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Backlight keyboard - change the colour

EvryDayImShufln

EvryDayImShufln

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 18, 2006
1,094
1
Hi

It hit me today that changing the colour of the macbook pro backlight keyboard would be really cool. I'm thinking changing it to something like light blue, since that would go nice with the silver finish.

Something like this (edited crappily from original image, below)



http://techepics.com/files/disco_crap.jpg
 
I'll stick with the subtle coolness of the standard soft white backlit keys. Don't want to get all "Dell-like" with the goofy blue/orange/green LED's and whatnot.
 
This might actually solve a problem that I have. Sometimes the keyboard backlight adjusts to be exactly the same contrast as the keys in the light. That means that I effectively have a keyboard with no symbols. I can adjust it manually but it's a pain. Having the color be different would solve that problem.
 
Well my idea was to buy a spare keyboard and modify that one, then switch it up with mine. I couldn't find any details on where to buy a spare keyboard or even how to switch it, so maybe the keyboard is attached to the top panel?
 
maxp1 said:
This might actually solve a problem that I have. Sometimes the keyboard backlight adjusts to be exactly the same contrast as the keys in the light. That means that I effectively have a keyboard with no symbols. I can adjust it manually but it's a pain. Having the color be different would solve that problem.
Click to expand...

Like just mentioned, use Lab Tick. Then you are in control of the brightness.

Original post: go buy a dell XPS
 
f1400 said:
Well my idea was to buy a spare keyboard and modify that one, then switch it up with mine. I couldn't find any details on where to buy a spare keyboard or even how to switch it, so maybe the keyboard is attached to the top panel?
Click to expand...

You can buy a new keyboard anywhere online - google it. However, it is going to require you to take apart your MPB, not for the faint of heart. It is not like the iBook where it simply comes off, you have to take the whole top case off.
As with messing around with the LED lights, personally I do not think it is worth the hassle.
 
aaronw1986 said:
Like just mentioned, use Lab Tick. Then you are in control of the brightness.

Original post: go buy a dell XPS
Click to expand...

By the way, a dell XPS would not look nearly as cool as this. And secondly the idea is that it is a soft color.

I see all you guys complaining that off white is bad, but if apple did it, you KNOW you would eat it up.

I think a light blue (not as intense or as "teal" as in the pic) would look really nice contrasted with the silver.
 
Santyman said:
doesn't somebody make an application that can edit the voltage being sent to your LEDs? thats all that is required to change their color, right?
Click to expand...

No. Changing the voltage supplied to an LED will not cause it to change colors.

This is a pretty old thread. I wouldn't mind seeing if someone actually did this mod to their old MBP or the current MBP. What size are the LEDs and how many are there? I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to desolder them and then solder up colored LEDs.
 
The actual chemical elements used in an LED determine the color, the amount of power controls intensity (to an upper limit). That is why some colors are more expensive, they have more expensive elements in them.
 
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