Abstract: A system especially suitable for illuminating the front side of an object, as viewed by an observer is disclosed herein. This system includes a light pipe assembly having opposing forward and rearward faces; an arrangement for directing light into the light pipe assembly in a predetermined way; and an arrangement of optical components forming part of the light pipe assembly. This latter assembly is provide for reflecting substantially all of the light directed into the light pipe in a forward direction through the forward face of the light pipe. The light pipe assembly including the arrangement of optical components is substantially transparent to visible light or electro-magnetic wave of a particular wavelength in the direction across the opposing forward and rearward faces of the assembly such that the light pipe assembly can be positioned between the object being illuminated and the observer or the detector without in any significant way disrupting the observer's or detector's view of the object.