“Transparent when OFF, and Glows when ON! Light Printing” Super-high-definition RGB light guide panel adopted in the work of illustrator and animator, Mai Yoneyama!

MAY.25.2023

Miyakawa Corporation (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo), which manufactures and sells an optical component called “light guide panel” used in televisions and smartphones, has created the work of illustrator and animator Mai Yoneyama “ÆFFECT – BLAZE” using super-high-definition RGB light guide panels.

Now on display at YONEYAMA MAI EXHIBITION “EYE” (PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO)

Edge-Lit Light Guide Panel

Using an inkjet device, very small optical transparent lenses are printed on an acrylic plate.
Light entering from the edge of the acrylic plate is reflected by the printed lenses to make the patterns glow.

インクジェット方式導光板レンズ — Ultra-Small Optical Transparent Lens φ0.032 mm ~

By placing RGB (Red, Green, Blue) LED light sources on the edge of the plate of the image to be illuminated, a full-color expression utilizing three primary colors of light is achieved.

RGB導光板 — A full-color expression is achieved by stacking panels (light guide panels) illuminated by R, G and B lights

RGBレイヤー — If you look at the work from an angle, you can see the RGB layers overlapping.

Comment by Mai Yoneyama (Excerpt from YONEYAMA MAI EXHIBITION “EYE” talk live streaming)

I was impressed to be able to actually create a work that shows the mechanism of additive color mixing that makes white when RGB lights are combined.It’s fun to look at things that give you discoveries, and it had different qualities from printing on paper.
At first, I was thinking of using CMYK printing (subtractive color mixing) without illuminating the work, but I was not able to create something I was happy with. I am glad that I eventually got to know about the technology called “light guide panel.” The work was drawn using a special method in which RGB colors are separated into different panels, and touch-ups are made on each panel. Try looking at it from the side.

Exhibition Information

Title:        YONEYAMA MAI EXHIBITION “EYE”
Venue:    PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO (Shibuya PARCO 4F) 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Exhibition Period: May 12, 2023(Fri) – May 29 (Mon), 11:00-21:00
URL:       https://art.parco.jp/museumtokyo/detail/?id=1206タイトル：YONEYAMA MAI EXHIBITION “EYE”
会場：PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO（渋谷PARCO 4F）東京都渋谷区宇田川町15-1
会期：2023年5月12日（金）～5月29日（月）11:00-21:00
URL：https://art.parco.jp/museumtokyo/detail/?id=1206

Artist Profile

Brief Description of Works
Yoneyama Mai
Born in Nagano Prefecture. Illustrator/animator affiliated with SSS by applibot.
KILL la KILL―Assistant general animation director, animation director, original picture
Kiznaiver―Character design, animation director
DARLING in the FRANXX―Animation director, ending credit director
PROMARE―Visual development
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners―Ending animation director, storyboard, direction, original picture, filming
RADIO EVA―Advertisement visuals
YOKU/Eve―Music video director, storyboard, character design, animation
Kanebo Cosmetics “KATE” package visuals

Company Profile

株式会社ミヤカワ導光板 — Miyakawa Corporation [Light Guide Panel]

The light guide panels are manufactured in a clean room.

Miyakawa Corporation
URL: https://www.mcp-hybec.co.jp/
Head Office: Nichirei Akashicho Building6-4 Akashicho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Plant: 2-3, Chubu Industrial Park, Iwaki-shi, Fukushima
Products: Lamps and LED lighting, front light and backlight components, ink-jet light guide panel manufacturing equipment, optical equipment, industrial equipment, products for store displays