Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for simulating moving lights using nonmoving lights. A row or column of lights, such as LCDs or LEDs, are each controlled by a processor so as to switch each light at a relatively rapid rate, sufficiently rapid so that the light appears on but at only partial brightness. The apparent intensity for each light is controlled by the processor by controlling the duty cycle of each light. This allows the processor to present an illusion of fade-in at a leading edge of a picture element, and to present an illusion of fade-out at a trailing edge of the picture element.