Abstract: A backlight display system having a display screen illuminated directly by high intensity daylight lamps and illuminated indirectly by lower intensity nightlight lamps positioned to reflect their light off the daylight lamps and onto the display screen. The backlight display system includes intensity gradient filters and/or distribution lenses to enhance the uniformity of reflected nightlight, a brightness enhancement filter/diffuser disposed before the display screen, and optical filtering positioned between the illumination sources and the display screen. Photosensor controlled intensity feedback is used to provide smooth continuous dimming transition from a wide range of maximum to minimum intensity. The system also provides a third monochromatic nightlight lamp array for "class A" Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) compatibility and an override switch to assure that lighting restrictions needed for night-vision are maintained.