A different take on a lithopane - front lighting

[Jeff_Birt]

My Mom's birthday is coming up in about a week and I have been working on he present using my CarvwWright machine. I wanted to make a lithopane but I also wanted to do something a bit different. I got a hold of a couple of pieces of 1/4" cast acrylic one in white and one in bronze. The white acrylic came out OK, it looked similar to a litho made with Corian. The one in the bronze acrylic really came out quite different. It was too transparent to backlight, it just did not look good. I laid it down on a piece of paper and noticed that it looked cool, sort of like a sepia photograph with some dpeth to it.

I used a 1/32" bit on this litho and found it came out with a lot more detail then the one I did with the 1/16" bit (same bronze material used). I just got the frame off the machine and wanted to see how it looked so I put it together with a few sheets of white paper behind the litho. The frame is about 8"x10" and is made from oak.

The photo is my parents wedding photo, taken right before my dad shipped out toward the South Pacific in 1944. The oval shape was done to hide some fading in the original photo. (As a side note as I was working on this it occurred to me that my Mom got married at age 16 which is the same age my daughter is now. People were sure made of sterner stuff back then.)

NOTE: The title should be "Front Lighting", i.e. lit only be light from room.

[fwharris]

Jeff,

Great discovery! The photo shows very well with no back lighting at all. Opens up more possibilities for sure.

So very true about "back then", at that age they had to be an adult. Kids sure do have it a lot softer now in a lot of ways.

[chief2007]

Really like the look, going to be a great present. Where did you find the bronze acrylic?

I had held off on getting the 1/32 bit, but I will definitely get a couple now.

[Jeff_Birt]

The bronze acrylic is from McMaster-Carr: mcmaster.com. It is part# 8505K92. I've had a lot of good feedback on the 1/32" bits from my customers who do lithos. The step over when set to 'optimal' mode on the CarveWright is small enough that the smaller tip does create finer detail.

[easybuilt]

That is so cool Jeff and I would love to get it a try. Thanks!

[b.sumner47]

Excellent carve, Jeff. I have not done a litho lately, I have the bit but not set-up to carve. Thanks for sharing.

Capt Barry

[James RS]

Nice!, where did you get the 1/32 bit?

[Jeff_Birt]

Nice!, where did you get the 1/32 bit?

Well, I sell them so it was easy to get You can click on the link to my website (below) for more information.

[Capt Bruce]

Please advise me if I'm correct that I need a 1/4" to 1/2" collet to use your 1/32" tip bit with the CarveTite chuck like your other bits Jeff? Thanks

[radman5506]

Well, I sell them so it was easy to get You can click on the link to my website (below) for more information.

Really looks good Jeff, but did I miss the "click on the link to my website (below)" I think I could use one of those bits.