Thursday, January 6, 2011

What is a Light Box?

A light box is a prolific tool specifically designed for artists and it consists of a backlit piece of plexiglass or frosted glass. Many visual artists use light box for looking at photographic negatives and tracing. A lot of art supply stores sell a variety of light boxes, though one can make their own light box at home too.

A light box is a also called a light table. In a specific light table, the box is mounted on adjustable legs and a swivel, creating a large backlit workspace which can be rotated to various angles as per requirement.

A notable difference between light box and light table is that light box is more portable as it lacks legs. Though in some cases, a light box can be very large and difficult to move.

The position of the lights in a light box is very significant. The idea is to achieve smooth, crisp lighting without hot spots. Diffusers and numerous other lights are frequently used to achieve this. The glass or plexiglass is generally fogged or shaded to decrease glare from the lights beneath.

The term “light box” is frequently used by photographers in reference to a small, custom built box for photographing objects under controlled lighting conditions. Light box is used by professional photographers to create spotless, controlled environments which can be incessantly manipulated. Diverse backdrops can be used in a light box for precise effects, and the lighting can be tainted for varied looks. For macro photography, a light box is a must.

For more information about Photography lighting please visit our Photography lighting page.

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