So, I just got back from a casino in town. I was at the bar that had cool colored lights illuminating and then dimming around the ceiling and behind the bottles at the bar. This was a pretty cool affect, and I started to think about how I can replicate this in my home bar I built in my basement.

Here's my first thoughts on how to achieve this, if someone more technically capable out there has a better idea then please share.

Perhaps I can get a plain white silk parachute from a mil. surplus store and hang it from the ceiling of my basement/bar. above the parachute I can have various colored LED rope lights that randomly illuminate and then dim. Then, I can build a wood liquor bottle shelf and attatch LED rope lights to it in a similar fashion so the bottles in front of it will glow various colors.

Anyone have any better ideas? If not, anyone know where I can get LED rope lights that dim in the manner I described?

That sounds like a decent idea.

Here are some long, and expensive, ropes: http://www.ledropelightsandmore.com/led_rope_lights/

Here are some more reasonably priced units:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/420502/Neo_Neon_International_Ltd_LED-DL-2W-9-120V-W_9_White_Led_Rope_Light
http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/led-rope-light-9-p-79625.html?ref=42

In order to dim them, you will need a PWM circuit. Basically, it turns it off and on very quickly for varying amounts of on and off time. The longer they are on, the brighter they appear. Random dimming? I'm not sure how to do that without a microcontroller. Some Christmas tree light boxes have pulsed dimming if I recall correctly. You can use the voltage output to a voltage-to-pulse-width converter to get the appropriate dimming.

Thanks Argon. I'm glad to see there's some more reasonably priced LED rope lights out there. Do you know if there is a store that sells these commonly - so I can avoid the shipping charges from ordering via internet?

I don't.

buy a cheapo multi color automotive underbody kit and chop it up to suit your needs.

no need to get a really expensive one as it wont be exposed to the elements which is mainly what kills the cheap ones due to poor waterproofing.

most home improvement stores should have them. They'll be very cheap after Christmas.

LED fader (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Bill_Bowden/page5.htm#eyes.gif)

I've used this circuit a few times, and it works quite nicely.

Some Christmas tree light boxes have pulsed dimming if I recall correctly. You can use the voltage output to a voltage-to-pulse-width converter to get the appropriate dimming.

Beat me to it. If I had to do something like this, I'd get one of the many 'spare parts' x-mas lights I have, and get the box off of it.

LED fader (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Bill_Bowden/page5.htm#eyes.gif)

I've used this circuit a few times, and it works quite nicely.

I need to learn more sciencing :(