Lighting for litos

[nuchie]

what is the best lighting for a litopane? How deep should the box be? Has anyone reversed the image and used the flat side as the front?

[lawrence]

I have tried several different methods including battery powered puck LEDs, CFLs, and strip LED lighting.

My favorite by a pretty good shot is the CFL as shown here - though I do like the look of the strip LEDs too and they allow for a much smaller enclosure. The box should be big enough that overheating will not be an issue.

[gregsolano]

I use 5x7 shadow boxes from hobby lobby which are about 3 inches deep. I have used florescent puck lights from home depot and short strands of clear christmas type lights from hobby lobby, Both work well but the Christmas lights let me spread the light more evenly than the florescent puck light. I want to try LED lights but I have not yet. I try and keep the costs down so they can be sold at a reasonable price. The shadow boxes can be had on sale for less than $5 and the Christmas lights are around $4. By not making my own boxes my labor is down to just scanning and touching up the picture and carving time. I have a source for scrap pieces of corian which I get from time to time, the 1/4 inch I use for litho's is always hard to come by and I may have to actually buy some for the projects I am expecting for the holidays. I sell them for $45 to $75 depending on the client and whether they are friends etc. and I want to give them a break. I know this is low and If I have to start buying corian I will have to raise my prices. I have found that if you try to reverse and use the flat side as front you loose clarity and depth (the photo looks blurry).

[CarverJerry]

It has been a while since I've been on the forum but have been laid up after getting ran over in a parking lot where I had just gotten a job. I can't even do my wood working hobby yet but will be soon I hope.
I have used the LED's that come on the reels (300 leds) that are 12 volts. The ones I use are NOT waterproof, and don't have to be. I've made several of these litho's this way and have not had any problems what so ever. I've tried different lights, from christmas leds to puck lights to night lights. Nothing works as well as these reel type of lights. Here is a link to where I show what I'm talking about. I can only say that I like this style and it seems to work well for me. As far as which side goes out, well just hold your litho up to the sun and take a look at it both directions, you'll find that the carved side towards the viewer will produce the best. If you don't like it because it is rough then you can always put a piece of glass or clear plexiglass in front. Good luck http://s881.photobucket.com/albums/a...%20Lithopanes/

CJ

[fwharris]

Jerry,

That explains your absence! Hope all is going well with your recovery!

[Kenm810]

Get Well Quick CJ, We need and look forward to your forum input!

[Sallen1215]

I use the same Strip LEDs, but i will caution you on this note, when buying generic cheaper products on ebay you get what you pay for, I spend a little more money on leds from www.superbrightleds.com. they may cost slightly more but are backed by a warranty for 2 years and they have far more useful information, tech support, and are made int he USA


Stephen

[gregsolano]

carver jerry where do you get your reels of led's ?

[CarverJerry]

Greg, you asked where I got my Led's, off eBay. I know Stephen had some problems but so far (knock on WOOD) I've had no problems yet. If I remember someone used the Led's that were waterproof and they got hot, and I think they stopped working or something. I don't vent my boxes because the lights don't give off enough heat to bother them.

And thanks for the get well comments. Being 60 years old it's taking a little longer than I want, but it's my hip thats really the big problem and it's keeping me out of the basement where my shop is. My leg and foot isn't too bad, but I still have to go see a foot doctor again. People just need to learn to HANG up and DRIVE.........

CJ

[gregsolano]

Thanks jerry, By the way nuchie here is a litho I did today for my son, it has pictures of his three kids (my grandkids).