Backlit vehicle panel and badge arrangements

A badge arrangement comprising:

• a body having a light receiving surface side;
• a metalized film layer connected to the body, wherein the metalized film layer is light transmissible;
• a masking layer connect portion of the metallized film layer;
• an argent color layer connected to a portion of the masking layer;
• a plurality of micro-apertures extending through the argent color layer and the masking layer.

A method of making a badge arrangement comprising the steps of:

• providing a light source for selectively projecting light;
• providing a body having a light receiving surface side that receives light from the light source, the body is transparent and allows the light from the light source to pass through the body;
• providing a metalized film layer, wherein the metalized film layer is light transmissible;
• connecting the metalized film layer to the body;
• providing a masking layer, wherein the masking layer blocks the light transmitting through the metallized film layer from passing through the masking layer;
• applying the making layer to a portion of the metallized film layer providing an argent color layer;
• applying the argent color layer to a portion of the masking layer;
• providing a laser with a beam capable of creating holes through the masking layer and the argent color layer;
• activating the laser and forming a plurality of micro-apertures extending through the argent color layer and the masking layer so that the light from the light source is able to transmit through the body, metallized film layer and the plurality of micro-apertures while the light is blocked from transmitting through the masking layer, and
• connecting the body to the light source so that light from the light source is projected through the body, metalized film layer and the plurality of micro-apertures.

A method of making a badge arrangement comprising the steps of:

• providing a light source for selectively projecting light;
• providing a body having a light receiving surface side that receives light from the light source, the body is transparent and allows the light from the light source to pass through the body;
• providing a metalized film layer, wherein the metalized film layer is light transmissible;
• connecting the metalized film layer to the body;
• providing a printer that is programmed to print a masking layer pattern and an argent color layer pattern, wherein the printer includes a masking ink and an argent color ink;
• placing the body with the metalized film layer at a location where the printer is able to print the masking layer patter and the argent color pattern;
• operating the printer to print a masking layer in the masking layer pattern onto the metalized film layer, wherein the masking layer blocks the light transmitting through the metallized film layer from passing through the masking layer;
• operating the printer to print an argent color layer in the argent color layer pattern onto the masking layer, wherein a plurality of micro-apertures extending through the argent color layer and the masking layer are formed by the masking layer pattern and the argent color layer patter overlapping, and the light from the light source is able to transmit through the body, metallized film layer and the plurality of micro-apertures while the light is blocked from transmitting through the masking layer, and
• connecting the body to the light source so that light from the light source is projected through the body, metalized film layer and the plurality of micro-apertures.