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03/07/2007 11:06:33 PM · #1 |
I have been experimenting with different configurations in order to rig a homemade light table and have come across a few problems. 2 to be exact...
1) I have tried various white plastics (an acrylic wallpaper scraper and swatches from a white plastic bag). Both give off a pink-ish/orange-ish cast when photographed.
2) my light sourse is a halogen lamp. it's certainly bright enough but since the beam is narrow I am not getting even light and significant vignetting when photographing old slides.
Any tips to adress the above would be most helpful.
-Brian |
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03/07/2007 11:21:21 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by RazorsEdge:
I have been experimenting with different configurations in order to rig a homemade light table and have come across a few problems. 2 to be exact...
1) I have tried various white plastics (an acrylic wallpaper scraper and swatches from a white plastic bag). Both give off a pink-ish/orange-ish cast when photographed.
2) my light sourse is a halogen lamp. it's certainly bright enough but since the beam is narrow I am not getting even light and significant vignetting when photographing old slides.
Any tips to adress the above would be most helpful.
-Brian |
Custom white balance?
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03/07/2007 11:26:04 PM · #3 |
you might try the covers that go on a florescent light fixture.
That is what I have here on the sides but I also made it work like a table for my chain smoking image. I would like to come up with a large light table design without doing to much custom as well. Buying them is so expensive.
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03/08/2007 12:28:47 AM · #4 |
Currently, I adjust the color balance in post processing, and will try custom white balance in the near future as Rebecca mentions.
Here's a shot of the light table, and two recent results the first day.
Lights are flourescent (from IKEA), with a additional coating (casting yellow tones), then softened through the linen - which is a fitted bed-sheet in this example:
  
Light heights are adjustable, as they are clamped - using 4 I can clamp one to another, adjust forward and backward as well - due to the wooden dowels used across the top of the frame.
I too want to take some shots of some old slides, so will give that a shot and report back soon hopefully!
Hope it helps for now!
Ralf
Message edited by author 2007-03-08 00:52:02. |
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03/08/2007 09:58:32 AM · #5 |
thanks for showing your set-ups and ideas. I will definately look into applying them as they most certainly could petain to what I want to accomplish.
Since the replies show more of a studio set-up, perhaps I should define what I am calling a 'light-table' --> a white,translucent suface that is illuminated from below.
in addition to my original post, I guess my other questions would be...if I where to purchase a light table, would I get the same color cast? What is there light source/type of light? |
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03/08/2007 10:20:04 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by RazorsEdge:
thanks for showing your set-ups and ideas. I will definately look into applying them as they most certainly could petain to what I want to accomplish.
Since the replies show more of a studio set-up, perhaps I should define what I am calling a 'light-table' --> a white,translucent suface that is illuminated from below.
in addition to my original post, I guess my other questions would be...if I where to purchase a light table, would I get the same color cast? What is there light source/type of light? |
Use something like translucent Plexiglas or, as someone else suggested a translucent cover for a florescent ceiling light.
With a halogen light especially, you will probably have to deal with the material getting soft and eventually sagging. |
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03/08/2007 10:31:45 AM · #7 |
| What you want to buy is simi-opaque or translucent plexiglass. It's what they make real light tables out of. You can buy light boxes all over the place, but they'll cost you a ton of money. Find a local plastic supplier or even call a home depot. Ask if they have white translucent plexiglass and if they can cut it to size. Full sheets are 4'x8', probably much larger than you need. Then buy some long fluorescent bulbs (the 2' or 4' bulbs they use in ceilings, depending on the size of your table) or some of the compact fluorescent bulbs, the little energy efficient ones made to replace standard light bulbs (fluorescents run much cooler (literally) than regular bulbs, a must when they're inches from plastic where you'll be working). Typically, you will want cooler colored bulbs, but depending on your color preferences you can use whatever you want. Now rig up a table to suit your needs, either using a cord for the lights you plug in or wiring in a switch. Cutting the cord off of a small lamp that has a rocker switch or roller switch works quite well. As for the table, it's up to you. I once even made a light box out of a cardboard box. Stick the lights inside, cut out one face of the box and place in the plexi, and you're all set. Make sure you place the bulbs several inches away from the plexi and spaced not too far apart, or you'll have "hot spots" on your light table where the bulbs are. Hope this helps. If you have more specific questions, feel free to ask. |
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03/08/2007 11:20:55 AM · #8 |
this works alright - for an 'on the cheap' method.
i used wax paper as the difusser, and glass from a cheap photo frame for support. was a small unit about 18x18" square on the top.
Originally posted by [valker:
I once even made a light box out of a cardboard box. Stick the lights inside, cut out one face of the box and place in the plexi, and you're all set. Make sure you place the bulbs several inches away from the plexi and spaced not too far apart, or you'll have "hot spots" on your light table where the bulbs are. Hope this helps. If you have more specific questions, feel free to ask. |
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03/08/2007 09:13:46 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by RazorsEdge:
...perhaps I should define what I am calling a 'light-table' --> a white,translucent suface that is illuminated from below. |
DOH! Sorry, my misunderstanding. I know now what you speak of!
I have slides to photograph as well, but not on a light table, but rather using a simple holding jig for the slide, and then light white material behind the slide inside the light tent. Then I'll photograph the slide using a tripod mounted macro lens. I'll find out how that goes I guess!
Cheers!
Ralf |
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03/08/2007 09:29:17 PM · #10 |
I was lucky enough to find a Light (tracing) Table in a pile of stuff my marketing people was throwing out. It is a 3' x 2' sheet of white plexiglass in an oak cabinet with 4 flourescent bulbs underneath. similar to this on ebay
Very cool for small/medium objects, use white foam core boards to create a box around it and it almost bounces enough light back on the subject where all you need if fill light.
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03/12/2007 10:09:14 PM · #11 |
building a light box
I found this today after searching - seems simple but example photos are shown. May you can adjust to your own needs.
Deb |
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03/16/2007 11:29:53 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by dsterner:
building a light box
I found this today after searching - seems simple but example photos are shown. May you can adjust to your own needs.
Deb |
Thanks Deb,
But that's a light tent or box, not a light table.
I went to Lowe's and purchased 3-18" under-cabinet flourescent fixtures and 5000K bulbs and a 12ft extension cord. Finding white/opaque Plexiglas was impossible in home improvement or craft stores. I ended up ordering a 18.5" x 29" x 1/8" (for a 18x24" table)white plexglas from a plastic company in PA. It came out to $36 shipped which was more than I wanted to spend, but was the cheapest I was able to find. Everyone wanted at least $40 (without shipping). I haven't gotten to the wood yet, but considering a light table this size sells for $350+, I am doing quite well. |
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03/17/2007 01:09:51 AM · #13 |
Light tables/boxes are usually available through printing/lithographic supply or graphic arts supply companies. They're not used much anymore since desktop publishing has almost entirely replaced paste-up and negative stripping, though we still have one where I work.
I have a nice little portable light-box/table, about 24x18 inches ...
NENSCO apparently still carries light tables, but it looks like you'll have to call/email them for info. |
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03/17/2007 04:37:29 PM · #14 |
Forgot to add pictures I've submitted using the (specialized) light table at work:
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03/17/2007 05:51:28 PM · #15 |
My so-called light table is rather amusing. When I worked at a thrift store I grabbed one of those tacky end tables that are just a square brass frame with a piece of glass, except this was only the frame; paid all of 99 cents for it, figuring I would use it for SOMEthing some day.
And I did find a use for it, if only to spite hubby who complains about my packratting :)
I have a couple flourescent fixtures that were $9 each that I simply lie on the floor below it, which seems to give a good distance for diffusion. The top I cover with a sheet of corplast, white plastic cutting board, or an old windowpane then white paper, depending on what strength/quality of light I want.
The frame can also double as makeshift light-tent as well, so it was a dollar well spent! |
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03/17/2007 06:53:36 PM · #16 |
| I also have swizzled together a light table. What I did was place a sheet of glass between two resin tables so that there is only glass in the middle. Then I took some semi-transparent fabric and clothespinned it to some yarn hanging from a beam in my basement. This allows me to use the fabric in two ways. As a backdrop for quick portraits by removing the table, and as a suspended fabric across the glass piece for lightbox work. When using is as a lightbox, I place my lights in all sorts of configurations, under it, infront of it, beside it , behind it and through the fabric, the way to place your lights is endless. |
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