CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) backlit LCDs require a light diffusion plate that is butted against the edge of the light guide and is held by either a plastic tray assembly or a reflective foil tape at the edge of the backlight assembly. For color LCDs, most CCFL backlights will add brightness enhancement films (BEFs) to improve the brightness of the display. These films require special handling and are expensive. In small to mid-sized displays, BEF films can be optional and MicroLens™ technology will typically offer increased brightness, particularly when compared to printed, laser and chemical etched lightguide technologies.

In large format displays (10.4 inch diagonal and larger), BEF films are very common. With all other factors remaining the same, the use of SolidState™ backlight panels (instead of printed backlight panels) can reduce from two to one, the number of top films (diffusers and BEFs) required, while actually increasing the brightness output of the LCD by as much as 25%.