How to Backlight Onyx Panels
Why onyx is lit from behind
Onyx is translucent. Lit from the front it reads as a banded stone; lit from behind the bands separate and the panel becomes the light source. That is why onyx is usually bought for a specific wall or bar front rather than by area.
Panel thickness and light
Thinner panels pass more light but are more fragile, which is why backlit onyx is often laminated or backed. Thickness has to be agreed with both the fabricator and the lighting designer before the slabs are cut.
Keeping the pattern continuous
Bookmatched pairs must stay together from the quarry block to the site. Ask for the slabs to be numbered and kept as a set, and for photographs of the lit face before shipment.
Even light without hot spots
An LED panel behind the stone needs enough depth to spread light evenly. Point sources close to the back face show through as bright marks in the finished wall.
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