tones in acrylic

[jsmithconstruct]

Is it possible to achieve different tones of color by carving at different depths into acrylic?

We are working on an LED light box that has an aluminum composite panel with words/logos cut out. This panel will be backed with a sheet of blue acrylic allowing the words/logos to be illuminated. My question above refers to the blue acrylic backing.

[billp]

"Is it possible to achieve different tones of color by carving at different depths into acrylic?"
That sounds like the description of a lithophane...All a lithophane consists of are 256 shades of gray which are then cut at different depths by the software. This works for dark/light gradations from very white to very dark. I have done a number of them in acrylic (white) and it worked well...

[twelchPTM]

retyped my reply several time each time realizing that there was another fact not considered. how big is the light box? what type of lighting? thickness of the acrylic?
transparenscy of the acrylic? spacing of the letters(do they overlap)? how detailed are the leters? range of color desired?
It sounds to me like you want to mill the material to diffent thicknesses in different spots to give each letter a different shade of blue. With very milky acrylic this would work as the tool marks on the back side would not show however the closer you get to a transparent blue the more the tool marks would show. Might be easier to use blocking and programable LED's to achieve the desired effect.