Updated June 24, 2025
It may appear at first glance that Light Tape® is an LED light. In fact, Light Tape is an electroluminescent light and differs from an LED light in many ways, ways that your guests, members, or visitors can see. In 2025 it’s all about having the best guest experience. In theaters, that not only includes seating, staff, and concessions, but also lighting.
If you’re using Light Tape for mixed reality, to light your countertop, or elevate your theater or gym, all of these items are important for you to consider. Below are seven ways that Light Tape differs from LEDs and other lighting applications to help you achieve the lighting you want with no maintenance, hassle, or worry.
1. Can Be Cut to Custom Shapes
Light Tape differs from LEDs and other EL products in that it can come in long lengths and can be cut to custom shapes to be used wherever you’d like. It is also flexible and can bend around curved surfaces. If you want to light a rounded or cylindrical shape, Light Tape has you covered.
Ready to get started? Simply contact us and send us a file of the placement where you’d like your Light Tape® to be applied and we can custom cut it to fit your needs and account for any necessary gaps for faucets, outlets, or otherwise.
2. Provides Uniform Lighting
Due to the way the light phosphors work, Light Tape provides even lighting across a surface whether the area you want to light is a small or large area. For you, this makes for an evenly lit countertop, step or stair, accent lighting, or backdrop that isn’t spotty.
3. Achieve Darker Blacks
Achieving the deepest blacks is essential for a truly immersive theater experience, and Light Tape is designed to help you get the most out of your HD projector. Unlike traditional LED step lighting, which can create distracting glare and cause blacks on your screen to appear gray, Light Tape delivers a uniform, glare-free illumination that preserves the integrity of your projected image. By minimizing unwanted light spill and eliminating harsh reflections, Light Tape allows your projector to produce richer, darker blacks and higher contrast, making every scene more vivid and dramatic. This not only enhances visual impact but also ensures that audiences experience films as the creators intended—without the distraction of stray light washing out the picture. With Light Tape, you can finally unlock the full potential of your projector and create a theater environment where the focus stays on the screen, delivering a superior cinematic experience
4. Does Not Generate Heat
Light Tape does not generate heat like other types of lighting applications. Because there is no heat production, surfaces can be placed directly on top. The heat from LEDs often requires you to have some kind of LED heat sink. This could be within the tube itself or some kind of aluminum attached elsewhere. With Light Tape there is no need for light diffusion or a heat sink since the lighting surface is even and heat is not generated.
For theaters, gyms, churches, schools, etc. this also means that you save on your HVAC bill. Saving money and keeping everyone more comfortable.
5. Consumes Minimal Power
In addition to generating less heat, Light Tape consumes a fraction of the energy of LEDs. When using Light Tape for accent lighting, it consumes 1.1 watts per meter for a 2.54 centimeter width, at least one seventh of the energy consumption of LEDs that consume a minimum of 7 watts per meter for half the width. Learn more about the differences in energy consumption between Light Tape and other light products to see how you can save on energy by using Light Tape for your lighting applications.
6. Easy to Install
Since Light Tape can be cut to whatever shape you need while accounting for anything it needs to be cut around such as faucets or outlets, all you need to do to place it on a subsurface to lay Light Tape across before placing the final surface on top; whether that final surface is countertop, glass, a stair, or wall. There is no need for any equipment such as a diffuser or otherwise between Light Tape and the final surface. See the many surfaces that work well with LightTape here.
7. Easy to Maintain and Repair
All Light Tape products are proudly made in the USA, ensuring replacement parts are readily available and shipped quickly to minimize downtime for your venue. While assembly takes place in Colombia’s FreeZone, all repair parts are domestically produced. Many of our products feature removable rubber inserts that hide mounting points, allowing easy maintenance without compromising a clean, sleek appearance. A broken lighting system can increase safety risks, so having reliable, accessible parts is essential to keep your space safe and well-lit.
Customers That Chose Light Tape Over LEDs
Light Tape works with customers globally under a variety of circumstances and applications. Here are some of the most recent applications.
Cinepic New Theater
Cinepic’s new movie theater in Caracas needed a step lighting solution that enhanced both safety and ambiance. With StepGuard™ by Light Tape®, they achieved a sleek, visually appealing design that seamlessly integrates into the theater experience.
Kratos Defense
Used in VR, AR, & XR training systems due to its even illumination. Proper lighting—both virtual and physical—is essential in VR environments. In-software lighting techniques create believable digital worlds, while physical solutions like light tape support user comfort, safety, with no latency.
The Difference is Clear—So is the Result
Using Light Tape’s electroluminescent lighting technology has many benefits that set Light Tape apart from LEDs. It can offer you the look that you’re after to enhance your bar, backsplash, counters, stairs, walls, or elsewhere, without excess equipment or the worry of electrical hazards. With easy installation, seamless lines, no excess heat production, and the ability to cut and customize, you can have a reliable lighting accent with Light Tape that achieves your vision in no time.
See it for yourself and contact us to learn more about Light Tape. If you are all ready to get your lighting set-up and ready to entertain this summer season, take a look at our lighting kits to get started enhancing your space with Light Tape®.
