[elwaylite]

Used a trick I read on the net, sure some of you have seen it. Removed the trackball (cleaned it while I was in there) and placed a small pc of clear tape over the LED. I then colored the tape with red Sharpie. When it lights up it looks very cool.

[strike2tamu]

It works.

[johnnyrichter]

Was it a huge pain trying to cover that little light? If I remember correctly, that LED was tiny...but it's been a while since I've pulled the trackball assembly.

Have any users reported this trick not lasting long...i.e. the color fades, or the tape falls off?

Does this work with all the sharpie colors(except black, of course)? Is a colored sharpie the best option for this trick?

Would you be able to post a pic of your trackball lit up in red, in a lit room and in a dark room? I'd love to see how that looks, might do something like this in blue for my 8130 if I ever get around to it.

I've also considered "dyeing" the trackball...wonder if that's been tried.

[elwaylite]

Was not hard, the tape can cover the most of the area below the ball, so you just cut it a little larger. I put a lot of red on it, once it dried, Id put another layer on(did that about 4 times).

I just went with the Sharpie because I figured itd hold up best.

I bet the Blue Sharpie is the one you want.

Ill post a pic asap.

[elwaylite]

to be able to post pics I have to have 10 posts, so here ya go.

[elwaylite]

Its actually a little more red than the picture shows.

[johnnyrichter]

Awesome, thanks for the pics!

That looks pretty cool. I'm definitely going to try this out sometime within the next week(I'll experiment with various colors), and I'll post pics when it's done.

EDIT: I couldn't wait any longer, so I went to wal-mart and picked up a multi-pack of Sharpie markers(fine point), and some scotch transparent tape.

I must say it was a HUGE pain trying to get the tape in there and get it to stick, without covering the 4 contact points for the trackball rollers. I used 1 layer of blue sharpie, didn't coat the whole piece of tape...just the area over and immediately around the LED. I took a picture of my phone, in the dark. See below.

I got to thinking. If I could find one of those cheap flashlights with the flimsy/thin interchangeable colored lenses...I could cut one to fit in that trackball area perfectly, with the corners cut to fit around the trackball roller contacts. Already colored, flimsy yet fits in there flush and won't fold or move...and light enough for a trackball push to be transferred through the lens to the actual button. Plus it's lens to start with, so it's meant for light to pass through it. Would be nifty, I'll see what I can come up with. ;)

Pic-

[elwaylite]

I just tried blue, like it better because its darker. For the tape, I used a small pair of needle nose and a very small flat head to lay it in place.

Im wondering if black would work now

[strike2tamu]

Nice work.

[Heavy Fluid]

Both of those look really nice!!

[jay47]

Awesome. You guys are really creative. I'll have to try this now on my 8120.

[elwaylite]

Originally Posted by jay47

Awesome. You guys are really creative. I'll have to try this now on my 8120.

Very easy, you can just about make any color you want.

[elwaylite]

Like the red better, goes good with my new BB 9000 theme.

[ddwithoutfear]

I did this trick for a little while after I upgraded to OS 4.5 (thank you BLINGBALL!!!!), but whatever OS you're using, if you have an 8100, one of the color change apps is for sure the way to go.

[rachamphetamine]

Very nice!

[BoostedSupra]

why not use the program ?

[elwaylite]

Originally Posted by BoostedSupra

why not use the program ?

Program only works with the 8100.

[elwaylite]

Originally Posted by elwaylite

Program only works with the 8100.

Correctamundo!

[wanted]

Originally Posted by BoostedSupra

why not use the program ?

Hi can you please tell me what program it is ? thanks

[johnnyrichter]

Originally Posted by wanted

Hi can you please tell me what program it is ? thanks

There's a sticky thread about a color trackball app at the top of this section. You can also use the forum's search function to find about 500 other color trackball related threads.