How to Make a Cheap Tracing Lightbox
A lightbox is a tool that allows an artist to trace a design from one sheet of paper to another, using light to as a guide. This tool can be very useful in many types of art such as cartooning, animating or illustration. However, commercially-sold lightboxes can be very expensive --- which may prohibit some artists from obtaining one, especially students or artists whose work is a hobby. A lightbox can be made at home for little cost with some simple tools.
- Shallow plastic box, 12 inches by 12 inches
- Craft knife
- 1 or 2 strands of LED lights
- Sheet glass
- Duct tape
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Instructions
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1
Cut a small hole about a half-inch square in the side of the box using the craft knife. A larger hole can be used if you've got large hands.
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2
Feed a strand of LED Christmas lights through the hole in the side of the box. Leave the plug end of the lights outside the box so that you can plug in your lightbox later.
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3
Seal the edges of the glass with the duct tape. Place the sheet glass over the open side of the plastic box, matching up the edges of both with each other.
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4
Adhere the glass to the top of the box with duct tape, keeping the string of lights inside.