Light guide with patterned ink

A method for emitting light, the method comprising:

• receiving, with a light guide, light from a light source;
• guiding, with the light guide, a first portion of the received light to a first light extraction element positioned on a first surface of the light guide, the first light extraction element having a first reflectance and a first transmittance;
• extracting, from the light guide, a second portion of the light with the first light extraction element;
• guiding, with the light guide, a third portion of the received light to a second light extraction element positioned on the first surface of the light guide, the second light extraction element having a second reflectance different from the first reflectance, the second light extraction element having a second transmittance different from the first transmittance;
• and
• extracting, from the light guide, a fourth portion of the light with the second light extraction element.

A light-emitting system, comprising:

• a light source configured to produce light;
• a light guide configured to receive light from the light source and guide the received light;
• a plurality of first light extraction elements positioned on a first surface of the light guide, each first light extraction element configured to extract a portion of the guided light from the light guide, the first light extraction elements having a same first reflectance and a same first transmittance, each first light extraction element being printed on the first surface with a first ink;
• and
• a plurality of second light extraction elements positioned on the first surface of the light guide, each second light extraction element configured to extract a portion of the guided light from the light guide, each second light extraction element having a second reflectance different from the first reflectance, each second light extraction element having a second transmittance different from the first transmittance, each second light extraction element being printed on the first surface with a second ink different from the first ink.