Author Topic: Lightbox brand/Model suggests  (Read 20605 times)

Offline vince

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Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« on: January 12, 2014, 08:50:45 AM »
Hello everybody,

I'm planing to buy a lightbox to be able to work with guides under my sheets of paper (I know we can build it ourselves too). I think A3 would be a great dimension but I really have no clue about which brand/model is good point to start.

Do you have any advice? Thanks
Vincent Tantardini, UI/UX designer. I love letters.
http://dribbble.com/vt
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Offline ewigginton

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2014, 10:51:20 AM »
Hi Vince, and welcome to the Forum!

I purchased this light box a couple of months ago and I've been happy with it. The size seems good for me.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S16Q9K/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hope this helps,

Ellen

Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2014, 11:32:38 AM »
Hi Vince,
I like the one Ellen posted because it has a slant. I have a few. My favorite and standard is an old wood one with a slant. It's rather large and clunky but I like it.  :D

These are very popular because they are portable: (affiliate link) Artograph Lightbox
But don't let the picture fool you, they do not have a slant. They are flat. I bought mine at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon.

I have one of these too: (affiliate link) PortaTrace which I bought just before the Artographs came out and I thought would be useful to take to workshops. I don't think I've had it out of the box but once.  :o

Check out this thread, too, where people are getting creative and making their own! How to Make A Lightbox

Good Luck!
« Last Edit: April 08, 2017, 10:23:28 PM by Erica McPhee »
Warm Regards,
Erica
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Offline vince

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2014, 11:51:14 AM »
Thanks a lot to both of you for your fast answers. =)

@Erica : Hobby Lobby looks great, I find the coupon, unforunately the bigger size they have is 9"x12". Maybe enough to work on classic sheets of paper thought?

I'm curious, is the slant useful for writing better letters or it's more about being more confortable like your hand get tired later?
Vincent Tantardini, UI/UX designer. I love letters.
http://dribbble.com/vt
http://instagram.com/vtantardini

Offline Linda Y.

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #4 on: January 12, 2014, 02:59:58 PM »
I have the 9x12 Light Pad and it's sufficient enough for my needs (so far). I only use a slant board when I do broad-nib calligraphy, for pointed pen I prefer flat. Depends on your own preference  :)

Offline vince

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2014, 04:50:28 PM »
Hello Lynda, thanks for your feedbacks.

I finally chose to follow all of your guidance and find an Artograph 12"x17" at a really good price (here in France, those kind of tools are really more expensive than in US, no idea why).
I'm actually doing calligraphy on a small glass table with a light under, but the table is really small, so it's not confortable. I'm sure my practice will be smoother on a real desk with the lightpad on top. Thanks to all of you for your time and advices.

Have a nice week!
Vincent Tantardini, UI/UX designer. I love letters.
http://dribbble.com/vt
http://instagram.com/vtantardini

Offline Nice Plume

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2014, 05:31:43 PM »
Salut Vincent et bienvenue sur le forum :) tu peux fabriquer une lightbox à la maison très facilement ! J.ai acheté une table à 2 plateaux en verre, sur le plateau du bas j'ai mis les encres aquarelles... Et 2 néons de lumières, sur le plateau du haut, j'écris. J'allume les néons lorsque j'en ai besoin : pratique, gain de place... J'ai d'ailleurs posté deux photos dans le topic "open flourish -general discussion et "whats your workstation like"...
 j'ai d'autre part acheté sur eBay (fabricant espagnol) une lightbox format d'ecran A3 une "light tablet" ultra fine et portable, idéale quand tu travailles à l'extérieur !!

Hope it's help ;) bises de Nice  :) - nora

Offline vince

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2014, 06:05:12 PM »
Hey Nora (oh une frenchy ;)), thanks for the warm welcome and for the suggests. I'll definitely take a look at your posts. Have a good night! ;)
Vincent Tantardini, UI/UX designer. I love letters.
http://dribbble.com/vt
http://instagram.com/vtantardini

Offline FrenchBlue Joy

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2014, 01:45:52 PM »
So, speaking of light tables...  I've been thinking of trying out Erica's method of writing pointed pen on a slant! 

I learned broad pen on a slant of course, but all the pointed pen instruction I've ever read calls for a flat surface, and a particular way of resting the forearm on the table.  However, I've noticed how much easier it is to flourish when I have a slight incline! 

Has anybody else tried this?  I have a harder time maintaining consistency of slant when working on a tilted surface, but I really like the free arm movement for drawing flourishes. 

I don't know if I'm ready to invest in another slanted light table (I left mine in the States in one of my parents' garages, and now one one knows where it is...   ::)  but I'm definitely intrigued by E's innovation! 

Ellen, didn't you say you've been using a slanted light table too?

Offline ewigginton

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2014, 05:15:38 PM »
Joy, I've only ever used the slanted light table to write on. Maybe I should try removing it and see what that does to my work? I usually am tracing the lines though so the light table is a must for me!

Ellen

Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2014, 05:24:20 PM »
So observational! I didn't really think about it before, but I *cannot* write without a slant. I suffer greatly in workshops and usually bring a lapboard so I can slant it!  ;D
Warm Regards,
Erica
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Offline vince

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #11 on: January 23, 2014, 02:16:03 PM »
I just received the beast! Thanks a lot for your help, looks like it works really good. I'm happy to have orderer a 12" x 17" as it's more easy to turn the paper on the pad without entirely moving it.

I'm pretty sure my writting will improve with this new tool as I can now get a confortable position to write copperplate. Before I was doing something tricky with a very small glass table and a light..

Here is a little preview of the Artograph (model is A940 in case some of you are interested) :



I'll try to put a book under the top of the lightbox, just to check if it's better with a slant like suggested @Erica.
« Last Edit: January 23, 2014, 02:18:10 PM by vince »
Vincent Tantardini, UI/UX designer. I love letters.
http://dribbble.com/vt
http://instagram.com/vtantardini

Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #12 on: January 23, 2014, 05:14:13 PM »
Sweet! Looks like a great set up!  :D
Warm Regards,
Erica
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Offline vince

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #13 on: January 23, 2014, 07:08:24 PM »
Thanks Erica =)
Vincent Tantardini, UI/UX designer. I love letters.
http://dribbble.com/vt
http://instagram.com/vtantardini

Offline Mljohnson805

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Re: Lightbox brand/Model suggests
« Reply #14 on: January 24, 2014, 10:31:17 PM »
Vince,
Looks like a nice set up. Now I'm thinking my little 8x10 light box is too small. Noticed a light pad in Paper and Ink Arts catalog, may give one of those a try.

Although, I find myself covering part of my light table just to soften the glare when lettering envelopes for long periods of time.

Mary Lou Johnson