Backlit Trim for Automotive Interiors

Nissha’s Film Insert Molding Integrates
Backlit Elements and Surface Decoration

In automotive interior trim design, backlit elements are expected to convey information and brand expression, while the underlying surface remains a key design element when lighting is off.

Nissha’s film insert molding integrates light‑transmissive and non‑transmissive layers into decorative films during the molding process, allowing both states to be designed together within one trim component.

What is Film Insert Molding?

Film Insert Molding is a technology in which a printed decorative film is seamlessly integrated into the molded part during plastic molding.

Printing Decorative Film

Pre-Forming and Trimming

Molding with Film Integrated

Finishing the Trim Part

Key Advantages of Nissha’s Backlit Trim

✔ Integration of backlit elements with decorative trim surfaces
✔ Highly detailed material and graphic surface expressions
✔ Advanced tactile surface finishes
✔ Clear light transmission
✔ Functional coatings for enhanced usability
✔ Seamless surface continuity for large and curved trim
✔ Mono‑material design solution for improved recyclability

Integration of backlit elements with decorative trim surfaces

Backlit elements and decorative trim surfaces are seamlessly integrated, allowing the trim design to remain the visual focus when unlit, while backlit graphics or icons appear only when needed.

HiddenGraphic™ details ▼

HiddenIcon™ details ▼

Highly detailed material‑like and graphic expressions

From material‑inspired textures to geometric graphics, a wide variety of surface expressions can be realized.

*The images shown above are examples of our design options. Please contact us for complete Sample Books.

Advanced tactile surface finishes

Mold embossing enables refined tactile surface finishes to be precisely integrated into surface decoration, delivering a wide range of touch sensations directly on automotive interior trim components.

Clear light transmission

Our design technology ensures excellent light transmittance, preserving the original color and clarity of the backlighting.

Functional coatings for enhanced usability

Functional coatings such as anti‑fingerprint and antibacterial treatments can be applied to the decorative surface to enhance usability and cleanliness.

Seamless surface continuity for large and curved trim

We support seamless surface design even for large and curved interior trim components, maintaining visual continuity and a refined look.

Mono‑material trim parts with polypropylene

Nissha has developed a polypropylene (PP) decorative film that can be used in combination with PP substrate molding, enabling trim parts to be made entirely from a single material and recycled directly without pre-removal.

Nissha’s Two Backlit Trim Solutions

HiddenGraphic™

HiddenGraphic™：Backlit graphics for brand expression and ambient storytelling

HiddenGraphic™ is a design technology that integrates light‑transmissive graphic designs into the decorative surface through film insert molding. When backlit, the graphics deliver visual cues for communication and reinforce the brand identity, presenting different expressions in lit and unlit states.

HiddenIcon™

HiddenIcon™：Backlit icons for intuitive controls in a clean dead‑front surface

HiddenIcon™ is a design technology that integrates light-transmissive icons into the decorative surface through film insert molding. It features high light transmittance that preserves the original color and clarity of the backlighting. The icons support intuitive operation while maintaining a clean and uncluttered surface design.

Typical Applications of Nissha’s Backlit Trim

Door Trim
Center Console
Instrument Panel
Steering Wheel Buttons
Headliner
…and any other hard trim

Our In‑house CMF Designers Turning Design Intent into Reality

Our in‑house CMF designers support customer teams from the earliest design stages, shaping material expression and surface intent into production‑ready interior trim.
The original design vision is carried through development and remains consistent as ideas move toward production.

Sample Books: used as a shared reference
for early‑stage design discussions.

Each year, our CMF team develops Sample Books,  bringing together trend analysis and Nissha’s material and surface technologies.

Contact Us for Sample Books

Global Manufacturing & Flexible Supply for Automotive Interior Trim

Global Manufacturing Footprint

With manufacturing sites around the world, we provide  consistent quality and stable supply across regions.

Flexible Delivery Models

From decorative film supply to fully integrated decorated and molded trim parts, our solution flexibly adapts to your supply chain.