VynEL™ Wearable
Lighting Design Guide

What Is VynEL™?

VynEL™ is Ellumiglow's proprietary flexible electroluminescent panel technology. It derives from the same EL phosphor technology as EL Wire and EL Tape, but uses NASA-grade materials and manufacturing processes to deliver a product that's significantly more capable than standard EL panels.

The key differences from standard EL panels:

• 2–4x brighter than standard EL panels (250–400 cd/m² vs 100–150 cd/m²)
• Far more flexible — won't crack or delaminate under repeated flexing
• Integrates into fabric via heat bonding — standard EL panels can't do this
• Custom shapes and sizes — cut to virtually any geometry
• Multiple variants for different application requirements

VynEL™ Variants

Brightness & Technical Specifications

Understanding where VynEL™ sits in the brightness spectrum helps set appropriate expectations for your design:

Design Limitations

Every design decision in a VynEL™ project flows from understanding these limitations upfront. Designers who ignore them produce work that fails in production.

• Illuminated area drives power consumption. Every square inch of lit panel has a power draw. Design your panel size around your power budget, not the other way around.
• Minimum feature size. Very thin lines and extremely fine details lose visual definition at standard viewing distances. Work with us on minimum feature sizes for your specific application.
• Color range is limited. VynEL™ is available in a defined color palette. It cannot be mixed or tuned like RGB LEDs. Confirm available colors before finalizing designs.
• Brightness is not adjustable in real-time without a compatible dimmer controller. Static brightness is the default.
• Not for daylight visibility. At 250–400 cd/m², VynEL™ is visible in shade and low-light, not competing with direct sunlight.

Power Budgeting

Power consumption in VynEL™ is calculated by total illuminated surface area — not total panel area. Only the lit portion consumes power. This is an important distinction when designing multi-panel or partial-coverage systems.

How to Estimate Power Draw

1. Calculate the total illuminated area of your design in square inches
2. Use the standard draw of approximately 5–15mA per square inch depending on variant and inverter tuning — larger panels and HD variants sit toward the higher end
3. Add 15–20% overhead for inverter efficiency losses
4. Match that power requirement to an inverter rated at or above that draw

Integration Methods

Heat Bonding into Fabric (VynEL™ Flow & HD)

VynEL™ Flow and HD bond directly into fabric using a heat press or iron. The backing layer activates at the correct temperature and creates a permanent bond with the garment. Key parameters:

• Temperature: Follow our spec sheet for the specific variant — different fabrics require different heat settings
• Time: Typically 15–30 seconds at proper temperature
• Pressure: Firm, even pressure across the full panel — use a heat press for large panels, iron for small panels or detail work
• Fabric compatibility: Works on most natural and synthetic fabrics. Test on fabric samples before production bonding.

Adhesive Application (VynEL™ HD on Hard Surfaces)

For rigid or semi-rigid surfaces, VynEL™ HD can be applied using appropriate adhesives. Surface prep matters — clean, dry, and lightly abraded surfaces bond better than untreated ones.

Mechanical Fastening

For applications requiring removability or where heat bonding isn't appropriate, panels can be fastened using sewn-in pockets, snaps, hook-and-loop, or custom mechanical mounts. We've developed mounting systems for specific applications — contact us if your project requires a non-standard attachment method.

Working with Us on Custom VynEL™ Projects

Most VynEL™ applications are custom — custom shapes, custom colors, custom sizes. Here's how the process works:

1. Submit a project brief via the Start a Project form with your design concept, application, quantity, and timeline
2. Engineering consultation — we'll review your design for technical feasibility, flag any issues, and spec the right variant
3. Sample build — we produce a working sample for your review and testing before any production commitment
4. Production — once the sample is approved, we move to your quantity