?!  I didn't have to go that far since that was already black and opaque on mine.  I just had to outline the shapes and one horizontal thin line between the double and triple bars.  If you did, you are a greater and far more patient man than I.

Thanks,
Jason

[stayouttadabunker]

lol...Yes, I only exposed the actual letters in the "BAR" symbols.
It makes the letters "pop out" more when the reel lights hit them.

I'll try it your way on next set of strips soon...it's less work!
I didn't want the light to "thin" out the black that surrounds the symbols...