How does a light box (for tracing art) work?

Question

I am wanting to trace pictures from photographs that I have onto art paper. I was going to buy an opaque projector but then came across ads for light boxes on the net. Does anyone know how these work? Would I be able to use this to trace/outline a photograph or will it only work with a something I can shine the light through, like transparencies instead of the photo? Any information from someone who has used these would be helpful.

Answer 1

A light box is basically a piece of frosted glass with a lightbulb behind it. You place your original (a piece of transparent or semi-transparent paper) on the glass, then place another transparent or semi-transparent paper on top of the original to trace onto.

If you're working with a photograph on photo paper, a lightbox will not work for you. Photo paper is too opaque to shine light through. An overhead projector works the same way - light is shone through a transparent or semi-transparent paper, so that won't work for you either. You'll have to use an opaque projector for your project.

However, if you'd like to use a lightbox or overhead projector you can do the following: Scan your photo, print to transparency film (available at most office supply stores), use the printed transparency on a lightbox or overhead projector instead.

Answer 2

Light Box Tracing

Answer 3

Tracing Light Box

Answer 4

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RE:
How does a light box (for tracing art) work?
I am wanting to trace pictures from photographs that I have onto art paper. I was going to buy an opaque projector but then came across ads for light boxes on the net. Does anyone know how these work? Would I be able to use this to trace/outline a photograph or will it only work with a something I...

Answer 5

its a box with a opaque or clear cover and inside it a light bulb (i'm not sure of the wattage) and you place the sheet you want to trace on the cover and your art paper on top. one thing though you have to make sure the light can shine through the sheet you want to trace and the art sheet otherwise you won't be able to see the imagine to trace. it doesn't work well on darker or thick sheets so an overhead would be better. i am sure there are plans for making your own light box,just a square box, thick opaque or clear cover you can get at any hardware store and a light. its probably pretty cheap to make and then if you get the overhead you will have both and can use each when needed.

Answer 6

There is a history to light boxes , Old artists in the fourteen hundred and earlier , had made large boxes almost like a portable room at times , it was completely closed ( of course with a door to enter ) but completely black except for a hole in center of one of the walls the size of a dime , they would set this large box on top of a hill with the hole facing the scenery , and like magic the scenery would be displayed upside down on the opposite side of the wall on a canvas , the artist would then only trace the outlines and later on fill the shades and colors , this was used for people also , this way they could maintain the correct dimensions , it was not intended to fill colors or shading . Since then technology has improved , the present boxes you lift a top under it has transparent glass to hold the solid photograph facing it downwards , in the box there is one or two 100 watts bulb that are used to eliminate the photo , in the center there is a mirror set at 45 degree angle to the photo , and at 90 degree angle to the photo there is a projector lens that is movable to be able to focus , you have to have a dark room , and you project the photo on your canvas , you then proceed to out line very softly the displayed foto, out line even the shades as a hole but don't try to fill them in , do that after in day light . This proses even though is felt by purists an insult to art , is only a helping hand , instead of using the grid system , you still have to do proper shading and coloring to make some thing out of it , a note , to have a small drawing or a large one , move the entire projector close or far to fit the canvas you want to paint the lens only focuses for sharpness of detail , and another thing the sizes of your photos are limited to the standards of photo cameras , so my suggestion is go for it !!

Answer 7

The box is a few inches deep with a light inside. We use one to look at old negatives. The bulb is florescent so it does not overheat. The top is semi-transparent (sort of frosted) plexiglass (plastic). The light filters through the top, and you place the original on the plexiglass with tracing paper over it. You can easily trace the original. Ours is about 24'' wide by about 20'' tall. Maybe 4'' deep. You plug it in, and turn it on with a thumb switch.

Answer 8

The light box should not be really used for tracing art, Unless you are in the comic book busssiness. Better think of it as a sketches improver, do several ideas and then you can trace an change over the same motion. Later on you can scale it to a finished size or just redraw from talent