I have seen them for sale on ebay here in the UK but there is also a post here:
http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/glare-guards-from-wrong-crowd-productionsi-really-like-mine

Please let us know if you find them

To be able to give you some advice about backbox glare it would be of help if you could
tell us.

1. Which machine is affected ? TSPP, SP or TZ ?
2. Do you use LEDs in your backbox or regular bulbs ?
3. Do you prefer darker rooms while playing or lighter ?
4. Is your machine (this one you're talking about) in a darkened room ?

Possible solutions without having answers on above questions:

1. Use regular light bulbs for backbox lighting instead of LEDs to reduce
lumen strength if LEDs are in use
2. If you use a machine (Stern) with a fluorescend light tube then remove it
or the starter (it's easier) to test it without a lit backbox. It makes a huge difference
in dark rooms
3. Switch off backbox lighting in general to see the difference

I know that those solutions will cause some answers like "...I love the backbox lighting and effects and I will never switch it off...", but it's worth a try or you try playing in more lightend rooms.

Glare-free, non-glare or PDI glass won't reduce backbox glare in dark rooms successfully
but it will enhance the visibility in lightend rooms and reduce the glare to the better.

bibi,

Roman

In your situation I'd recommend to use a warm light tube instead of the one which is installed at the factory which is cold white. It will help a little, because it emitts less light.
PDI glass or non glare glass has a significant influence on the visibility from the DMD or the backbox. Natural light from the sides, no light from the ceiling is the perfect playground if you use
this glass.

bibi,

Roman

I had this same problem with my TSPP, I put in a warm white tube instead of the stock cool white, and it made a vast improvement. I can now actually see the upper playfield properly whilst trying to lock a ball on the couch!

The only thing I might suggest is a CRT type mesh that can but bought and cut to size cheaply. They did them at work many years ago on some of our computer test systems although most of us hated the reduction in light.

Try this maybe?

http://www.pinballpal.com/warming/

I've also heard of using this:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/247/PLAS-100100.html

Cutting down the light output from the tube by using something like tomdotcom's links really helps. It greatly helped on my TSPP. TSPP is terrible with glare on the upper playfield. Maybe try a warm tube as suggested, and also check the wattage of the tube. I think there are also tubes that are at least two watts less in power consumption (which equates to more than two watts of "brightness".)

I don't like the look of glare guards, but they are why better than the film.
There's a place in San Diego where they have TSPP and the glare is just horrible there. I usually play with polarized sunglasses and avoid all the glare effect. heck sometimes I even use them at home.

How about Tinting the outside of yr Tran's Glass with some 20% Window Tint.. Brain Storm !!!

Just a Thought ,, but I think it would work !!!!

Expedition-_Blacked-Out_20%.jpg Expedition-_Blacked-Out_.jpg

_{Post edited by BLACK_ROSE : mis-spelled word !!}

Good that you found a solution that you are happy with. I would be interested in seeing some pictures if you have any. Peace Edit: BR- you posted seconds before I did. Those arent the pics I was looking for. he he But nice.

Window tint does work on Translight glass and DMD Screen plastic. And a roll from Walmart is like $12.

I added the backbox lighting kits to two Stern games Elvis and Spider-Man and the backbox glare was eliminated by adding 1/16" abs thermoplastic.
You can get this stuff here.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=265-940&FTR=1/16%22%20plastic%20sheets

You can add this to an existing Glare Guard or make your own from it.
I just made 50 of them, total cost for materials shipped is around two bucks apiece for two regular size, you can notch one 12x24 sheet and make the bend in the middle and it is deep enough to eliminate all the glare from the DMD and the backbox from the player's position.
Run 2 2x6s through a table saw to get the angle stack them with bend area exposed clamp and heat with a torch and use the cutoff angle to make the bend.
As you can see from the pics it is large but you can't see it from the player's position and it eliminates 100% of the DMD and backbox glare.

Shine_Eliminator_001.jpg Shine_Eliminator_002.jpg Shine_Eliminator_004.jpg

I had the same problem with my TSPP...WAY too much glare.

I tried what tomdotcam suggested and it works great....

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/247/PLAS-100100.html

Those work great for the stock bulb but the backbox lighting kits throw off a tremendous amount of glare and the PDI glass does nothing to eliminate it, I was going to buy a couple sheets but saw it in person and it does nothing as far as eliminating DMD and backbox glare.

I hate a can of VHT Nite Shades from a previous project I used it on and I sprayed the front half of the tube and it helped reduce the glare on my Ripley's nicely.

nite_shades.jpg