By now, you’ve probably seen the bioluminescent jungles of Pandora in the movie Avatar.  Throughout the movie, I kept thinking of how to re-create some of the environment with the help of EL wire, fiber optics, and modern lighting technologies.  Before we dive in too deep and try and create the “tree of souls,” let’s start out with something basic: Touch sensitive, fiber optic grass.

Some elements of the jungle became illuminated upon touch, which is what this tutorial focuses on.  In the video above, you’ll see how to integrate conductive thread, fiber optic strands, and LEDs to create touch sensitive grass.  If I were to re-do the project, I would add far more fiber optics per square inch to add to the bioluminescence effect.

Although this is simple setup comes nowhere near the complexity of the Pandorian jungle, it’s a neat start to inspire your future lighting projects.

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• If you’re a beginner to LED lights, buy a few and learn how to use them.

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The creator of the suits for the band Daft Punk has written a tutorial on exactly how to stitch the glowing wire into any clothing. Step by step instructions and close up pictures of Daft Punk gear help you along the way.

Ambient lighting for your Computer

Some of the best do it yourself projects are ones that give you the functionality of an expensive commercial product. Such is the case with this mod which lets you endow your laptop or PC monitor with the same type of peripheral lighting found in Philips’ Ambilight display Learn how to do it yourself.

Make Party LEDs Blink to your Music

This would definitely be an awesome addition to any party. Using an output from your computer speakers, you can hook up a few LEDs, and they’ll pulsate to the beat of your music. Learn how to make your own.

A massive UFO using 3,000 LEDs

Using three thousand LEDs, engineering, and design, one group developed a massive, flying UFO. This 23 feet long beast was flown over Poland on the 4th of July amid laughs and shrieks of terror.� Read more about this project.

Model Porsche LED Computer Case Mod

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Take an LED, strap a battery to it, shove it into a balloon, fill it with helium, and there you have it – a downright awesome decoration for any party. Then, when the party is over (and you don’t mind sparing a few LEDs and batteries) let them fly away into the night.  See step by step instructions.

Build a Fiber optic Star Ceiling

Using thousands of fiber optic strands, this man created his own star gazing sanctuary right in his living room. There are plenty of helpful tips and pictures to guide you through the build process. Build your own star filled ceiling.

Make an Iron Man Gadget

In the Iron Man movie, Tony Stark lifts his arm, palm facing toward his target. This replusor device releases a powerful blast of energy, blowing his opponents off their feet. Build your own which illuminates an array of energy emitting LEDs.

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Fiber optics are just plain amazing. They carry data at ridiculous speeds and have a whole assortment of lighting possibilities too. There are a few main types of fiber optics including end glow and side glow (pretty self explanatory) and cheap on Ebay. It’s perfect for custom lighting solutions from ambient lighting to case mods. This DIYer placed thousands of strands throughout his ceiling to create his own solar system and outstanding custom lighting. Check out the features of the project:

Fun Facts about the project:

• Over 11,000 feet of fiber optics will have been used
• There are over 350 constellation stars using .75mm fiber
• There are over 600 milky way stars using .50mm fiber
• The virtual sky is 10′x12′
• 36 .75mm fibers make up one shooting star and travels over 12′
• It took over 40 hours to pull & thread all the stars

Learn how to build your own and see some of our other fiber optics projects.

More ways to use fiber optics: For more outstanding lighting, see el wire.

• Fiber optic UFO Lighting
• LED and Fiber Optic Party Decor

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Some toys with fiber optics have lame, low intensity lights to illuminate them. Learn how to hack one, and install new LEDs to the circuit.

Too lazy to read this tutorial? Just watch the video!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/877958/make_an_led_fiber_optic_rose_great_birthday_or_valentines/

Wires, solder, and soldering gun (of course)
1 green led (I used 6000mcd) Found online
1 red led (6000mcd) Found online
On-Off Switch (a few bucks at RADIO SHACK)
Fiber Optics I salvaged mine from a UFO Toy I found on Ebay.
Silk Rose
Plastic Tube (ACE HARDWARE) Mine was clear but I sprayed glass frosting spray
paint on it (HOME DEPOT)
9v battery
Resistors

Optional:

Plastic flower pot (found basically anywhere)
Decorative Pebbles (found at local crafts store)

Shame on me, I didn’t take a picture of the finished circuit. However it’s
pretty self explanatory if you look through the pictures and the schematic.
Solder it up!

Cut your tube (stem) to whatever length you’d like. Originally, I used a
tube, but there wasn’t enough room for the wires as well as the fiber
optic strands to fit inside. I had to scrap that idea, and use 3/4 diameter
tubing. Drill (or use your dremel) to bore two holes in the side of the tube.
Cut your fiber optic strands to length as well. Be sure to purchase lots of
fiber optic strands! Also, you can also cut out a spot on your plastic flower
pot for your on-off switch to fit into.

Fill the bottom of the pot with pebbles then hot glue a stick (I used a
chopstick) to the inside of your tube to hold it up in the pot. Shove the red
led up the tube to the top. Then secure the green led to the base of the tube.
(I used wire ties and tape)

Make the Flower! I used a silk rose. Luckily, it was made of layers of silk
which I could take apart piece by piece. I placed strands of fiber optic
between each layer, then hot glued the layer back on. Then placed more strands
after that layer, and then glued on the next layer, etc. At the bottom of the
flower, where all the fiber optic strands came together, I held them together
using wire ties. This way, the red LED can shine directly into each one. Tape
the base of the rose (the fiber optics tied together with the wire ties) to the
red led. This way, the red led stays at the top of the tube and it also ensures
that the LED is shining directly into the fiber optics, illuminating the strands.

Make your fiber optic leaves. Basically, I taped the bottom of the tube, then
shoved my fiber optic strands into the holes that I dremeled into the side of
the tube. The light from the green led at the bottom travel up through the
fiber optic strands, illuminating the ends.

The Aftermath! – Clip the fiber optic leaf strands to vary the lengths of each.
This makes the leaves look less uniform, thus expanding the light throughout
the leaf. Once you’ve done this, fill the pot with pebbles, covering the
battery and wires. Then clean up your mess – Mine was ridiculous!

Too lazy to read this tutorial Just watch the video!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/877958/make_an_led_fiber_optic_rose_great_birthday_or_valentines/

Whether you need a unique gift for your wife, girlfriend, or even your mother, this is a great idea! I’ve tried it, it works – especially if you add fiber optic strands into the mix like I did. It’s worth the work.

This is one of the coolest lighting fixtures I’ve seen in a long time. No electricity runs through it. Really simple to make, yet looks fantastic!

The light will be carried through the strands without any electricity needed. More cool stuff about Fiber Optics

A compilation of various led and fiber optic hacks and projects the average Joe can assemble to create one hell of an awesome, wild party!

Watch it

LEDs for this project are from

Alan’s Store

Using just a few LEDs and frosted Acrylic rods, you can make an awesome decoration for any party. Lights up any room and looks downright fantastic! See all of our Fiber Optic and LED New Years Party tutorials!

Find the Acrylic Tubes Here – $6 including shipping.

All LEDs for this project are from Alan Parkeh’s Awesome Store