Any ideas for good diffusion material for the inside of a staff? I’d like to save power by not having to double side the pixels like in my current prototype.
In the past I’ve used styrofoam as well as using a solid acrylic rod that I sanded the living hell out of.
The current version has four strips of LEDs around a solid core facing out, surrounded by two acryclic tubes that I’ve sanded down for diffusion (but they need more, still)
Thin paper film
Cheap and does a great job
You can also use many kinds of semi transparent stickers
Thin plastic flim is an amazing diffuser.
Look at some of the defusing materials that http://inventables.com sells. It’s under electrical and lighting.
Take a look at white ‘split loom ducting’ aka cable organizer tubing with the slit down the side. Available in different diameters, and can really help de-directionalize the light from LED strip.
White silk is also a great diffuser, but you have to hold it a little bit away from the LEDs somehow.
Wow, looks like i have a lot of choices. Thanks guys!
Sandblasting works very well Comes out very even
The only thing about sandblasting is you have to tape off the places that you don’t want diffused
And it’s probably more expensive than a piece of material lining the inside. But, it is nice to have one regardless. 
If you live close I’d do it for you or send you a predone one I have a really good plastics place near me I’m in Pomona ca
If you don’t find anything that works give these guys a call. I used to live near the Dublin location and the guys in the store were very knowledgeable and would help with anything and everything plastic. http://www.tapplastics.com/
Tap plastics is my supplier for a lot of my plastics - all the acrylic rods/tubes that I used for the walking sticks, as well as the large cut plastic discs for Liquid Eye and Locus. I love them over there!
In the office today and the building maintenance folks installed privacy film over the glass doors of the conference rooms. It is a 3M film. It lets light in and out but it hides the stuff in the room quite well. I wondered if this might be something that would work as diffusion material. http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Window_Film/Solutions/Markets-Products/Commercial/Fasara_Decorative_Window_Films/